Inter Milan’s Ashley Young Would ‘Walk From Italy’ To Rejoin Watford

KEY POINTS

Ashley Young started his career at Watford FC
Young shared that he would return to Watford immediately if given the opportunity
The 35-year-old is currently signed to Inter Milan

Inter Milan winger Ashley Young shared that he would choose to rejoin Watford if given the opportunity.

“If I could go back and play [at Watford] again, I would walk from Italy right now because it's what I know, it's where I come from and it's what allowed me to be who I am and get where I am,” Young told the club’s podcast, “Golden Tales.”

The 35-year-old started his career with the Hornets’ first-team back in 2003 after spending years in the under-18 Watford squad, Goal reported.

“It gave me a humble beginning,” Young added.

Throughout Young's career, he spent the majority of his time as part of Aston Villa and Manchester United. Several teams were after his talent when he was younger, with Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham among the clubs interested in him.

“There was interest from West Ham at the time, there was interest from Aston Villa, there was talk of Tottenham,” he shared.

“My agent coming to tell me about the interest, as a youngster you’re like: ‘Wow, that’s amazing to hear of teams of that stature wanting to talk to you’. But on the other hand, it was: ‘No, Watford is my club, I don’t want to leave. I’ve just got promotion with a club I started at when I was 10, I’m not ready to leave,’” the former English champion stated.

Young said that he was so remarkably loyal to the team that the only way he was ever going to leave was if he received direct orders to do so.

“I sat down with Aidy [Boothroyd, then-Watford manager] and I said to him obviously there’s interest and he said to me: ‘There’s obviously interest in you,’” Young recalled.

Young eventually left Watford and made a name for himself as a consistent player on the field. When he was in Manchester United, he played in 261 appearances, netted 19 goals and tallied 43 assists. Despite this, he expressed that he would always remain connected to Watford.

“I loved everything about the club, to this day I love everything about the club. It’s what I say is home for me,” Young added.

Now a member of Inter Milan, Young serves as a veteran for the Serie A squad, which is currently in fourth place in the team standings with two wins and a draw.