Ex-Man United starlet Brandon Williams admits it 'hurts watching football now' after being released - as he lifts lid on darkest days and faces two years in prison

Brandon Williams has admitted in a candid interview with ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster that he struggles to watch football anymore after being released by the Red Devils last summer.

Williams burst onto the scene as a teenager at Old Trafford after being handed his debut by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019, but injuries and loss of form led to him being sent out on loan to Norwich and Ipswich before he left his boyhood club in 2024.

The 24-year-old is now facing a potential two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to dangerous driving last week.

Williams crashed his car at 99mph 'with a balloon in his mouth' while accompanied by a young woman in August 2023, and will be sentenced on May 9.

Ahead of his court date, Williams has spoken out about how he has found it difficult to cope after not being picked up by another club.

Speaking on Foster's The Fozcast, which will be released in full on Thursday, Williams explained: 'It hurts me watching football now because I just want to be there, I just want to play, I miss being in a team, on the coach, I just think it's that thing where it gets too much for somebody sometimes.'

Brandon Williams has revealed he struggles to watch football after leaving Man United

Williams burst onto the scene at United in 2019, but injuries and loss of form led to him being released

Williams is now facing a potential two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to dangerous driving

Williams has not played a competitive match since December 29, 2023. He was left out of Ipswich's matchday squad for the second half of last season as they secured promotion to the Premier League, and then failed to earn a new contract at United.

Over nine months after moving on from United, Williams is still without a club, but he suggested the break could benefit him in the long run after hinting that he fell out of love with football in recent years.

'Maybe I needed that break, just like take everything in to reset,' he added.

Williams was once tipped for stardom, with United legend Gary Neville hailing his attitude in his breakthrough season.

After Williams starred in United's 1-0 FA Cup win over Wolves in January 2020, Neville wrote on Twitter: 'I like Brandon Williams. What I like about him specifically is he has that look in his eye of someone that would eat his opponents nose to win the match. Keep going kid! Oh, he can play football too which is always a bonus.'

Williams did kick on in the latter half of the season, keeping the much more experienced Luke Shaw out of the team as Solskjaer put his faith in him.

It didn't take long for then-England boss Gareth Southgate to sit up and take notice, as he reportedly eyed Williams for a potential spot in his Euros squad the following year.

However, the 2020-21 season didn't go to plan as Williams lost his United place to Shaw and struggled with injury setbacks.

Brandon Williams has sat down with Ben Foster to discuss his footballing career and the challenges of Man United.

This looks a really good watch 👏 pic.twitter.com/0opGhLU7HS — george (@StokeyyG2) April 2, 2025

Gary Neville was a fan of Williams in his breakthrough season at United

But Williams got into an online spat with Rio Ferdinand after Man City won the Treble in 2023

Williams did not play again for United after calling out Ferdinand on Instagram

Things did not improve after that, and Williams got into an online spat with Rio Ferdinand after Manchester City won the Treble in 2023.

Williams was seemingly unimpressed with City completing the feat 24 years after United, as he posted on his Instagram story: 'Nobody wants a sloppy seconds'.

He then took aim at Ferdinand after feeling the former United defender had praised City too much, writing: '@rioferdy5 Bet you don't congratulate if you was [sic] player keeep [sic] the same morals. [Snoozing face emoji] too [sic] face is boring.'

Williams did not play again for United after calling out Ferdinand, and he is now facing an anxious wait to see if he will be sent to prison next month.

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