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Wilfried Zaha has revealed his hurt and anger over the rumours which dogged his Manchester United career.

Sir Alex Ferguson signed the England winger for £15million in 2013 as a gift to his successor. But he made only made four appearances for David Moyes before being loaned to Cardiff and then back to Palace. He returned “home” to his Eagles on a permanent deal in February and is enjoying life again at Selhurst Park.

But before Saturday’s visit of Manchester United to SE25, the 22-year-old claimed he was never given a chance at Old Trafford after only starting one match for Moyes - the Community Shield win over Wigan in August 2013.

“I played in all the pre-season games and then in the Wigan game I never played my best,” he admitted. “I played for England and then zero games. Then the rumours started basically because he just stopped playing me with no actual reason that I knew.

“It was either: I slept with David Moyes’ daughter or I have got a bad attitude. Those are the two rumours that stuck with me until I left Man United. I have had no say since then.

(Image: Chris McGrath)

“I never even met her (Moyes' daughter). But as soon as anybody sees me now, people think: Wilfried Zaha, bad attitude. I just don’t understand why. I went through that every single day.

“Getting constant tweets, people outside making jokes. I just had to take that on knowing that I wasn’t going to play for United either. I lived up there by myself as well so there was not really anybody to speak to.”

Zaha admitted not only his form suffered. “Yes at times I was depressed,” he said. “I felt a lot of things. When I don’t play well nobody needs to say anything to me. I beat myself up. It stresses me out if I mess it up.”

The Palace star said Moyes did nothing to help.

(Image: Patrick Smith)

“As soon as Moyes came he just said I wasn’t ready for the Premier League,” he revealed. “He didn’t say why. I didn’t really understand it. I felt I wasn’t given a chance really.

“Going to Man United you’re expected to be the final product. That’s what it felt like. Maybe it would’ve been different with Ferguson, but I was still learning - I’d just come from the Championship.

“There was a lot of pressure on Moyes - he needed to deliver. He couldn’t take a risk. I’m not putting the blame entirely on him, I’m sure he had stuff on his mind as well.”

Zaha has found a more empathetic boss in Alan Pardew, though the Palace boss on Friday warned he will not spend time explaining the next time he is dropped. But the winger said: “Pardew doesn’t treat me like a robot. He actually sits you down and has a word, sees how you are feeling. For me, that’s big. He sees how you are.”

(Image: Action)

Zaha is looking to buy a house in London and admitted regaining his England was a “massive motivation”. And he can now look back at the positives a move to Manchester he insisted he could not have turned down.

“Going there taught me a strong mentality,” he reckoned. “If I was weak I wouldn’t do as well as I am doing really. I’m happy to be back at Palace.

“Not everyone can say they were signed by Sir Alex Ferguson and Man United. It’s not all bad for me, I haven’t faded away, I’m still playing, I’m still getting a chance.

“I live my life fine now. I don’t live and be scared there is going to be this and that or whatever. I just come to training, work hard, go home, prepare for the game, then play. There is nothing more to it anymore.

“Playing Manchester United is like playing any other team in the league now for me, I don’t feel any way about them anymore.”