'It was too late, I was right to leave there'

After many years of dedication and having served as captain, the former Manchester United player revealed the circumstances behind his 2020 departure, when the timing of the contract offer became the decisive factor.

Former Manchester United captain Ashley Young recently spoke candidly to the Mirror about his decision to leave Old Trafford in 2020, emphasizing that he has no regrets. After eight and a half years with the "Red Devils," the Englishman chose to join Inter Milan in search of a new challenge, even though the club at Old Trafford had still offered a contract extension at that time.

Joining Manchester United from Aston Villa in 2011, Young initially played as a winger before successfully transitioning to a full-back role. During his time with the club, he won major trophies including the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and Europa League, becoming one of the most experienced players in the dressing room during the transitional period after Alex Ferguson's era.

Consistent performance and significant influence earned Young the captain's armband from coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær in 2019. However, just a few months later, he decided to move to Italy to play under Antonio Conte, marking an important turning point in his career as he left English football for the first time.

Looking back at his departure from Manchester United, Young revealed the reason why he was determined to leave despite being offered a contract. He shared: “A contract offer was made. But it was too late. I had already made my decision. I think if Man United really wanted to keep me, they would have offered the contract before there was interest from elsewhere. Leaving the club in January was never easy, but looking back now, I believe I made the right choice.”

This decision quickly proved its worth when Young helped Inter Milan win the Serie A title in his second season. The English defender considers this one of the most memorable milestones of his career and admitted to feeling a special emotion succeeding in a new environment: “Winning the Premier League was amazing, but moving to a new league and winning again was even more incredible, an unbelievable feeling.”

After 18 months in Italy, Young returned to Aston Villa and helped the team qualify for European competition under Unai Emery. In 2023, he joined Everton on a free transfer, continuing to demonstrate resilience despite being in the latter stages of his career.

During his time at Everton, Young appeared in 63 league matches and maintained a leadership role on and off the pitch. He expressed emotionally: “Those were two great years. There were ups and downs. Many were against us, but the whole team stayed united – and that’s the club’s identity. I’m very proud to have represented this club. It’s a club with a rich tradition and I’m honored to be part of its history.”

At 41 years old, Young continues his playing journey by joining Ipswich Town, reuniting with coach Kieran McKenna in the Championship, while also starting to explore a career as a TV commentator, preparing for the next chapter after retirement.