Dean Henderson could be set for a frosty reception at Manchester United on Tuesday night. The Crystal Palace star could go full circle by making his debut for his new club at Old Trafford, where he departed under a cloud in the summer.
Henderson was once regarded as their heir to David de Gea. The 26-year-old appeared to win the No 1 shirt in 2021 and claims he was made promises over his future with the Red Devils, which he alleges were not kept.
An injury suffered at the end of the 2020-21 campaign saw De Gea win back his place, with Henderson reduced to a substitute role for much of the following season. The now-Palace ace slammed United for their handling of his future in a revealing interview at the start of his loan spell with Nottingham Forest last season.
“To be honest, it has been the toughest 12 months of my career. It’s been hard and I am so glad I got out the other side of it,” Henderson told talkSPORT in August 2022.
“The conversation I had with United after the Euros was that I was going back to Old Trafford to be number one. I got Covid and when I came back I should have still been number one.
“But nobody followed through with what they told me. It was frustrating as well because I turned down so many good loans last summer. It’s criminal at my age, I wasted twelve months.
“I was fuming. I worked hard off the pitch and on the training pitch to keep myself improving day in and day out. I’m now looking forward to a good season with Forest.”
Henderson also admitted that he ignored new boss Erik ten Hag in training during the summer of 2022 in a bid to avoid staying at the club. He was eventually loaned to Forest, although his spell was hampered by a season-ending injury in January.
“I didn’t speak to him (Ten Hag), I didn’t even want him to see me in training because I knew he would probably want to keep me,” Henderson continued.
“I tried to do it all before the season finished. I told the hierarchy I want to play football, I don’t want to be here playing second fiddle. That was how it was panned out and it was sorted before he came through the door. I haven’t spoken to him since.”
