Marseille’s Heinze regrets way he walked out on Ferguson

GABRIEL HEINZE regrets the acrimonious manner of his departure from Manchester United.

The Argentina full-back spent three years at Old Trafford, during which time he won a Premier League and became a crowd favourite for his no-nonsense tackling.

However, his time with the club ended in bitterness. In declaring a desire to leave in 2007, Heinze demanded to join Liverpool, something totally unpalatable to Alex Ferguson.

The pair exchanged angry words before Ferguson eventually got his way. Heinze joined Real Madrid instead, after which Ferguson revealed the defender had first asked for a transfer within 12 months of his arrival from Paris St Germain.

Now at Marseille, who entertain United in a Champions League last-16 first leg tie tonight, the 32-year-old looks back on the period with a shake of the head.

He takes full responsibility for his actions and accepts the situation was not handled particularly well.

“I regret it a lot, especially the last three months,” said Heinze. “I am a strong person and so is Alex Ferguson. I took the decision I did and I regret it, especially for the fans and I hope it has not tarnished me with them.”

That Heinze wanted to leave in the first place was a disappointment to United. Trying to quit for Liverpool merely inflamed passions.

“I don’t really want to talk about what happened four years ago,” he said. “Maybe some day I will tell the whole story.

“But I knew the risks and was aware of what being at a club like Liverpool would mean.”

Heinze has met Ferguson just once since, a brief encounter in Qatar when Argentina met Brazil in a friendly.

“I was really happy to see him,” said Heinze. “When I was at Manchester United, Ferguson impressed me a lot. He gave me a winning culture.

“I had three wonderful years there. It is a great club and it is not so very different now from four years ago. It is the same coach.

“He is the one who sends the message that it is always to win. The players may change but the philosophy stays the same.”

In his own press conference, Ferguson left no one in any doubt who he blamed for the stormy nature of Heinze’s departure, absolving the player from any responsibility.

“I have no issues at all with Gabriel Heinze,” said the Scot.

“It was not down to him. It was a bad agent that engineered the situation.

“Gabriel was a fantastic player for us. In his three years, he did very well.”