Olympique Marseille defender Gabriel Heinze has admitted that he feels sorry for the manner in which he left Manchester United in 2007
Heinze has become an integral part of Didier Deschamps set-up in Marseille after joining them from Real Madrid. He is now preparing to face Manchester United in his second season with the French club after helping them to win the league last season.
Heinze was frustrated after being replaced by Patrice Evra as United's first choice left back and he demanded to be allowed to join Liverpool. The request was rejected and Heinze was offloaded to Madrid instead.
After falling out of favour at Madrid, he left them to join Marseille last season and he quickly established himself as an important first-team player over there. Nonetheless, the player who once left Old Trafford for Madrid regrets the way it all ended in Manchester.
"I don't have many regrets from my career as a footballer, but that episode with Ferguson [has] to be one of them," he said.
"I'm impulsive and strong-willed and this has got me into trouble at times, which was the case when I left United.
"On reflection, it is easy to see that Ferguson was a major influence on my career, in a positive way. I thought my mind was set to be a winner before moving to United, but I had only completed part of the journey.
"Sir Alex makes every player he comes into contact with so much more driven and committed. He demands that his players dig as deep for the cause and I'm sorry that we fell out in the final days because I still have so much respect for him.
"I cannot wait for the chance to go back onto the pitch at Old Trafford because this is the most special club of all, and I include Real Madrid in this list.
"United is a club built on success. It has heritage, legends and trophies, but for me Old Trafford is also a very human and warm place.
"I took the decision and, looking back, I regret it because it meant leaving a great club and their supporters. I was aware of the rivalry [with Liverpool]; I knew the risk of going from Manchester to Liverpool and what it means. I hope it doesn't tarnish the way they [the supporters] see me and they will remember the three years I had in the team."
However, Sir Alex Ferguson insisted that he has never had anything against the Argentinian defender.
"I thought he had a bad agent who engineered the situation and tried to trick [the chief executive] David Gill. I have no issues with Gabby. He was a fantastic player for us, a warrior. He just took bad advice. From day one after we signed him his agent was trying to get him another move and, of course, that's how they [agents] make their money these days."
Sir Alex Ferguson takes his team to Marseille to face the reigning French champions who will be banking on Heinze and his fellow defenders to keep the Red Devils on guard.
Heinze was frustrated after being replaced by Patrice Evra as United's first choice left back and he demanded to be allowed to join Liverpool. The request was rejected and Heinze was offloaded to Madrid instead.
After falling out of favour at Madrid, he left them to join Marseille last season and he quickly established himself as an important first-team player over there. Nonetheless, the player who once left Old Trafford for Madrid regrets the way it all ended in Manchester.
"I don't have many regrets from my career as a footballer, but that episode with Ferguson [has] to be one of them," he said.
"I'm impulsive and strong-willed and this has got me into trouble at times, which was the case when I left United.
"On reflection, it is easy to see that Ferguson was a major influence on my career, in a positive way. I thought my mind was set to be a winner before moving to United, but I had only completed part of the journey.
"Sir Alex makes every player he comes into contact with so much more driven and committed. He demands that his players dig as deep for the cause and I'm sorry that we fell out in the final days because I still have so much respect for him.
"I cannot wait for the chance to go back onto the pitch at Old Trafford because this is the most special club of all, and I include Real Madrid in this list.
"United is a club built on success. It has heritage, legends and trophies, but for me Old Trafford is also a very human and warm place.
"I took the decision and, looking back, I regret it because it meant leaving a great club and their supporters. I was aware of the rivalry [with Liverpool]; I knew the risk of going from Manchester to Liverpool and what it means. I hope it doesn't tarnish the way they [the supporters] see me and they will remember the three years I had in the team."
However, Sir Alex Ferguson insisted that he has never had anything against the Argentinian defender.
"I thought he had a bad agent who engineered the situation and tried to trick [the chief executive] David Gill. I have no issues with Gabby. He was a fantastic player for us, a warrior. He just took bad advice. From day one after we signed him his agent was trying to get him another move and, of course, that's how they [agents] make their money these days."
Sir Alex Ferguson takes his team to Marseille to face the reigning French champions who will be banking on Heinze and his fellow defenders to keep the Red Devils on guard.
