Former Man United midfielder respected manager’s “ruthless” decision to sell him

Former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has recalled how ex-United head coach Louis van Gaal, earned his respect

Cleverley, a Premier League winner with United under Sir Alex Ferguson featured prominently during the Scotsman’s final season as manager of the Red Devils.

A regular member of David Moyes United team the following season, Cleverley’s position came under scrutiny with the arrival of Moyes’ successor Louis van Gaal.

Making just one appearance under Van Gaal, in a 1-1 draw near the start of the 2014/15 season, Cleverley would depart Old Trafford in a loan move to Aston Villa.

Cleverley’s loan exit would turn out to be a permanent one, as with just months left on his contract, the Englishman’s United contract would expire at the end of the season, with the midfielder going on to play for Everton and Watford.

Discussing his exit from the club he first joined aged eleven, Cleverley admitted that Van Gaal’s ruthlessness when it came to conducting his exit was something that he respected.

“Van Gaal came into United and was honest with me, saying, ‘There’s not going to be much playing time for you,’ Cleverley recalled when in conversation with Business of Sport.

“For me, as a player, I respect that, you don’t want to be strung along. He looked at me straight and said ‘We’re signing [Daley] Blind and [Morgan] Schneiderlin, you can leave.

“It’s ruthless, but it’s honest, and I think that’s what I’ll take into a management career in the future, just have the difficult conversations as soon as possible.”

Cleverley, who would retire in 2023 is the current manager of Watford, whom he spent two spells with during his playing career.

With five wins and just one loss in their first six games in all competitions, Cleverley’s Watford will face United’s rivals Manchester City in the EFL Cup shortly after the international break.