‌At that time, Ten Hag served as assistant manager at the Dutch club and made considerable efforts to keep the promising youngster. ‌However, the midfielder chose to ignore then-United manager Ten Hag due to a previous encounter with the boss at his former youth club. You're not going to play every game, maybe one game in every three, you'll be around the squad.' Reflecting on his choice to leave Old Trafford, the now 29-year-old said: "Leaving United, you're like, 'Am I really going to do this? Everyone at United said, 'You're crazy, you'll stay in Brazil, you'll never come back to Europe.'"

Source: Daily Mirror December 26, 2025 14:11 UTC