I don't regret leaving Man United – how the club acted told me all I need to know
Former Manchester United captain Ashley Young insisted he had no regrets after cutting his time at Old Trafford short. He spent eight-and-a-half years with the club before sealing a move to Inter Milan in January 2020.The versatile star arrived as a flying winger from Aston Villa in 2011 and was part of the last United squad to win the Premier League two years later before subsequently transforming into a full-back. Young also won the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League during his time at United.His vast experience led him to be named club captain by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in August 2019. However, just a few months later, the ex-England international chose to give up the armband in favour of experiencing Italian football under Antonio Conte at Inter.It proved to be worthwhile for Young, who claimed a Serie A winner’s medal in his second season. Reflecting on his decision to move to Italy, Young revealed what convinced him to leave United, despite the offer of a new deal.Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL packageThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreSky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings"A contract offer was made," Young told The Telegraph in 2023. "It was too late. I had made up my mind."How I saw it was, if United really wanted to keep me, they would have offered me a contract before the interest came in."Young made 261 appearances for United and was one of the few remaining squad members to have won a league title under Sir Alex Ferguson at the time of his exit. The veteran made 34 appearances in his sole full season at Inter, having narrowly missed out on a Serie A and Europa League double in his debut campaign."It's obviously nice to win the Premier League and then to go to a new league and win that as well is just incredible, an unbelievable feeling," he told Sky Sports in 2021. "It's never easy to leave a club in January but I'm looking back now and I think I made the right decision.FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page"I always wanted to go out and win. I've got that ambition, drive and desire to win."Following his 18-month spell in Italy, Young made an emotional return to Villa, where he helped the club return to the European places under Unai Emery. In 2023, he joined Everton as a free agent, who United are set to face on Monday.During his two-year spell with the Toffees, Young once again proved his enduring quality, making 63 league appearances. After playing his penultimate game for the club, Young told Evertontv: "It's been a fantastic two years. Ups and downs. People have been against us, but we stuck together and that's what the club's about: sticking together."He added: "I'm delighted that I've been able to represent this club. It's a fantastic club, steeped in history and I'm glad I've been part of this history."Shortly after celebrating his 40th birthday, Young embarked on the latest chapter of his career by signing for Ipswich Town, linking up with ex-United first team coach Kieran McKenna in the Championship. The former United skipper has also worked as a pundit for Sky Sports this season, signalling a plan for when he finally hangs up his boots.
