Wigan Athletic old-boy's 'Manchester United regret'

After being named in the PFA team of the season - and the France World Cup squad - following a fantastic debut campaign with Latics, Chimbonda was reportedly being lined up for a summer switch to United.

However, after handing in a transfer request within minutes of the final whistle - still in his kit - of the last game at Arsenal, Chimbonda hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

After burning his bridges at Wigan, he eventually joined Tottenham at the end of the summer.

But he has been left on his 'stupid' actions which he says are the 'biggest regret' of his career.

"That’s my biggest regret. That changed a lot of things," he told The Athletic.

"If I didn’t do what I did then maybe I would have joined Manchester United.

"But when I made this mistake, I threw my chance away.

"Manchester United didn’t want to sign someone who would do this.

"Wigan were so mad, they didn’t say anything to me.

"At the end of the game I gave a written letter to the manager in the dressing room, and he opened it in front of everyone.

"I wasn’t even showered yet. ‘The chairman was there too and I thought “what have I done?” What a stupid thing to do.

"We were supposed to meet on the Monday, but I was told the manager doesn’t want to see you. Just go on holiday.

"That’s my big regret. If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t do this."