Dean Henderson has slammed Manchester United for their "criminal" treatment of him last season and has admitted that he did not want to play under new boss Erik ten Hag.
The 25-year-old, who has been with the Red Devils since becoming a professional player in 2015, enjoyed two successful loan spells with Sheffield United between 2018 and 2020.
Henderson returned to Old Trafford for the 2021-22 campaign and has revealed that he was given assurances that he would replace David de Gea as the club's number one goalkeeper.
However, the shot-stopper made only three appearances for the senior side last season – none of which were in the Premier League – and the Englishman has expressed his anger towards United for failing to follow through on their promise.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Henderson said: "The conversation I had coming out of Euro 2020 squad was 'you're coming back here to be the number one'.
"I got COVID-19, came back, so I should have still been the number one, but then nobody followed through with what they had told me.
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"It was frustrating, because I turned down so many good loans last summer for that reason, and they would not let me go. To sit there for 12 months, it is criminal really, at my age, I was fuming."
After a disappointing campaign under the tutelage of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, United have since appointed Ten Hag as their new head coach.
Henderson, however, has opted to join newly-promoted Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan deal, and claims that he had to leave United this summer after the 'toughest 12 months of his career' to gain regular first-team football.
"I told the hierarchy that I need to be playing football and to let me go, and I was almost gone (earlier this summer) before [Ten Hag] came through the door. I have not spoken to him since," Henderson added.
"I didn't want him to see me in training because I knew that he probably wanted to keep me.
"To be honest, it has probably been the toughest 12 months of my career. It has been tough, hard, and I am so happy I have gone out the other end of it.
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"I worked hard on and off the pitch to keep improving, day-in-day-out, and now I am looking forward to the season with Nottingham Forest."
Henderson added: "You may have noticed that I haven't been able to do an interview in two years. That's evident, isn't it?
"I just kept myself to myself, I've sort of toned down in the sense where I don't need to be saying stuff, I just go and end up doing it.
"There's nothing wrong with self-belief, you have to believe in yourself in this game. Especially in this position you're probably playing the hardest position on the pitch, you have to believe in yourself.
"Maybe when I'm younger I said a few things in interviews that I maybe shouldn't have and it may have been over the top but it's all part of learning."
Henderson is now regarded as Steve Cooper's number one goalkeeper at Forest, and he will be hoping that his performances at the City Ground can help earn a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for the 2022 World Cup later this year.
Oliver Thomas
