David de Gea has sent a message of support to Paul Woolston after the Manchester United youngster was forced into early retirement.
United officially confirmed the goalkeeper's retirement from football aged just 23 on Wednesday afternoon. Woolston's decision to retire comes after two operations and a lengthy rehabilitation period, which sadly forced his hand.
Woolston joined United in 2018 after impressing scouts playing for Newcastle's academy and he represented England up to Under-18s level, travelling to the U17 European Championship and U17 World Cup with his country. Woolston was also a regular for United's U23s during his time in Manchester and he regularly trained with the first team, learning alongside No.1 David de Gea.
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“To have to retire at just 23 has been really tough to come to terms with, but I feel a lot more positive now,” Woolston told United's in-house media. "I am really proud of everything that I have achieved, many people dream of playing football at this level.
"Of course, I would have loved to have gone on further but it has been an absolute honour to represent Manchester United during my time here. The support of my family, friends, team-mates, coaches, the medical staff and entire Manchester United Academy has been phenomenal. Right now, I am fully focused on the next stage of my career.
"I am ready to use all of my learnings, resilience, drive and determination to make a real success of my life.”
United's goalkeepers, Dean Henderson, Tom Heaton, Lee Grant and De Gea, have all sent their messages of support to Woolston following the news of his early retirement, with the latter leading the tributes to the stopper.
"Well, it’s always bad when someone has to retire at a young age," De Gea told United's in-house media. "I’ve spoken with him, the other day, and said to him that the most important thing is life, more than football, in terms of a proper life.
“It was sad. I have been training with him, when he was fit, and it’s very sad news. I wish him all the best. He’s a great lad, a great goalkeeper and we all feel really sorry for him.
“I trained with him and he had a very good left foot, I remember, and it’s sad for him and for the club. But, as I said before, I was speaking with him and, first of all, it’s life and being in good conditions to have a good life.
“Of course, in life, sometimes problems happen and things happen. You have to keep looking forward, keep fighting and that is what life means. Like I say, I wish him all the best.”
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