10 Players Who Probably Regret Joining Man Utd

2. Eric Djemba Djemba

Eric Djemba Djemba's stay at Manchester United was so bad that he once considered quitting football on the advice of his mother. Signed from Nantes in 2003, the midfielder was brought in as a replacement for Roy Keane - one of many that would follow over the subsequent years - but found the weight of expectation hard to bear. The Cameroonian was just 22 at the time, and had to put up with tabloid speculation about his private life, with wild accusations that he had 30 bank accounts and owned 10 cars. It was something that almost caused him a meltdown during his stay at United. €˜All that stuff was difficult for me. When I read it I was upset,€™ he admitted.

€˜My mum died three years ago but back then she was in Cameroon and I said to her €œI need you to come here€. So we got her a visa after 10 days and I translated it all for her. €˜She had no hesitation. She said €œstop playing football now. Please.€

€˜I said €œno, I can€™t. It€™s my life, I like it.€ But that was a difficult time for me.'

On the pitch, things didn't go much better for Djemba Djemba, who made just 20 appearances for United and scored only twice. he was sold after just two years at Old Trafford, and moved on to Aston Villa having suffered a difficult period in Manchester - both personally and professionally.