Tom Cleverley has revealed Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to keep him at Old Trafford for the season, but the 21-year-old decided that a loan move to another Premier League side was the right step for the England Youth International - who will get a regular spot in Roberto Martinez's Wigan Athletic...

Cleverley has been a Red Devil since he was just a 15-year-old teenager, and has done very well to climb through the ranks at the club. He made his way into United's Reserve squad in 2007, and was loaned to Leicester City and Watford respectively. His best spell came at the latter club, where he scored 11 goals in 35 games.

The midfielder scored against Glasgow Celtic and the MLS All-Stars on-tour in America, where he also impressed with strength, control, good passing and crossing, and great skill. Sir Alex said he would keep Cleverley at The Theatre Of Dreams for the new season, but the England U-21 International has admitted a season-long loan at the DW Stadium will do him no harm.

"This was the right next step for me," Cleverley told The Manchester Evening News. "Sir Alex Ferguson had said he wanted to keep me, but looking at the size of United's squad and the quality of the midfielders, I worried I might not get many chances."

"I went to see the manager last week and had a chat and we both came to the agreement that it would be best to go out on loan. Wigan suits me down to the ground. I don't know the manager Roberto Martinez, but I've heard good things about him. I know he likes to play football and you can see that the way Wigan play."

"I would have loved to have stayed at United, but I had to be realistic. This is the best approach. Having tested myself in Division One and The Championship, I felt ready to give The Premier League a go. My aim is to prove myself at this level and then hopefully next season it could be the Champions League with United."

He added: "I needed the week-to-week test of the Premier League if my game was going to keep on the up. I wanted to keep going up a level. I am confident in my ability and I want everyone to see it. If I do well at Wigan then in 12 months my confidence will be sky high and I will be better equipped to tackle the challenge at United."