Matej Kovar has expressed his thanks to Manchester United in a lengthy statement as he says goodbye.
Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar completed his transfer to Bayer Leverkusen this week. BBC Sport report Manchester United will net £7.7 million from his sale.
The academy graduate joined Manchester United in 2018 from his home national club Slovacko, and had spent time on loan at Swindon Town, Burton Albion and Sparta Prague.
It was his spell at Sparta which really stood out, helping his side win the league last season. Manchester United have a buy-back clause as part of the sale.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loans, releases, youth for 2023/24
Matej Kovar statement
Matej Kovar send out a lengthy statement on Instagram, expressing his thanks to Manchester United for the last five years of his blossoming career.
“Manchester United. The place that every single young boy dreams about and wish that could wear the shirt and i was one of them. Leave everything behind me at seventeen and joining Manchester United was a dream come true and the feeling that i had will live with me forever.
“Being at the club nearly six years is something that I’m extremely proud of and grateful for. There has been up and down. Enjoyment but also struggles where even in these moments I felt people in club were always behind me always supporting me and here to help me to achieve my goals not only on the football pitch but also out of the football pitch.
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“There is so many people in or around the club that deserve the mention because without you I wouldn’t be the player and especially the person that I’m today. All that i can say to you is Thank you so much for everything even knowing that is not enough.
“Last but not least thank you very much to all the fans for the support during these six unbelievable years that i had opportunity to be part of one of the best football clubs in the world. Now is time to say goodbye. Thank you very much Manchester United ❤️”
Reaction to Kovar message
There was a strong positive reaction towards Kovar from his Manchester United colleagues past and present.
Club captain Bruno Fernandes reached out to say, ‘You deserve the best’, while former goalkeeper David de Gea responded, ‘All the best bro’
Kovar is only 23 and has come a long way in recent seasons, especially since his first loan out at Swindon.
Manchester United fans saw this first hand with his impressive pre-season performances where he played 45 minutes against Leeds and 90 at Lyon.
However, Kovar simply ran out of road at United. He did not want to be a back-up long-term, and there was no path to first team football after Andre Onana’s summer arrival.
It made sense to cash in, and give Kovar a sense of security rather than perpetual loans, and with the buy-back clause, United still hold some control over his future, while topping up the accounts with his transfer fee in the short-term.