For months speculation about United’s stand out player David De Gea’s future has remained uncertain due to constant Real Madrid interest. Manchester United may well lose the star if Galacticos make him their top priority. With the future of one of their goalkeeper hanging in balance, another keeper in United ranks has announced he will leave the club in summer for pastures new.
Ben Amos, 24, will cut 12 years of ties this summer and will leave the club on free. The goal keeper added that in the summer, he was promised a second place behind Degea, however with the purchase of Victor Valdes in January, Amos is pushed behind the pecking order as the fourth choice keeper.
According to Manchester evening news,“Being a United fan, I’ve always believed I can play for Manchester United and always aspired to be a Manchester United player,” said Amos.
“You could say Victor’s arrival was the final nail in the coffin. Pre-season, I was told I was number two. With the cup games, if I’d got a sniff of that, that would have made it worthwhile sticking around for. As soon as Victor was brought in, I was essentially demoted to fourth really. Fourth-choice goalkeeper, you’ve got to move on.”
The Macclesfield born Reds fan also said that he stuck with the club for long enough due to the love he has for the Red Devils. “If I’m being totally honest because I am a United fan is why I’ve hung around a little bit more than I should have” he said.
“But I don’t regret anything. I’ve learnt every day and pushed myself every day. I’ve given it everything I have to make it at United. That’s what I wanted to do. Now I have to look forward and there’s a future after United” said Amos.
“There’s no secrets about that. I have to go and play football. People might say I’ve waited too long at United. They’re probably right but I’m just looking forward now and wanting to enjoy my football.”
“It’s been a fair old while since I’ve got out and had some games. I’ve had a frustrating couple of years. A new manager’s come in at United and I’ve been hanging on, being a United fan, thinking maybe this is my chance.”
Sir Alex Ferguson handed Amos his first team debut in a League Cup tie against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford in 2008. Then he made his European debut when he played against Valencia in the Champions League and made his top flight bow in a 2-0 home win against Stoke in 2012.
Last January he moved to championship side Bolton Wanderers on loan. Amos debut for the Trotters was as second half substitute at Nottingham Forest. His first job was to pick a penalty out of his net and he conceded again before the end of a 4-1 defeat.
Amos said the experience he has gained at Old Trafford while working with the legendary Edwin Van Der Sar has helped him a lot. “You could say experience is the biggest thing, I’ve come away. I’ve been with Van der Sar and people like that, seen how they handle themselves on and off the pitch. How they are as people and how they approach the game, because that’s a big thing” he said.
“I’ve learnt loads of things, cherry-picking from different top goalkeepers, so that’s one benefit of not playing games but being at a big club.”
However, he added that despite his long stay with the club, he was never going to compete with someone like De Gea, due to his huge price tag.
“David De Gea is one of the best in the world, so it was up to me to go out and get some games. De Gea was bought for 20m and I’m a young lad coming through the ranks. He had two years in La Liga playing out of his skin, so in terms of experience you’re behind straight away” he said.
“I’m out of contract in the summer at United. We tied it in that way, so that I had the freedom of a free move, being 24 I can leave on a Bosman. That gives me a little bit more flexibility about where I can go” he said.