JUAN SEBASTIAN VERON doesn’t regret joining Man Utd despite his expensive flop – but wishes he’d never went to Chelsea.
The former Premier League record signing spent three forgettable years in England at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.
Juan Sebastian Veron says he has no regrets over joining Man UtdCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
But the Argentine wishes he never went to ChelseaCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Argentine midfielder Veron joined Man Utd for £28m from Lazio in 2001 but never lived up to his then massive price tag.
But, in an interview with FourFourTwo, he revealed he looks back fondly at his Old Trafford years.
Veron, 45, said: “I signed for United because I had a passport issue in Italy and thought a change of scenery would be good for my mind.
“Truth be told, I had a pessimistic view about playing in England, as I imagined that life there would be so different to what I was used to – the Latin lifestyle.
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“But I found an extraordinary club. You could hardly find one as well-organised, with so many people willing to help.
“I had two great years in Manchester, winning the Premier League title.
“I’m still in touch with several of the guys I met: Dwight Yorke, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, Quinton Fortune, Wes Brown, John O’Shea.
“I met Gary and Phil Neville again at some point, too.”
Veron was shipped to Chelsea two years later for just half the transfer fee Man Utd signed him for.
He started with a debut goal against Liverpool in the first game of the Roman Abramovich era but quickly faded away.
The midfielder joined Inter Milan on loan for two seasons before moving back to Argentina to boyhood club Estudiantes.
Veron said: “I felt that going to Chelsea could have been a good chance for me to get a longer sequence of matches, but I shouldn’t have gone there.
“I don’t say that because of Chelsea, though. It’s nice to have a club wanting to sign you, excited that you can do something for them. To make an investment like that, the club has to believe in you and trust you.
“I actually found it tougher to live in London than Manchester because I’m from La Plata, which is quite a small city.
“I wish I could have stayed at United longer, as I believe I could have done things differently.
“If I’d stayed in Manchester, I think I would have had more continuity on the pitch.”
The latest issue of FourFourTwo is on sale on Wednesday and has an in-depth feature on Tottenham and South Korea forward Son Heung-min, while former Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool defender Kolo Toure answers your questions and there are exclusive interviews with Liverpool keeper Alisson and Chelsea defender Thiago Silva for £3 visit: www.magazinesdirect.com/fft/81at
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
