Former Manchester United FC player and the current star of Crystal Palace FC Wilfried Zaha has spoken about the exit of Red Devils icon and ex-Manchester United FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Zaha was the last signing made by the legendary Scottish manager during his reign of 26 years as the Premier League side’s manager. Ferguson had signed Zaha from Crystal Palace in January 2013 for a reported fee of £10 million ($13m). The player had agreed upon a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Red Devils and had subsequently been loaned back to Crystal Palace for the remainder of the Premier League season.
Before Zaha could join up with his new Manchester United FC teammates ahead of the start of 2013-14 Premier League season, the Ivory Coast attacker was given the news that Ferguson had announced his retirement from his managerial career and would be stepping down as the manager of the Red Devils at the end of the 2012-13 campaign. The then Everton FC manager David Moyes had been announced as Ferguson’s successor by the Red Devils board and the Scot went on to make his own decisions regarding the club’s transfer policy.
Speaking to Manchester United FC legend Rio Ferdinand, Zaha stated that he was crushed by the fact that Ferguson was leaving the Premier League side. The player voiced his sadness of not having had the opportunity to play under the legendary manager and how he could not make his mark on the Manchester United FC squad.
However, Zaha spoke fondly about his time at Old Trafford and how he managed to meet players whom he had looked up to during his childhood such as Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs.
Zaha could not feature much in the Red Devils squad under both David Moyes as well Moyes’s successor Louis van Gaal.
The player was shipped out on loan to Cardiff City and Crystal Palace before joining the latter on a permanent basis. Zaha departed Manchester United FC having made only four first-team appearances but the player has not looked back since then. He has become a revelation for Crystal Palace in recent seasons with his brilliant performances and has caught the eye of big Premier League teams such as Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC who have declared their interest in signing him.
