Brandon Williams admits that it ‘hurts watching football’ after being released by his boyhood club Manchester United last summer.
The 24-year-old came through the United academy and made a total of 51 first-team appearances after making his debut in September 2019.
Williams, who mainly plays as a left-back, is still a free agent and remains without a club since his exit from Old Trafford in July.
Capped once by England U21s, Williams spent time out on loan at both Norwich City and Ipswich Town during his 16-year spell at United.
Williams has now decided to open up about his feelings in a new interview, lifting the lid on how the process has largely impacted his mental health.
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Speaking to fellow former United player Ben Foster, Williams highlighted how he has struggled to get out of bed in the morning during ‘dark’ days.
‘I was literally just staying in bed, [friends] used to turn up at like 9 o’clock or something at my bedside,’ Williams told Foster’s podcast.
‘Trying to do something like ‘let’s go on a walk, let’s go for a coffee’.’
Quizzed over how bad things got for Williams, the former United star said: ‘Yeah, it’s dark.’
‘It hurts me watching football now because I just want to be there, I just want to play.
‘I miss being in a team, I miss being on the coach, I just think it’s that thing where it gets too much for somebody sometimes.’
Away from football, Williams pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without third party insurance following a high-speed crash last month.
Williams reached speeds of 99mph with a balloon in his mouth before being involved in the 74mph crash, Chester Crown Court heard, with the former United star set to be sentenced on May 9.
‘Maybe I needed [a] break,’ Williams added about his spell away from the sport. ‘Just take everything in to reset.’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the former United manager who handed Williams his debut six years ago, once described the player as being ‘brave as a lion’.
‘Brandon [Williams] was Man of the Match, and I thought he was absolutely excellent,’ Solskjaer said in October 2019 after United secured a 1-0 Europa League victory at Partizan Belgrade.
‘Fantastic attitude. Great defending, great in the air. He gets us the penalty by driving with the ball forward. I didn’t think he put a foot wrong.
‘He’s been fantastic in the games he’s played, and the boy has no fear. He’s as brave as a lion, and he got us the win. We’ve found a left-back there. The boy’s going to be a top player.’
If you are impacted by any of the issues raised in this article, you are able to call the Samaritans for free on 116123 for mental health support.
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