Henrik Larsson regrets leaving Manchester United early; Owen Hargreaves looks to make a final comeback attempt
Former Swedish international footballer Henrik Larsson has said that one of the biggest regrets he has from his playing days is not having spent more time at Manchester United. Larsson spent a three-month loan period at Old
Trafford, and despite pleas from Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, he decided to head back to his home country.
It was a surprising move from Ferguson back in 2007 when he announced that former Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson would be joining Manchester United during the January transfer window. The experienced frontman was an instant
hit at Old Trafford, scoring in three different competitions for the Red Devils.
Larsson played just 13 games for Manchester United and scored three goals, one each in the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and the Carling Cup. The 39-year-old came to United at a time when the team was going through
some difficult times, and his arrival helped get the team’s campaign back on track. United ended up winning the Premier League and, after special dispensation from the league, was also granted a winner’s medal.
Larsson ended his career with Helsingborg in Sweden after his short stint with Manchester United. The footballer who played two World Cups and two Euro Championships for Sweden has now taken on managerial responsibilities
at Landskrona.
While reflecting on his career, Larsson said that he could have availed the opportunity at the twilight of his career to stay longer at Manchester United. He added that he enjoyed his short stint and could have done a lot
more had he stayed a bit longer.
"If there is one regret I have from my career, it is that I came home to Sweden when Mr. Ferguson was trying to get me to stay at Manchester United," Larsson told FIFA's website.
"I should have stayed at United for longer because I had a great time there and everyone at the club was very keen to keep me. My time there was too short.”
Larsson said the experience of playing for United was something he would never forget, and that even though he was already 35 at the time, he still feels that he could have extended his stay a bit longer. He felt physically
fit at the time, he said, and could have carried on at least a whole season at old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Manchester United's unfortunate injury-prone midfielder Owen Hargreaves has revealed that he will hang his boots should his final attempt to get back into the team fail.
Hargreaves is said to be in United’s lineup for the Carling Cup match against Wolves on the 26th of October. This would be his first game in the starting lineup in over two years. He has previously
made a few unsuccessful attempts to recover fully from his knee injury.
According to a British newspaper, Hargreaves has decided to give it another go. The newspaper reports that Hargreaves has said he would love to get back on the pitch. However, he also stated that he would not let the injury
ruin his life beyond football, and so if he could not make it back into the team this time, he would call it a day. While talking to the newspaper, the English midfielder also revealed said that his injury had not only made a big impact on his career but also
on his personal life.
Sir Alex Ferguson, meanwhile, maintains that he has always had faith in Hargreaves’ return and will continue to believe in him now.
Hargreaves, who came to United in the summer of 2007 from German club Bayern Munich for 17 million pounds, made the most telling contribution against Arsenal in the Premier League in 2008, when at 1-1 he knocked in a winner
from a free kick.
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