Deji Sotona discusses leaving Manchester United for first team football

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Forward Deji Sotona left Manchester United’s youth setup to join Ligue 1 outfit Nice in September 2020.

Now, he is back in English football with Brentford, having made a deadline day move on a day which was overshadowed somewhat by Christian Eriksen’s Bees arrival.

The Athletic claim that Sotona had a three-year contract offer from United on the table at the time when he decided to move abroad and join a side who were managed by former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira then.

And he has discussed that decision in an interview with them as he sets about impressing in Brentford’s ‘B’ side, following his return to England.

“(Vieira) said that he has got a plan for me and that I was going to play, I couldn’t turn it down. I wanted to stay at Man United, but I was promised first-team football at Nice,” he said.

“I always used to watch (Arjen) Robben and I want to play like that. But United always wanted me on the left to get crosses in or to cut in and shoot.

“Back then, I couldn’t use my right foot as much as I do now though! It’s not where I want it to be, but I’ve been working on it a lot.

“There is a lot more running (at Brentford) and it is more intense. At United, you get more time on the ball in training but here everyone is at it and it’s much better. You get so used to someone pressing you in those tight spaces that in a game you will get out of those situations.”

Sotona did not get the gametime he was looking for with Nice – he did not play a senior game for the club while he was there.

Of course, Vieira is no longer their manager, he is back in England too, with Brentford’s London rivals Crystal Palace.

Brentford do things differently and do not have an academy. Their aforementioned ‘B’ Team plays against senior sides from around Europe.

That should help Sotona, who can play wide on the left or up front, get his career going again at the age of 19. Perhaps he will come up against United one day, and remind them why they wanted to put a three-year deal on the table.

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