I’m an ex-Man Utd star but I left for second division club – I have no regrets even though I’m not guaranteed to start
KEEPER Ondrej Mastny has revealed he has no regrets about leaving Manchester United – for the Czech Republic’s second division.
Mastny, 21, spent five years at Old Trafford after a move from home-country club Vysocina Jihlava.
He played for United‘s Under-21s, and had a loan spell with Northern Irish club Portadown last season.
But Mastny has now rejoined Jihlava, despite not being guaranteed first-team football and having a year left on his Red Devils contract.
He said: “I certainly don’t see it as a backward step. Maybe it would be if I were 26, but not at the age of 21.
“I tried to gain as much experience as possible in United’s academy, and now I want to succeed in senior football.
“I got an offer to come back in July and accepted it, and discussed it for some time with United.
“I have developed as a person and a footballer. Those five years have given me a lot of experience.
“Sometimes it was heavy going, especially when I could not play. I wasted almost all my first season.
“And Covid was challenging. I wasn’t able to go home or see my parents for almost a year.
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“Jihlava has a great history, and is well above standard for the second division. It is pointless to compare them with United, whose size can be seen everywhere.
“It is great to be back. I know half the squad from my time in the youth team.”
Mastny faces a fight to displace Jihlava’s in-form first choice keeper Pavel Soukup.
He added: “I have come back to a team that is doing well, and I hope it stays that way.
“It is down to me to show what I can do in training, and to wait for my chance.
“It is clear that no-one can immediately guarantee me a place here.”
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