Dean Henderson blasts ‘criminal’ Man Utd for ‘wasting’ his career

Suraj Radia

• 2 Aug 2022 16:20 CDT
• 3 min read

Dean Henderson has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United for misleading him into ‘wasting 12 months’ of his career, describing the situation as ‘criminal.’

The 25-year-old has joined Nottingham Forest on loan for the season after failing to make a single league appearance for United last season despite allegedly being promised that he would be the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.

The England international criticised the treatment by former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and admitted it had been the toughest year of his career.

“The conversation I had, coming out of the Euro [2020] squad, was ‘You’re coming back here to be the number one goalkeeper’,” Henderson told talkSPORT.

“I got Covid — then I come back so I should have still been the No. 1 but unfortunately no one followed through with anything they told me.

“It was frustrating as well because I turned so many good loans down last summer for that reason [the promise of the No 1 spot], and they wouldn’t let me go. To sit there and waste 12 months is criminal really at my age. I was fuming.”

Henderson did not speak to Ten Hag prior to exit

Henderson also admitted he had not spoken to new manager Erik ten Hag before joining Forest as he had no intention of being kept as understudy to De Gea for another season.

“No [I didn’t speak to Ten Hag],” Henderson said. “I didn’t really want the manager to come in and be able to see me in training because I knew that he’d probably want to keep me.

“I tried to do it all [secure a loan move] before I left for the summer. I told the hierarchy I need to play football. I don’t want to be here playing second fiddle.

“I was almost gone before the manager came in the door and I haven’t spoken to him since.”

Henderson signed a long-term contract with United after impressing on loan with Sheffield United, where he earned his first call up to the England squad.

However, despite making 26 appearances in all competitions during his first year back at Old Trafford, Henderson played just three games last season, all in cup competitions.

Forest beat off interest from Newcastle to sign Henderson on loan earlier in the summer, although there isn’t thought to be an option to buy and he still has a contract with United until 2025.