Aaron Wan-Bissaka has recently opened up about the difficult and lonely experience he faced after joining Manchester United in the summer of 2019.
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The versatile defender made the high-profile move from Crystal Palace for a whopping £50 million, with hopes of a bright future at Old Trafford. However, his early days in Manchester were far from easy.
Having come from London, Wan-Bissaka found it challenging to adjust to life away from home. Reflecting on his time in Manchester, the 26-year-old admitted that he felt isolated, saying, “It was difficult. Very difficult. I went [to Manchester] on my own and it was my first time moving away from home.” He continued, “I had no one up there, apart from my PlayStation.”
The adjustment to life in Manchester was compounded by the city’s smaller, close-knit nature, which made it hard for Wan-Bissaka to escape the constant attention and scrutiny. Despite these struggles, he found strength in his mindset, adding, “You have to be mentally strong to avoid the negative stuff it comes with.”
Wan-Bissaka spent five years at United, making 130 Premier League appearances, but his time at the club was marked by a series of challenges, including injuries and managerial changes. While he showed glimpses of his potential, his consistency was hindered by the instability surrounding the club. Despite this, Wan-Bissaka has always maintained a determined outlook on his career.
Now, at the prime of his career, Wan-Bissaka has made the move to West Ham, where he’s looking for a fresh start under new manager Julen Lopetegui. Despite his struggles with United, the defender explained that his decision to move there was a necessary one. “It got tiring!” he confessed about his time at Old Trafford. “It wasn’t the right idea for me to be doing that. I had to try and settle up there, and I ended up doing that.”
Looking back, he also reflected on whether he joined United too early in his career, pondering, “I’ve thought about that. It could have gone any way.” But, ultimately, the opportunity was too good to pass up. “Is this opportunity going to come again?” he asked himself, deciding to take the chance and give it his all, regardless of the outcome.
Now, as he embarks on a new challenge at West Ham, Wan-Bissaka’s career is at a crossroads, but his experiences at Manchester United have shaped the determined player we see today.