Petrucci Still Has His Eyes Set On Becoming A First-team Player

Davide Petrucci insists he has not given up hope of becoming a Manchester United first-team player after joining Royal Antwerp on loan.

Petrucci has gone down a well-trodden path as over 30 United players have spent time on loan at their Belgian feeder club.

Whilst most of the players have returned to United and then left, there have been a handful of exceptions with the likes of Darron Gibson, John O'Shea and Jonny Evans all spending time in Antwerp - before returning for first-team action at Old Trafford.

Indeed Petrucci says he spoke with Evans before making the move.

"I spoke to Jonny and he told me good things about Antwerp from when he was here," explained Petrucci to United's official website.

"So that was probably one of the reasons I came here plus the manager is Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who was a great player. That was an extra motivation for me so that's why I came.

"I am at the age where I need to play. Reserves football is fantastic when you are young but for us, me especially, I played there for a few years and won everything every year. I needed that step up. I couldn't do more than we have done already.

"I think it's not easy for David Moyes because he's just arrived and needs to have more focus on the first team. It's understandable but I need to think about myself and try to play as well as I can. Hopefully, he will see that and I will come back.

"You need to believe all the time - otherwise there is no point to play football, you know. If you don't believe in yourself, it is better not to play. I hope I can come back to United and play for the first team."