Former Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst has revealed the truth behind his disappointing spell at the club, pointing to Erik ten Hag’s tactical approach as the reason for his struggles at Old Trafford. United surprised the Premier League when they signed the 6ft 6in forward from Burnley for Roanley in January 2023.
After a brief but impressive spell with Besiktas in Turkey, Weghorst linked up with compatriot Ten Hag at United, desperately trying to fill the gaping hole left by the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Dutchman showed great dedication every time he put on a United shirt, but ended up scoring just two goals in 31 games in all competitions during his six-month spell at the club, resulting in a blank in the league.
Still, he won the Carabao Cup that season, assisting Marcus Rashford in the final win against Newcastle.
It represented the only major silverware of the 33-year-old’s career.
However, Weghorst was candid about his lack of goals, insisting he was used as a support player to get the best out of his team-mates, and blamed Ten Hag’s system for this.
“The last few months have been very successful, with very few losses,” Weghorst revealed.
“I was also very important to the team as the center of play and as a hard-working link between midfield and attack.
“Only the goals were behind, which hurt me and caused me to lose my starting spot. The Premier League is the toughest league in the world, with the best defenders. But we rarely took the lead and created chances. And the way we played was also different to what I was used to.”
“In Germany and Turkey, the team always played for me. I was the last line. Whereas at United I mainly had to ensure that the other players were good. I think I did that well. But no matter how you look at it, I would have liked to have scored more often.”
The Dutch striker has since returned to Ajax and revealed he turned down a lucrative offer from Besiktas after scoring nine goals in 18 games.
But his decision was made when the Red Devils approached him after leading his country to the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.
“Things went very well in Besiktas and I had a lot of fun there,” said the forward.
“One night I got a call from my agent Simon Ziomer. Simon said, “Two clubs are interested in you.” First he told me about Brentford, and then suddenly he shouted, “Wow, United want you!” I dropped the phone and started crying.
“I have a very good relationship with the sporting director of Besiktas and I explained to him that it was my childhood dream to play for Manchester United. He said he understood, but Besiktas kept making more and more financial offers. I won’t say the amount, but believe me when I say I lost a lot to make the transfer possible.”
Weghorst’s passion for United was so strong that he revealed that he was overcome with emotion while watching United beat rivals City 2-1 in the Manchester derby in the lead-up to his transfer.
He confessed: “When I entered that magical stadium for the first time in my life, took my seat, looked around and heard the chants of the fans, I was shocked.
“That was the moment when I realized that this is my club now, and I watched one of the greatest football matches on the planet. Of course, when I was young I dreamed of this, but to see it actually happen, I was trembling.”
He was often used as a lone forward under manager Ten Hag, but the lack of chances created for him contributed significantly to his modest goalscoring return, leaving him with mixed feelings about his tenure at the club.
He said: “There was zero adjustment time.The pressure was strange and the physical strain was greater than I had ever experienced before.
“It was only in the last few months that I felt really comfortable. Then I started being myself and trying to shed my shyness. Maybe I was too humble in the period before that.
“But I’ll never forget the goal against Real Betis at Old Trafford. The fans were so crazy about me, because they knew I was giving it my all. I’m very proud of how far I’ve come.”
Upon leaving the club in the summer of 2023, Weghorst expressed his love for United and his gratitude to the supporters.
Alongside a video montage of his time at United, he declared: “Thank you, dear Man United fans, for everything. I have truly enjoyed every moment of my time at this club, from winning the silver medal to scoring my first goal against Real Betis at Old Trafford.”
“It’s a dream come true and I’m incredibly proud to wear the badge. I wish you all the best for the future. Thank you to all the Man United fans.”
Weghorst joined Ajax in August 2024 after completing a loan spell with German side Hoffenheim.
