Brandon Williams has spoken candidly about his difficult times at Manchester United. He admitted that during his time there, he couldn`t fully express his struggles due to concerns about potential repercussions.
Williams, aged 24, was released by Manchester United last July after several loan spells and a decline in his performance.
The defender has not played a competitive game since December 2023 and has been without a club since last summer.
Williams has now revealed the “dark” period and personal problems that contributed to his departure from Old Trafford and his loan period with Ipswich Town in the Championship.
Last month, Williams admitted guilt to dangerous driving and driving without insurance after a high-speed car accident.
Chester Crown Court was informed that Williams reached speeds of 99mph with a balloon in his mouth before a 74mph crash in August 2023. His sentencing is scheduled for May 9.
Williams was sent back to Manchester early from his loan at Ipswich. Manager Kieran McKenna, who knew him from Manchester United`s academy, advised him to address his off-field issues.
In an interview on Ben Foster`s Fozcast podcast, Williams described feeling unable to get out of bed. He mentioned that his family and friends were concerned about him, partly due to betrayals by friends.
He stated, “My friends were worried about me, Angel Gomes, Jimmy [James] Garner, and D’Mani Mellor. I wasn’t training, I stayed in my apartment, I wasn’t going out or doing anything.”
He added, “At that point, I lost my passion for football. It became overwhelming. I had issues with friends who were disloyal and stabbed me in the back.”
“I was ignoring my family, and barely spoke to them. They were very worried about me, and so were my friends. They noticed something was wrong.”
The former England youth international also disclosed that he reached a point at Manchester United where he “couldn`t be bothered” to train, despite enjoying his first three years after breaking into the first team.
Williams realized he needed help and sought assistance from Manchester United`s club psychologist, Mick Farrell.
He explained, “Yes, I spoke to Mick Farrell at United. He was the psychologist there, and I`ve known him since I was about 15. He often checked in on me.”
“When I was unable to leave my apartment and stayed in bed, he would come to my bedside around 9 am to encourage me to go for a walk or coffee.”
Williams, who made over 50 appearances for Manchester United, highlighted the immense pressure of playing for such a massive club as a factor in “falling out of love with football”.
He added, “With social media, it`s United. Even after your best game, you still face criticism, and my family reads those comments.”
“It`s difficult to explain to them the sheer scale of the club. You don`t truly grasp how enormous it is until you play there.”
“It is definitely the most challenging club to play for in the world. I underestimated its magnitude.”
“I knew it was big, but it wasn`t until pre-season tours or traveling to other countries, even on holiday, that I realized. Even in remote places, people recognize me. The club`s reach is unbelievable.”
Navigating this pressure was challenging for Williams. He felt that football lacked an open environment for discussing personal issues.
He said, “No, nobody really talks about it if someone has a problem. At least, that`s been my experience.”
This culture and fear of consequences prevented Williams from being completely honest with club psychologists about his problems.
He explained, “During conversations with club psychologists, I wasn`t always completely truthful.”
“If I shared something personal, it could quickly spread within the football club. It`s a very close-knit environment, and news travels fast.”
“I was always cautious about what I should and shouldn`t say.”
“Looking back, I should have spoken to someone outside the club or been completely honest with him.”
Williams also felt a lack of complete trust in those around him, saying, “It`s a dark place. Many people care, but some might care more about maintaining their lifestyle. They might push you to `get back` quickly because they need you.”
Now, Williams feels ready to play again after months of fitness training in a taekwondo center with Olympic athletes and individual workouts.
He mentioned receiving numerous offers from clubs worldwide since last summer.
He told Foster, “I will discuss with my agent to assess the situation. But since August, many teams have approached me from America, Europe, England, and the Championship. However, I wasn`t ready.”
“I want to choose a place where I am 100 percent certain, fully focused, and ready to move forward. When I reach that point, we will consider the offers.”
You`re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,www.samaritans.org, 116 123
