Homesickness nearly made me quit United: Buttner

Alexander Buttner, who jumped from Vitesse Arnhem to United in a £4million deal, was capped thirteen times last season, scoring both on his debut against Wigan and on the final day of the season in a match with West Bromwich Albion.

The Dutch defender, who was brought up in a travellers’ camp in Holland, has always had difficulty coping in England and without his family, the adaptation process was even harder.

The 24-year-old was quoted as telling The Sun: “I now know about homesickness. I’d think about my family and friends at home many times.

“How they were, what they were doing, little things like that. But I did not give up and I have my girlfriend Laura and brother Denny to thank for that.”

“They were always there for me in England. I could call on them any time. I needed their warmth,” he added.

“I’m a fighter. But had I been on my own, I’d have got on a plane back to Holland a long time ago.”