A Manchester United hero had no choice but to quit the club when the manager continuously slagged him off and sent his girlfriend away

A former Manchester United star claims he had no choice but to leave the club after Sir Alex Ferguson continuously targeted him. And he told how the legendary boss "slagged him off" and even sent his girlfriend away.

Lee Sharpe was one of the stars of the United side who went close to winning the First Division before dominating the early years of the Premier League. The winger spent eight years at Old Trafford under the Scottish boss, but their relationship was regularly strained.

The eight-time England international joined United in 1988 from Torquay United and as a young player was under the watchful eye of Ferguson, who was concerned by Sharpe’s private life and exuberance on and off the pitch.

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In 1996, Sharpe was sold to Leeds for a club record fee, but by that stage in his career, injuries caught up with the winger and he played just 37 times in all competitions in three years.

Speaking to newbettingsites.uk, Sharpe opened up about his Old Trafford exit: “I didn't want to leave the club. I loved the club. I loved the team, the players, the fans. It was just the manager I wasn't getting on with.

“I wasn't enjoying my football. I don't think he was particularly helping with my game or my life at the time as well.”

Despite not seeing eye-to-eye with Fergie, Sharpe won three league titles, two FA Cups, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

“I had a great time at United. Because of the rules back then, it was predominantly a British team, so everybody spoke the same language. Everyone was on the same wavelength.

“We had a little smattering of foreign sugar on top of the cake, if you like, with Eric Cantona, Andrei Kanchelskis, and Peter Schmeichel, who were unbelievable players and great lads and great characters as well, to boot.

“I had amazing friendships there. Amazing players, amazing times. So I had an unbelievable time. You know, Manchester was kicking off on the music scene. The football club was successful; the Premier League had kicked in, so there was more coverage, and the crowds were bigger.

“We were playing in front of more people every week. I had a fantastic time. It was just the manager I didn't get on with.

“He kicked me out of my house and put me back in digs, sent my girlfriend back to Birmingham. Slagged off my car, my clothes, my friends, my haircuts. You name it, he slagged me off for it. In the end, it just got a little bit too much for me.”