It has been 10 months since Manchester United released Brandon Williams.
Manchester United academy graduate Brandon Williams issued an emotional goodbye following a 17-year stint at the club last summer. He walked through the exit door with Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial and fellow academy star Charlie McNeill.
Prior to Williams’ exit, the left-back spent a season away on loan at Ipswich Town where he was part of a side that achieved promotion to the top-flight.
However, Williams could not do enough to convince United that he had what it takes to remain at Old Trafford.
Williams made 51 appearances for United’s first team, scoring once and assisting one during that period, but never cemented a starting role.
The search for a new club continues as looks to move on from his complicated past.
Brandon Williams considered retirement
Since leaving Manchester United, Brandon Williams has been unable to find a new club.
The left-back, who made his United debut in 2019, suffered injuries and a loss of form before being loaned out to Norwich City and Ipswich Town.
Williams was subsequently released by United last summer. He then decided to take a break from football and is now facing a potential two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.
He is set to be sentenced on May 9.
Speaking with former United goalkeeper Ben Foster, Williams revealed that he considered retiring from football before taking a break from the game this season.
“I wasn’t happy to sit out for a season but I was prepared to have a break,” Williams told The Fozcast.
“I just didn’t know how long that break was going to be or how long I needed that break for. Looking back now, I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have the break.
“I don’t even think I would be training now, I think that would have just (been it with football). But being back now, being back watching the football, it actually hurts me watching football at the minute because I just want to be there.
“I just want to play, I miss being in a team, one the coach, I just think it’s that thing where it gets too much for somebody sometimes.”
Williams opens up on ‘dark’ times
It’s no secret that Williams has had issues on and off the pitch in recent years.
In his interview with Foster, Williams speaks about the “dark” times he suffered without football since his release from United.
“I was literally just staying in bed, he [unknown] used to turn up at like 9 o’clock or something at my bedside.
“Trying to do something like ‘let’s go on a walk, let’s go for a coffee’.”
When asked how bad it got, Williams relied: “Yeah, it’s dark.”
Williams also revealed that he has received interest from various clubs from the United States, England and Europe – but he was not ready to return at that stage.
The former England U20 and U21 international is training on his own 6-days a week in an effort to build up fitness.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
