Cleverley reveals he was relieved to escape Man Utd negativity in 2014 Villa loan move

Tom Cleverley has opened up about the difficult final chapter of his Manchester United career, saying he was relieved to escape the negativity surrounding the club when he joined Aston Villa on loan in 2014.

The midfielder, who made 79 appearances for United after coming through their academy from the age of 12, departed Old Trafford on deadline day that summer and was candid about the toll the atmosphere had taken on the squad.

“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,” Cleverley said at the time of the move. “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.”

Despite the difficult circumstances of his exit, Cleverley was measured in his assessment of then-manager Louis van Gaal, crediting the Dutchman for his honesty. “He was always straight with me,” he said. “Any footballer wants the best opportunity to play every week so it was common sense for me to try and get this move.”

Cleverley also addressed the criticism he had received from United supporters, suggesting it had ultimately shaped him. “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.”

With his contract due to expire at the end of the 2014/15 season, Cleverley acknowledged at the time that he did not expect to play for United again — a prediction that proved correct.

The Villa loan proved a success. Cleverley made 37 appearances at Villa Park, scored three goals, and collected an FA Cup runners-up medal after the club lost the final to Arsenal. That form earned him a permanent move to Everton, where he went on to make 42 appearances across two seasons.

He would later find his most consistent form at Watford, contributing 19 goals and 15 assists before retiring. Cleverley has since moved into management, taking charge of Watford in 2024 before being appointed head coach at Plymouth Argyle.