Man Utd coach called player a 's***bag' before he left the club

Manchester United cult hero Danny Welbeck was called a "s***bag" by a Red Devils coach after securing a transfer to Arsenal in 2014. The 34-year-old is set to return to Old Trafford this afternoon when United host Brighton in a huge Premier League encounter.

Welbeck was born in Manchester and starred as a youngster during his time in the United academy before being handed his first-team debut by Sir Alex Ferguson in a League Cup clash with Middlesbrough in 2008. He went on to appear 142 times for the Red Devils, scoring 29 goals in the process. But he struggled to hold down a regular starting place and was sold to the Gunners for £16million just after Louis van Gaal took over as United manager.

During his time at Old Trafford, Welbeck worked with Warren Joyce, who was a coach at the club between 2008 and 2016.

And Joyce, who now oversees Nottingham Forest's under-21s side, was disappointed when Welbeck chose to move on.

Discussing one of his final interactions with Welbeck, the 60-year-old told The Athletic: "Danny's come round the building saying goodbye to everybody and in the coaches' dressing room there is only me. 'Come on give us a hug, say ta-ra,' he says.

"I say, 'Nah, you're a s***bag, you've let these lot win. You should have stayed here and fought for your place, proved every single day that you're better than all them.'"

Joyce then came face-to-face with Van Gaal's assistant Albert Stuivenberg, who is now the No. 2 at Arsenal.

And the ex-United man added: "Just as I've said that I've heard a clink and the assistant, Albert, walks out the toilet. I said, 'See you've let them win. You should have proved them wrong. Isn't that right, Albert?'"

Welbeck stayed at Arsenal for five years, before spending one season at Watford. And he was then snapped up on a free transfer by Brighton in October 2020, with the striker going on to enjoy a new lease of life on the south coast.

The veteran has contributed 41 goals and 17 assists in 170 appearances for the Seagulls and helped them to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season.

Last weekend, he grabbed a brace for his team as Brighton defeated Newcastle 2-1. And a year ago, it was revealed that Erik ten Hag even wanted to take Welbeck back to Old Trafford during his time in the United dugout, but the transfer was blocked.