Wilfried Zaha insists dismal spell at Manchester United made him a better player… as former Crystal Palace winger insists he’s ‘not bothered’ by his failed £10m move and relishes Old Trafford return with Galatasaray
- Wilfried Zaha returns to Old Trafford with Galatasaray on Tuesday
- The 30-year-old played just four times for United after a £10m move in 2013
- Click HERE to listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s ‘It’s All Kicking Off’
Wilfried Zaha says he returns to Manchester United as a player who refused to let his career ‘die out’ a decade on from his failed move to Old Trafford.
The 30-year-old is back in Manchester with Galatasaray ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League Group A clash, and it was put to him that he may well still have a chip on his shoulder about his miserable spell in a United shirt.
Asked if he is still irritated or frustrated that his £10million move in 2013 resulted in just four appearances for United, he said: ‘I’ll be honest, when you look at my face, do you think I’m bothered?
‘Realistically, I think I went through a phase where you either build from it or you die out from it and me personally I was never going to die out from it.
‘It built my character for me to just continue my career because I was determined to not let my career die out because I went somewhere and it didn’t work out.
Wilfried Zaha returns to Old Trafford on Tuesday night with Galatasaray
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‘I was just determined to reach where I wanted to reach and yes, I’m here today.’
Zaha is no stranger to coming up against Manchester United since his underwhelming season at Old Trafford, scoring twice in a behind-closed-doors 3-1 away win for Crystal Palace in 2021 and in Ralf Rangnick’s final game as United interim boss at Selhurst Park.
But as for whether he has added motivation, Zaha is not convinced.
‘It was a normal league game up against United, they just happened to be against United,’ he said.
Zaha played just four games for Manchester United following a £10m move in 2013
‘I had my past here when I was 19/20. When I went back to Palace and had league games against them, I just played against them like work.’
He added: ‘Man United was a team I was at a long, long tine ago. 10 years forward I’m 30 years old and I feel like I’ve matured in my game.
‘I’m at a big club in Galatasaray. We have a lot of talent, we have a lot of experience and I think we’re ready for tomorrow.
‘We have players who can hurt them tomorrow. Me personally I’m looking forward to the game.’
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