Darren Fletcher has revealed that Manchester United wanted him to stay at Old Trafford, but his desire for regular playing time convinced him to join West Bromwich Albion.
The Scotland international ended his 19-year association with the Red Devils by signing a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Baggies on transfer deadline day.
Fletcher's contract at United was due to expire in the summer, but the former Premier League champions allowed him to leave in this window for free.
"Manchester United are a fantastic club and I've got so many great memories there but I feel it's time for a new challenge for me," Fletcher told talkSPORT.
"I haven't had as many games as I would like this season and, after everything I've been through, I'm a professional football player. I want to play football and hopefully I can do that at West Brom. They've given me the opportunity to do that.
"I spoke to the manager [Louis van Gaal] about not playing as much as I wanted and the club didn't really want me to go, but they respected my wishes."
Fletcher won five Premier League titles, a Champions League, an FA Cup and two League Cups during his time at United.
Danielle Joynson
