Javier Hernandez: 'Manchester United, Real Madrid didn't give me a chance'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 01 June 2016

Bayer Leverkusen striker Javier Hernandez believes that he could have been "the star" for Manchester United or Real Madrid if he had been given a run in the starting XI.

Bayer Leverkusen striker Javier Hernandez has claimed that neither Manchester United nor Real Madrid gave him the chance to prove that he could be a regular starter.

Hernandez spent four years at Old Trafford before joining Madrid on loan for the 2014-15 campaign, but at both clubs he was most frequently used as a substitute.

The 28-year-old has since joined Leverkusen, where he started 25 of his 28 Bundesliga appearances and scored 17 goals during his debut season in Germany.

"If I'd had more chances at United or Real, I'd probably have been 'the star' there as well - we'll never know," the Mexico international told FourFourTwo.

"I didn't have the chance. I never had the chance to play 20 games in a row so people could say, 'He's a good player who should stay' or, 'He can't be the star - he's not a good player'.

"Ask the United fans. The numbers are there. The difference is that Leverkusen want me on the pitch. The others didn't."

Hernandez's 103 Premier League games were made up of 49 starts and 54 sub appearances, while at Madrid he came off the bench 16 times and only started seven league games.