I am currently netting goals for enjoyment, as I departed Man United due to being played out of position.

Danny Welbeck is unlikely to ever forget September 23, 2008.

At the age of 19, Sir Alex Ferguson extended an invitation to him to make his senior debut by donning a Manchester United uniform for the first time. Welbeck was given the opportunity to start in the third round of the League Cup at Old Trafford against Middlesbrough. He was positioned at the front of the pitch alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, and his performance contributed to United’s 3-1 victory.

The initial of 142 appearances that the former England international made in United colours, which saw Welbeck play 90 minutes, occurred that evening. Welbeck, who was born in Longsight, fulfilled the aspirations of every youthful United fan. Despite the fact that the 33-year-old was never a prolific scorer during his tenure at United, netting only 29 goals, his Old

Trafford career resulted in the acquisition of six major trophies, including one Premier League title. 103 of the 142 appearances that Welbeck made were under Ferguson. Welbeck’s demise at Old Trafford was precipitated by the legendary Scot’s retirement at the conclusion of the 2013/13 season.

He made 33 appearances in the subsequent season under David Moyes, scoring 10 goals, but featured only three times under Louis van Gaal at the commencement of the 2014/15 season, leading him to conclude that it was time to depart from his

comfort zone and embrace a new challenge. Arsenal approached him, securing his transfer on the final day of the 2014 summer transfer window for £16 million. The striker had been with United since the age of eight, making his decision to relocate to the capital a significant step both personally and professionally; however, he felt compelled to make the move due to United’s utilisation of him. “At the time, I was frequently playing on the left wing in a

4-4-2 formation, which is quite challenging for me because I cannot significantly influence the game,” Welbeck stated. “I can perform to the best of my ability, but that is not optimal for the team, and I could have a greater impact playing in my preferred position.”