Dean Henderson Deliberately Avoided Ten Hag to Secure Manchester United Exit
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson has made startling revelations about his final year at the club, admitting he deliberately skipped training sessions to avoid manager Erik ten Hag and force through his transfer away from Old Trafford.
Boyhood Dream Turns to Frustration
Henderson first joined Manchester United's academy in 2011 at just 14 years old, fulfilling what he described as a childhood dream. The now 28-year-old Crystal Palace shot-stopper spent twelve years with the Red Devils before making his permanent departure in 2023.
The goalkeeper experienced his breakthrough during the 2020/21 season, making 26 appearances across all competitions under then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, his opportunities dwindled dramatically the following season as United cycled through three different managers.
Broken Promises and Wasted Time
Following a season-long loan at Nottingham Forest during the 2022/23 campaign, Henderson has now spoken openly about what he calls "the toughest 12 months of my career." The England international accused Manchester United of failing to follow through on promises made to him after he returned from the European Championships with the national team.
"The conversation I had coming out of the Euros squad was that you're coming back here to be the No. 1 goalkeeper," Henderson told talkSPORT. "I got Covid, then unfortunately no one followed through with anything they told me."
The goalkeeper described the situation as "criminal" given his age and career stage, revealing he had turned down multiple loan opportunities in the belief he would become United's first-choice keeper.
Deliberate Avoidance Tactics
Most remarkably, Henderson disclosed that before his move to Nottingham Forest, he intentionally avoided working under or even being seen by new manager Erik ten Hag, who took charge at United in the summer of 2022.
"I didn't want him to see me in training," Henderson confessed. "Because I knew that he probably wanted to keep me. So I told the hierarchy that I need to play football, I don't want to be here and play second fiddle."
This calculated strategy was designed to engineer his departure from the club where he had spent his formative years, demonstrating the depth of his frustration with his situation at Old Trafford.
Mixed Emotions and New Beginnings
Despite the acrimonious end to his United career, Henderson acknowledged that playing for his boyhood club had been "a dream come true." In a farewell message to MUTV, he expressed pride in having represented United in European competitions, FA Cups, and most importantly the Premier League.
Since joining Crystal Palace, Henderson has flourished, securing an FA Cup triumph and being appointed club captain following Marc Guehi's transfer to Manchester City in January. The goalkeeper now prepares to lead his team in an emotional return to Old Trafford on Sunday, as Palace seek consecutive league victories for the first time since December.
The revelations provide a rare insight into the difficult decisions professional footballers must sometimes make to advance their careers, even when it means distancing themselves from clubs they have supported since childhood.
