Man United 'let down' Wilfried Zaha but he will be at a top club again soon, says Neil Warnock

Ready | Neil Warnock says Wilfried Zaha can make it at the very top
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Wilfried Zaha is ready to move to one of Europe’s top clubs having been ‘let down’ during his time at Manchester United, according to Neil Warnock.

The Cardiff manager, who will look to give his slim hopes of Premier League survival a shot in the arm against Crystal Palace this weekend, was in charge at Selhurst Park for a second spell when Zaha returned to south London from Manchester United, initially on loan.

Zaha agreed to join Manchester United halfway through Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season at the club, spending the remainder of that season with Palace before moving to Old Trafford under David Moyes.

The forward, who recently admitted his desire to go and play in the Champions League, played just four times for United before going first on loan to Cardiff, then Crystal Palace where he eventually signed permanently again.

"He wasn't in a good place. I met him in the chairman’s office and I had half an hour with him,” Warnock said of Zaha’s return.

“It was obvious then he felt let down by Man Utd, and when I spoke to him I could understand why.

“He [was] only a young lad, really young lad and he needed help really, an arm around the shoulder. It didn’t appear that he got any of that.

“But that is what you do really, you go away and rekindle that enthusiasm. He has always head tremendous skill and I am sure I can say in the next few years he will go to one of the top clubs in Europe."

Zaha signed a new deal in August 2018, but laid out his top level ambitions in a recent interview.

“It gives me goosebumps seeing the crowds, amazing stadiums,' he told the Daily Mail. “When I’m seeing players I think ‘what would I do in that predicament?’.

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“I feel I can get to that stage, with the confidence I have and belief in my ability. I should be there. I’m missing out. I don’t just want to be at home watching it.

“Real players, when the time comes, it’s that big stage, they’re the ones that step up. I want to be that player in the big game.

“I want to be competing at the highest level where there’s an opportunity to win trophies. That’s where I picture myself.”

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