Former Man Utd prospect blames ‘disrespectful’ manager for Old Trafford exit

A former rising star at Manchester United says his 2023 exit from the club was due to feeling disrespected by then manager Erik ten Hag.

The 22-year-old is now playing for Dutch side Utrecht, playing 18 times in the Eredivisie last season as the club finished fourth in the table.

The midfielder made just one appearances in the Red Devils senior team, coming off the bench against Young Boys in the Champions League in December 2021.

That appearance came under interim boss Ralf Rangnick, but it was under Ten Hag that he became frustrated with his lack of opportunities at Old Trafford.

The Iraq international says that there was a turning point when he was told he would be playing in a match but turned up and that plan had changed, feeling a lack of respect from management as a result.

Iqbal told The National: ‘I just wanted 10 minutes off a bench to show myself and it really frustrated me that the gaffer didn’t seem to rate me enough to give me a chance to show if I could sink or swim.

‘I spoke to my dad and agent and said: “I can’t do this for another year”. From the outside, it looked amazing to all my friends because I was training and travelling with United’s first team. For me, it was mentally tough because I was just training and not allowed to play with the under-23s. I thought to myself, “I’m just like a number”.

‘I was supposed to start a cup game against Charlton Athletic from League One. I was in all the shapes and patterns in pre-match training. I was starting as a 10 and Lisandro Martinez came up to me and said: “Now’s your chance”. He talked to me and said, “all of us are supporting you. Just show yourself, you’re a good player. We’re going to fight for you, make sure you’re ready to fight”. It motivated me and it was nice from him, an aggressive leader in the team, a big player. I got tickets for family and friends to see me. Finally, my chance.

‘Then I got to the stadium, looked at the whiteboard and didn’t see my name. I was gutted. Then I thought I’d come off the bench. Nothing. That was the turning point for me. I didn’t feel the manager respected me enough to play me.’

It was clearly a difficult decision for Manchester-born Iqbal to leave Manchester United, despite his frustrations, as illustrated by the emotional message he penned when he departed.

‘Manchester United has been my home since I was five years old,’ he wrote in 2023. ‘Alongside my family, this club has developed me into the person that I am today.

‘From the Cliff to Carrington and then to the Theatre Of Dreams, I have so many incredible memories of my 15 years associated with this amazing club.

‘I have had the opportunity to play with so many team-mates, that I will now always call friends, and worked with coaches who always supported me in so many different ways.

‘There are too many people to thank. Kitmen, physios, teachers, chefs, nutritionists, security staff, coaches and everyone else in between, they’ve all played their role in making me the player that I am today. They know who they are and know how much they mean to me and my family. We’ll be forever grateful.

‘The Academy is a special place that makes dreams come true for so many. That was certainly the case for me. I’ll never forget standing on the touchline at Theatre Of Dreams, waiting to come on for my debut. That feeling of pride will live with me forever.

‘Representing Manchester United in Europe is one of the biggest honours you can have in your career. People don’t realise the amount of work and dedication that goes into achieving a debut and living out your dream.

‘The fans were amazing with me that day. You’ve always given such love and support to myself and my family. Trust me, it did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. I’ll always be a United fan and I’ll always love this football club.

‘The time is right to go and take on a new challenge. It is one that I cannot wait for and I’ll be applying myself with the same level of desire, determination and dedication that has taken me this far in my career.’