Former Manchester United player Anthony Elanga has admitted that he stayed with Manchester City for “four weeks” before he completed his move to Old Trafford.
Anthony Elanga was part of the Manchester United youth academy before he climbed into the first team, earning his club debut under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The 21-year-old ex-United winger managed 55 appearances for the club’s senior team, with Elanga scoring four times and registering four assists at the Red Devils.
However, Elanga was left battling for first-team minutes under United boss Erik ten Hag and made the decision to leave Old Trafford last summer.
Nottingham Forest agreed a deal worth £15m to sign Elanga from United, with the former Red Devils man since opening up on his relationship with Erik ten Hag.
Following his transfer to City Ground, Elanga has become a regular for Nottingham Forest this season and even impressed at times during the current season.
The Sweden international has scored five times and registered seven assists in 27 Premier League appearances for Nuno’s Forest side.
Elanga talks Man City interest ahead of Man Utd transfer
Speaking to Rising Ballers, Anthony Elanga recalled his time arriving in England and playing for local Manchester-based team Hattersley in his youth career.
The Sweden forward revealed that he had been scouted by Manchester City and stayed with them before a Manchester United scout was sent out to watch him.
“Started off at Hattersley FC, a local team in Manchester, and got scouted by City before actually going to United,” he said.
“Stayed at City for four weeks, then a United scout came to a City game that I played at and from there signed for United and after United now [I’m] at Forest.
“It’s been a good journey so far and I’m just grateful to be where I am today.”
Elanga on his Man Utd exit
Elanga has been thriving at current side Forest, with the former United man managing 19 Premier League starts in 27 appearances so far.
The Forest star previously admitted that it was a difficult decision for him to leave Old Trafford after spending nine years at United.
However, Elanga revealed that he wanted a “fresh start” due to the lack of playing time at United after his emergence in the Red Devils’ first team.
“It was difficult [to leave] but it was needed because I wanted to play and I didn’t want to spend another season just playing 10 minutes or not playing for 10 games,” he told The Times in February.
“I wanted a fresh start but I knew it wouldn’t be easy leaving a club that I had been at for nine years.”
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