‘Annoyed’ Man United boss had frosty phone call with FA Cup hero Dean Henderson

‘Annoyed’ Man United boss had frosty phone call with FA Cup hero Dean Henderson

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson was Crystal Palace's hero in the FA Cup final on Saturday, yet his career began at Man United where tensions ultimately became frayed

Dean Henderson once refused to return to Manchester United (Image: ITV Football )

Crystal Palace's Dean Henderson may have been the star performer in Saturday's FA Cup victory, but his confrontation with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola brings to mind a previous clash with another Premier League boss.

The 28-year-old Palace goalkeeper was the hero at Wembley, making several crucial saves, including a penalty stop, to secure the Eagles' first-ever major trophy. However, post-match saw a heated exchange between Guardiola and the England international, reportedly over time-wasting antics.

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Henderson looks to have finally found his footballing home after spending several seasons out on loan while being on the books at Manchester United. And it was former United boss Erik ten Hag who faced the brunt of Henderson's anger when the Dutchman contacted the England star over his future in 2023.

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Ten Hag had approached Henderson, then on loan at Nottingham Forest, with the intention of bringing him back to United following the end of Martin Dubravka's loan period at the Red Devils, which saw him return to Newcastle.

Henderson was advised that his career progression would be better served by returning to his parent club rather than continuing at the City Ground, reports the Mirror.

Almost seven months into his tenure at United, Ten Hag finally managed to speak with his estranged goalkeeper, who had reportedly 'p****d off' Ten Hag by heading off to Forest before the two could discuss matters.

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Erik ten Hag wanted to bring Henderson back off-loan and for him to return to United (Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images )

The Dutchman's chat with Henderson was notably short, with the goalkeeper firmly declining a return to Old Trafford, eager to leave the club for regular first-team action. Reflecting on Ten Hag's entry in August 2022 to talkSport, Henderson recounted how he deliberately avoided United's then-new boss, risking the ire of the former Ajax manager.

"I didn't want the manager (Ten Hag) to come in and be able to see me in training," he said. "I knew he'd probably want to keep me, so I tried to do it all before I left for the season. I told the hierarchy I need to go and play football, I don't want to be here playing second fiddle.

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"It was all planned out. I was almost gone before the manager came through the door and I haven't spoken to him since.

"To be honest with you, it's probably been the toughest 12 months of my career. It's been tough, it's been hard and I'm so happy I've got out the other end of it."

Previously, the United academy product had voiced his displeasure with how the club managed him. His prospects at United dimmed further when expected to step up as the main keeper after David De Gea's challenging season in 2020.

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Henderson was the hero against Man City (Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images )

Yet, following a bout with Covid-19, Henderson found himself sidelined once more at Old Trafford. "The conversation I had coming out of that Euros squad was ' you're coming back here [United] to be the number one goalkeeper'," he added.

"I got Covid, and come back, I should have still been the number one, but unfortunately, no one followed through with anything they told me.

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"It was frustrating because I turned down so many good loans last summer for that reason and they wouldn't let me go. So, it was frustrating. To sit there and waste 12 months, it's criminal really at my age. I was fuming. But I worked hard off the pitch and on the training pitch to keep improving day in, day out."

After loan stints at Stockport County, Grimsby Town, Shrewsbury Town, Sheffield United, and Forest, Henderson finally ended his Old Trafford stalemate by completing a move to Palace, believed to be around £20million.

He has since racked up 61 outings for the club and received the No. 1 shirt ahead of this season.

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