Former Manchester United midfielder Anderson believes that a growing list of injury problems derailed the second half of his Old Trafford career.
The 26-year-old completed a switch to Internacional in his native Brazil yesterday, bringing to an end his eight-year association with the Red Devils.
During his first four years at the club, Anderson played a key part in helping them win an array of major honours, although questions over his weight and lack of commitment saw him fall massively out of favour.
"I played for eight years for Manchester," he is quoted as saying by The Guardian. "I would like to thank the club. In my first four years I won everything there - Champions League, Premier League and the FIFA Club World Cup. I had a knee injury and returned to play again too fast. I played but the knees were not equal and I got myself injured again."
Asked specifically about the weight issues which plagued the latter years of his time in Manchester, Anderson responded: "Do you think I'm not fit? A player will always be criticised. I had injuries in the past, but I have to be quiet right now and answer in the field.
"It will be a pleasure play for a club such as Internacional. I want to be happy as I was at other clubs. I'm coming back to Porto Alegre because Inter went after me. The president gave me attention. I was training [at United] but not playing."
Anderson joined United from Porto for a fee in the region of £26m in 2007.
Daniel Lewis
