Juan Sebastian Veron didn’t enjoy the best of times in England. The midfielder played for both Manchester United and Chelsea and even won a Premier League title with the former but struggled to adjust to the English game.
The Argentine enforcer was the most expensive transfer in England at that time, after United paid £28 million for his signature but was sold after one year at the club to Chelsea, a move he regrets.
Speaking to manutd.com “Sometimes I played with Scholes and Keane, sometimes in a 4-4-2 with Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole. The system varied, but I should have stayed at United and not left”
Veron became aware of Manchester United when he was a boy after his father told him about the club. “I knew United was a great club, my dad had told me about Best, Law and Charlton from when he played against them in the ’68 [Intercontinental Cup] final.”
Veron had also played against his former club managing to defeat them. “I’d also played against United for Lazio in the 1999 Super Cup in Monaco. Lazio won, but United were the Treble winners. I knew they were a team who never wanted to lose, but Lazio were at a more advanced stage of the season and that helped us”
The Argentine initially had doubts over a move to England. "I wasn’t convinced that England was the right place for me and thought there could be more passport problems. They liked the culture, my wife speaks English. So we made the decision as a family to go to Manchester."
Veron has played in England and Italy and he cited the differences of playing in the two leagues.“In Italy, it was more tactical and about closing down the games. In England, the games were more open, the ball came back and forward. It was more physical too."
Despite not enjoying a great season with United there were several moments that the player enjoyed but he picked out one memory in particular. “There was a game against Arsenal when I scored, the year we won the league. That stands out”
Veron currently works as the chairman of his hometown club Estudiantes with whom he played a majority of his career with. He helped the club win their first tournament in 2006 in 23 years lifting the Apertura 2006.
