Aaron Wan-Bissaka opens up on isolation at Man Utd - 'I had no one apart from my PlayStation'
Aaron Wan-Bissaka played 190 times for Manchester United but eventually started slipping down the pecking order under a string of managers before opting to join West Ham this summer
by Oli Gamp · The MirrorAaron Wan-Bissaka has opened up on feeling lonely at Manchester United, claiming he "had no one apart from my PlayStation" - before sealing a move to West Ham this summer.
The 26-year-old was seen as one of the best right-backs in the Premier League when he secured a £45million switch from Crystal Palace to Old Trafford in 2019 - then only 21 - and initially became a key member of the first team as he played 100 games in his first two seasons.
But he eventually started slipping down the pecking order under a string of United managers including Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag - starting only 20 times last season.
And now Wan-Bissaka has shed light on his struggles to adapt to life in Manchester - saying his video games console was one of the only things that provided him comfort.
"It was difficult," Wan-Bissaka told the Standard. "Very difficult. I went [to Manchester] on my own and it was my first time moving away from home. I had no one up there, apart from my PlayStation.
"Because Manchester’s smaller, everyone’s aware of everything that’s happening. You have to be mentally strong to avoid the negative stuff it comes with."
Wan-Bissaka had only just made his senior debut for boyhood club Palace 18 months before putting pen to paper with United but said he wanted to take a punt on what could have been a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Explaining how his exit from United came to be - after being linked with an exit for some time - he said both parties agreed it was mutually beneficial for him to leave.
"I spoke to the club and they thought this opportunity was best for me,” Wan-Bissaka added. "They gave me some time to think about it. In the moment, I didn’t, but I spoke to family and friends about it and we all decided it was the right time."
Now Wan-Bissaka is back in his hometown of London, he looks more comfortable and has had a solid start to life at West Ham - starting eight of their first 10 Premier League games, even though the team have struggled under Julen Lopetegui.
He played a total of 190 times for United and won two trophies during his time in Manchester - though his performances were unable to convince former England boss Gareth Southgate to hand him a senior Three Lions cap.
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