Tom Cleverley will have a keen interest as two of his former clubs go head-to-head today when Manchester United host Aston Villa. He once confessed he was relieved to escape the "negativity" that had shrouded him at Manchester United.
Escape from Old Trafford
The former midfielder left for Aston Villa on loan following a troubled spell at Old Trafford, describing the switch as "common sense" for all parties. Cleverley joined United's academy at the age of 12 and progressed through the youth ranks.
He spent time at other clubs during his tenure at United, including temporary spells at Watford and Wigan Athletic, before a stint at Villa ultimately earned him a permanent transfer to Everton. Across 79 appearances for the Reds, Cleverley netted five goals and provided seven assists.
Relief from negativity
However, the cloud of negativity hanging over the club at the time of his loan departure in 2014 left him more than happy to leave Manchester behind. Speaking following his deadline-day switch to Villa 12 years ago, Cleverley said: "I am happy to get away from some of the negativity that surrounded me at Man United and I am genuinely excited about this season at Aston Villa."
"If all the players last season said they were high in confidence, they would be lying. It wasn't just me. It was the rest of the squad and that rubs on to players and the fans, too. It was a tough season for us but I've got away from the negativity of that and this is a brand-new challenge and I can't wait to get stuck into it."
"If any footballer gets a bit of stick off their own fans, they are going to be hurt but it has made me strong as a character. You don't turn into a bad player just because someone says it on Twitter."
Praise for Van Gaal and career after United
Despite experiencing a turbulent period at United, Cleverley was eager to commend his then-boss Louis van Gaal. He continued: "He was always straight with me. Any footballer wants the best opportunity to play every week so it was common sense for me to try and get this move."
Cleverley's deal expired at the end of the 2014/15 campaign and he made it clear that he believed his Old Trafford days were over. He added: "With me being out of contract at the end of the year, if I'm honest, I don't think I would play for the club again."
He signed for the Toffees following a productive loan spell at Villa, where he featured 37 times and scored three goals. His time at Villa Park ended with an FA Cup runners-up medal after losing the final to Arsenal.
Two campaigns at Everton followed, where he appeared in 42 matches and registered eight goal contributions. Cleverley would finish his playing career at Watford, where he arguably reached his peak, netting 19 goals and providing 15 assists.
He has subsequently moved into management, coaching Watford from 2024 to 2025 before taking up his current position as head coach at Plymouth Argyle.
