Tom Heaton reveals how Sir Alex Ferguson was ‘not pleased’ after Man Utd contract snub ahead of return ten-years later

TOM HEATON is closing in on a return to Manchester United – a decade after he left Sir Alex Ferguson ‘not pleased’ after snubbing him.

The former England stopper is out of contract this summer and is set to take the third-choice keeper spot at Old Trafford.

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Heaton, 35, spent six years at Burnley before making the switch to Villa two years ago.

But he is surplus to requirements having lost his place to Emi Martinez who joined from Arsenal last summer.

It marks a remarkable United comeback for the ace after he graduated through their academy before departing in 2010 for Cardiff City.

And speaking to Star Sport in 2019, Heaton revealed the legendary former manager’s reaction.

He said: “It was, how do you say, an interesting moment.

“I ­understood his point of view. I’d been there since I was a kid. He was offering me a new contract and I was turning it down.

“He wasn’t best pleased! So, I was on the end of it a bit.

“I totally understood it because they had invested a lot of time in me.

“But I knew what was right for me. It was a risk, but it was one I wanted to take.

“I walked out of his office with my tail between my legs.

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“It needed to be done. It was the right decision. I knew that and I never wavered from it.”

No doubt Ferguson, who has now moved upstairs into the boardroom, will welcome Heaton back with open arms.

Both Sergio Romero and Lee Grant are due to become free agents and likely to depart United next month.

Now Heaton will take on the role that Grant has held at Old Trafford and offer experienced back-up for both Henderson and De Gea.

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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk