I demanded to leave Manchester United even though they asked me to stay, I made a massive mistake – Manchester United Star Regrets Leaving The Club As He Wants To Play For United Again

Andrei Kanchelskis was a relatively unknown player when he signed with Manchester United in 1991. The renowned Sir Alex Ferguson had watched a video of the Russian winger’s performances for Russia’s U21 team before taking a calculated gamble and buying him for £650,00.
There was no disclosure on the transfer talks between Manchester United and Shakhtar Donetsk. Kanchelskis didn’t know which North West team he was joining when he arrived in Manchester. Even with the secrecy, the transfer signalled the start of his rise to cult hero status at Old Trafford.
Born in Ukraine, Kanchelskis started his professional career in 1988 at Dynamo Kyiv and then transferred to Shakhtar Donetsk in 1990. There were difficulties in his adjustment to Manchester United and English football. Interestingly, Kanchelskis didn’t know anything about the team he was joining when he first arrived in England in 1991; he didn’t find out until he got to Old Trafford that it was Manchester United.
The first doubts were compounded by meeting Sir Alex Ferguson, who had already made a fearsome reputation. Kanchelskis was taken aback when Ferguson told him he would begin training the following day when they first met. Kanchelskis participated in a friendly game without his boots and, happily, received a contract offer.
As the season came to an end, Kanchelskis had to wait two months to make his debut against Crystal Palace because United’s players needed time to recover before the European Cup Winners’ Cup final. After United defeated Barcelona 2-1 in the championship game in Rotterdam, Kanchelskis’ trophy-filled tenure with the team officially began.
For Kanchelskis, adjusting to life in England proved to be a big learning curve, both on and off the pitch. Despite obstacles like language hurdles, he was accustomed to the football style because of his time spent playing for Dynamo Kyiv under Valeriy Lobanovskyi.
Funny things happened as a result of language barriers, such as when Ferguson inadvertently called him a “Scottish b******,” a term his teammates had taught him in training. But friendship triumphed, and the late George Scanlan—who even sat on the Reds’ bench during game days—played an important role as an interpreter.
In his first full season at United (1991–1992), Kanchelskis made over 30 games in the First Division and scored five goals, showcasing his talent. Ferguson commended him for his exceptional achievement in a number of areas during his first year at the team.
Even though Kanchelskis had a great time at Manchester United, there were some controversial moments during his time there, such as when he refused to play and when his agent made an odd attempt to give Ferguson £40,000 in cash.
After four years at United, despite the highs and lows, Kanchelskis left with two Premier League titles, the League Cup, the FA Cup, and the European Super Cup, making a lasting impression on the club’s history.