Heinze blasts Ferguson treatment

I deserved better treatment after my efforts for the club

Gabriel Heinze

New Real Madrid signing Gabriel Heinze has claimed he was forced out of Manchester United after falling out with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

he Argentine defender completed a £6.8m move to the Spanish giants this week, after his preferred move to Liverpool was blocked by the champions.

He says his relationship with Ferguson broke down when he returned from a knee injury to play at the 2006 World Cup.

"I upset him and things were different from then on. I had to leave," he said.

"I went to Spain for recovery but Ferguson thought it would be impossible for me to play in Germany to the proper conditions.

"You could say I won the bet but things were not the same after that.

I am convinced Ferguson would not have given me a minute all season. I deserved better treatment after my efforts for the club.

"I thank the United fans - but they are very different to the directors."

However, Ferguson has claimed the club had to sell Heinze because of the 29-year-old's exorbitant wage demands.

"Gaby came back unfit from the World Cup," he said, "and we had to rehabilitate him again.

"Meanwhile, all through that time his agents kept having meetings with (chief executive) David Gill asking to leave - or double his money.

"They wanted him to be the top-paid player at Manchester United - which is absolutely ridiculous."