PLAYSTATION & LONELINESS: THE HEARTBREAKING REALITY OF AARON WAN-BISSAKA’S EARLY DAYS AT MANCHESTER UNITED
Aaron Wan-Bissaka speaks out: Read about his Man Utd struggles, why he backs Michael Carrick, and his DR Congo World Cup journey.
Down in a private cinema room on the ground floor of a slick Canary Wharf apartment block, Aaron Wan-Bissaka gets something footballers rarely do: a little quiet.
It’s his day off. He’s got on a fresh tracksuit, speaks softly, and melts into a big comfy seat, looking just as calm as he does on the pitch. Later, he grins and says his plan is simple: take a nap.
That kind of steady presence has always been Wan-Bissaka’s thing. He’s never chased the spotlight. He’d rather let his football do the talking. Now he’s at West Ham, after learning the ropes at Manchester United, and he’s in a thoughtful mood. He’s looking back at a journey that started on London estates, took him all the way to Old Trafford, and brought him home again.
As he talks, it’s clear this story isn’t just about football. It’s about family, and sacrifice, and the stuff that happens off the pitch. Long before the Premier League lights, Wan-Bissaka learned to play on a patch of grass outside his childhood home.
“I was probably five when I first fell in love with football,” he says. “It was just me and my brother playing around with a ball on the estate. We’d head over to the green across from our house. We called it our Wembley.”
But the idea of going pro didn’t really sink in until he was around sixteen. “That’s when I realised I actually had a shot. That’s when I started taking it seriously, really chasing the dream.”
Wan-Bissaka shows up for this chat with Daily Mail Sport, soft-spoken and thoughtful.
Growing up, like a lot of London kids, he idolised Thierry Henry. “I always wanted to be him,” Wan-Bissaka admits. “Honestly, I used to imagine being him growing up and playing like that. He was my idol. It was his composure. He scored loads of goals, but he also carried the team. He was a leader. My whole family supported Arsenal when I was a kid.”
Funny how things turn out. Now, at 28, Wan-Bissaka is known for being a rock-solid defender: reliable, no-nonsense, and shaped by the grit that comes from family and a pretty tough relationship with his dad.
“I didn’t realise at first how much my parents were giving up for me,” he says. “When I started secondary school, that was the age you wanted new trainers and boots. I could be pretty demanding. But they’d tell me, ‘You have to wait a couple of months.’ That’s when I started to get it. It wasn’t easy for them to buy me the stuff I wanted.
“They both worked cleaning jobs so they could pay for my boots. My dad even got in trouble at work for leaving early to take me to training.”
Wan-Bissaka says his dad, Ambrose, showed his support through discipline, not praise. 'It was hard because we didn't speak the same language well. He didn't speak much English, and my French wasn't great, so we didn't say much,' Wan-Bissaka remembers. He's now played nine games for DR Congo, his father’s home country. Next month, they'll play either New Caledonia or Jamaica in Mexico for a spot in this summer's World Cup.
'We mostly talked about football. He was always pointing out what I could do better. Never any praise. I didn't get it at the time. I wondered why he never praised me. I kept wondering if I was good enough.'
'Even when I scored, he wasn't happy. I wondered if one goal was enough! But as I got older, I understood. He wanted me to push myself to be the best.'
After a smooth start in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, where he was named player of the year in his first full season, he moved to United for £50 million. It was a huge step and a tough time.
Wan-Bissaka felt homesick after joining Manchester United. 'Most days, I was home alone, playing PlayStation until bedtime,' he says.
He had a good relationship with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, which helped. 'He’s a good guy, and we got along,' Wan-Bissaka says about his old boss.
'When I moved to the United States, I missed my family and friends,' he says. 'After training, I took the train back to London almost every day. It’s only two hours, but it was tiring, so I had to stop.
'I wasn't used to it. I was comfortable at home in London, with familiar faces and places. It was hard to change everything so fast. I was often home alone, playing PlayStation until bedtime. It was tough, probably the lowest I've felt. '
Wan-Bissaka's big move from Palace in 2019 came with a lot of expectations. He also got his first call-up to the England team, but he couldn't play because of an injury. He quickly became a regular at United, starting more games than anyone else in Europe's top leagues in 2020-21.
His good early relationship with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer helped him when he was struggling.
'I got along well with Ole from the start,' he remembers. He’s a great person, and I think the other players felt the same. He supported you right away. Once he told you what to do, it was up to you to trust yourself and do it.'
Later managerial changes, especially under Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag, challenged that security.
'It’s football, and every manager has their favourites,' he says. 'They might like you or not; that's part of the game. When Rangnick came, it wasn't a good time for me, and there was a lot of criticism...
'It was hard when Erik ten Hag came. He told me right away that I wasn’t in his plans. But when I tried to leave, he didn’t want me to go. I didn't get it. It was hard because I didn't know what to do.'
Wan-Bissaka didn't connect as well with Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag as he did with Solskjaer at first.
He improved his relationship with Ten Hag, and they won the Carabao Cup with United in 2023.
'I kept working and trying to get better. It was hard to stay motivated when I wasn't playing.
'But the people around me helped me and told me to keep going. Things got better eventually. I might have changed or learnt some tactics under him; that’s what he wanted.'
He says clarity is important. He got that from Michael Carrick. He speaks highly of United's former interim boss, praising his simple messages during his time in charge in 2021.
It’s no wonder he wants Carrick to get the job permanently after a great start.
'He's someone you can trust,' Wan-Bissaka says. 'He'll trust you if you trust him and what he wants to do.
'He kept things simple. The guys liked him and the games when he was in charge. Now that he's back, the team is doing well. I think he should get the full-time job. He deserves it.'
Manchester was about pressure and growth, but West Ham has been a fresh start. Moving back to London meant being closer to family and a new football environment.
He played so well in the first season that he was named 'Hammer of the Year' in May, beating Jarrod Bowen.
Wan-Bissaka talks to Daily Mail Sport's Charlotte Daly about the good times and bad.
ALAN SHEARER NAMES MAN CITY CLEAR FAVORITES FOR THE 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE CROWN
Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1. Alan Shearer discusses why the title race is now firmly in City’s hands.
Alan Shearer came away really impressed by how Arsenal played against Manchester City, but he thinks their earlier slip-up against Bournemouth could end up being what costs them the Premier League title.
City closed the gap to just three points behind Arsenal with a 2-1 win in Sunday’s big clash, with Erling Haaland bagging the winner at the Etihad. Kai Havertz managed to pull Arsenal back into the game after a disastrous mistake by Gianluigi Donnarumma, and that was right after Rayan Cherki had given City the lead with a bit of magic.
Havertz had a golden chance to equalise late on after Eberechi Eze hit the post, but he couldn’t finish it. You could see the frustration on the faces of the Arsenal players; they’ll be kicking themselves for missing those chances in the days ahead.
The win puts City in a great position. They have a game in hand, and if they beat struggling Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday, they’ll go top of the table. Arsenal, meanwhile, are back at home on Saturday against Newcastle, and with just one win in their last six games, it’s hard to see that as anything other than a must-win for them.
Shearer didn’t hold back when he talked about Arsenal’s performance. On The Rest Is Football podcast, he said, “Where was this last weekend against Bournemouth?" Where was this fight, this urgency? Because honestly, I think that’s the game that’ll haunt them, not today. They were flat against Bournemouth. Against City, though, they looked sharp. You can’t really complain about how they played this time; they took the game to City, created loads, and really gave it a go. It was a brilliant match.”
Shearer still thinks City are now the clear favourites for the title, but he fully expects more drama before it’s all over. “Arsenal had their moments. They missed some huge chances, Havertz’s header at the end, that one-on-one, but you have to back City now. Look at the past month or so: the teams they’ve beaten, the way they’ve played. But I still don’t believe both City and Arsenal will win all their remaining games. There’s bound to be another twist.”
On a lighter note, Shearer joked that at least Arsenal won’t have it too tough next weekend, coming up against a Newcastle side stuck in a four-game losing streak. “Look, if only football were that simple, everyone just winning every match, it’d be boring. I’ve been in those title races myself; I know how tense it gets. It never goes perfectly for anyone. The one positive for Arsenal is that they’ve got Newcastle next, and they’re in terrible form. That’s something to hold onto.”
When asked if City should be considered the outright favourites now, Shearer didn’t hesitate: “Yeah, definitely. They’ve got a game in hand; they’re on a roll; they’ve got the momentum. They’re favourites now, no doubt about it.”
ROBERTO DE ZERBI ISSUES BOLD CLAIM, BACKING WINLESS SPURS TO WIN REMAINING FIVE GAMES
Tottenham suffer late 2-2 draw against Brighton. Read why Roberto De Zerbi believes they can still avoid relegation.
Tottenham let three crucial points slip away on Saturday, conceding a late equaliser to Brighton. Spurs looked set for a win after Xavi Simons put them 2-1 up in the 77th minute, but a Kevin Danso error handed Georginio Rutter the chance to score five minutes into stoppage time.
That goal stung. Spurs could’ve moved out of the relegation zone, at least for a day or two, since Nottingham Forest and West Ham weren’t playing until later in the weekend.
The draw also means Robert De Zerbi is still waiting for his first win as Spurs boss, though at least he’s finally earned his first point. Right now, Tottenham sits just one point from safety, but if results go the wrong way, they could be four points adrift by the end of the gameweek.
If Spurs want to survive, they have to start winning. Next up is a must-win against the bottom club Wolves. Nothing less will do, especially with tough games against Aston Villa, Leeds United, Chelsea, and Everton closing out the season.
De Zerbi Clearly Rates Simons
Big performances from key players are Spurs’ only way out, and Xavi Simons is right at the heart of that. De Zerbi was impressed with what he saw from the Dutch midfielder against Brighton.
“He played very well. "A great game", De Zerbi told football.london. “I think he can get even better, because a player like this needs to feel confidence from the manager. I’m here to give him all the confidence he needs.
“When I played, I was a number 10 myself, so I understand what he’s thinking. I think I’m lucky to have him, but he’s lucky too, because as a former number 10, I might understand him better than most coaches.”
Simons has six goals and seven assists this season. If he keeps those numbers climbing in the last few matches, Spurs have a real shot at staying up, especially since Kulusevski and Kudus are still out. The good news? James Maddison is fit again after a bad knee injury in preseason, and he’s set to return in the next week or so.
Must Read
_1776624536.webp)
