Tomasz Kuszczak has revealed he felt like a 'slave' at Manchester United after the club blocked his move away in 2011. The Polish goalkeeper, who spent six years at Old Trafford, claimed he was being held captive by the Red Devils after they prevented a loan switch to Leeds United.
Speaking in November 2011, the then-29-year-old said: 'I've talked to Sir Alex [Ferguson] lately. I asked him to let me leave the club before the January transfer window. I told him I want to get back into the national team, because Euro 2012 is just around the corner, but it seems he doesn't care.' He added: 'Do they do it maliciously? I'm sad they behave like that. I've become a slave to Manchester.'
Kuszczak joined United from West Bromwich Albion in 2007 as an understudy to Edwin van der Sar, but the Dutchman's longevity and the arrival of David de Gea in 2011 pushed him down the pecking order. By the 2011/12 season, he was fourth choice behind De Gea, Anders Lindegaard and Ben Amos, and had not played a single first-team minute that campaign.
United refused to comment on the matter at the time, but Kuszczak eventually secured a loan move to Watford in February 2012 before joining Brighton permanently that summer. He made 89 appearances for the Seagulls, more than his 61 outings for United across six years.
Now retired, Kuszczak lives in Manchester and holds two season tickets at Old Trafford, where he regularly attends matches. 'I’ve got two season tickets and I love sitting with the fans,' he said. 'I’m just in normal seats, not far from the away fans and I can go and shout the team on. I love it.' He added: 'I’m screaming from a different angle now, I used to scream from the goal, now I scream from the stands!'
