NICK POWELL was the best young player in England when he signed for Manchester United in 2012.
However, the midfielder endured a difficult four years at Old Trafford, with his exit making him feel like “rubbish getting thrown out”.
2Manchester United made Nick Powell (right) feel like a piece of rubbishCredit: Getty
Powell signed for the Red Devils for £6million from Crewe Alexandra in 2012.
As one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s last signings, he scored on his Premier League debut against Wigan Athletic.
He would make just eight more appearances for United, though, failing to score in any of them.
Powell had been handed the “wonderkid” tag by Fergie after joining United, but it is one he struggles to understand over a decade on.
Speaking to The Athletic, he explained: “I believed I was the best 17 or 18-year-old in the country.
“But seeing what other people have done in their career, against what I have done, I find it laughable that the ‘wonderkid’ thing has stuck. The tag of wonderkid feels so pointless now.”
After loan spells at Wigan, Leicester and Hull, Powell was released by United in 2016, still aged just 22.
Recalling his exit, he continued: “My agent said, ‘It’s fine, you’re under the Bosman age (to leave on a free transfer), so they will probably give you another year and you’re guaranteed the same wage.’
“Then, a couple of weeks later, I got a letter through the post saying I was being released.”
As for the emotions the young midfielder felt after receiving the news, he added: “Because I was so low down the pecking order, it really was like rubbish getting thrown out. It’s not nice, but that’s football.”
Powell, who won a league title and Community Shield with United, went on to spend three years with Wigan before signing for Stoke in 2019.
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The former England under-21 international would leave the Potters earlier this year after being released by the Championship side.
He has remained in the Football League, though, joining beaten League Two play-off finalists Stockport County on a three-year deal.
Nick Powell joined Stockport County on a free transfer earlier this summerCredit: instagram / @stockportcountyofficial
