‘It’s dark’ – Unemployed ex-Man Utd star Williams struggled to get out of bed after axing and dangerous driving rap
FORMER Manchester United star Brandon Williams has admitted that it “hurts watching football” since being released by the club last summer.
Williams, 24, spoke candidly to retired England goalkeeper Ben Foster about what life has been like without a football club since July of last year.
Williams, who came through the ranks at Man Utd’s academy, had been earmarked as a player for the future at Old Trafford after being handed a debut by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019.
While he also spent time on loan with both Norwich and Ipswich Town in recent seasons.
But after a run of poor form, battles with injuries and issues off the pitch, Williams was released by United last July and hasn’t played a competitive match since December 9, 2023.
Last month Williams pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without third party insurance following a high-speed crash.
Chester Crown Court heard Williams reached speeds of 99mph with a balloon in his mouth before being involved in the 74mph crash.
He is set to be sentenced on May 9.
Now Williams has opened up on the “dark” times without football since his release from Man Utd.
He told Ben Foster’s Fozcast podcast: “I was literally just staying in bed, he [unknown] used to turn up at like 9 o’clock or something at my bedside.
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“Trying to do something like ‘let’s go on a walk, let’s go for a coffee’.”
Asked how bad it got, he replied: “Yeah, it’s dark.”
And now the left-back has said even watching football hurts him these days, as he dreams of a return to the pitch in the near future.
He said: “It hurts me watching football now because I just want to be there, I just want to play.
“I miss being in a team, I miss being on the coach, I just think it’s that thing where it gets too much for somebody sometimes.”
Williams, who played for England at U20 and U21 level, has suggested that his break from the game could be what he needed.
He added: “Maybe I needed that break, just take everything in to reset.”
The defender had reportedly been eyed to join up with the England first team following his breakout season with Man Utd in the 2019/20 campaign.
While he has earned 47 Premier League appearances, 12 Europa League cameos and a League Cup winners medal for the Red Devils.
Williams spent last season on loan with Ipswich Town, where he made 15 Championship appearances but was left out of the Tractor Boys’ matchday squad for the entire second half of the season as they gained promotion to the top flight.
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