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Former Manchester United manager David Moyes has spoken out about his unsavoury departure from the club.
The 51-year-old was cut loose in April after a disappointing spell in charge at Old Trafford, as a wounded United limped towards their worst ever Premier League finish.
Much of the blame was cast upon Moyes and Ed Woodward - who was also new to his role as head of operations at Manchester United - for their failure to strengthen the team in last summer's transfer window.
The former Everton manager made just one major signing, bringing Marouane Fellaini with him from Goodison Park for £27.5million, but he has revealed the club failed in their pursuit of world class additions.
"It's been well documented that we wanted Cesc Fabregas, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo," Moyes told the Mail on Sunday.
"There was talk of Ronaldo when I first arrived. We were close to getting a couple of major names.
"I'm not getting in a blame game here but things just didn't materialise.
Winners and losers from the Manchester United tour
"I had taken over from the most successful manager in history. The chief executive had taken over from one of the most renowned administrators in the game. So it was a new job for two people."
News that Moyes would be dismissed spread through the media on April 21, but the Scot was only informed of the decision in a meeting with Woodward the next day.
The club refused to deny reports Moyes would be sacked as speculation mounted the previous day, and he was clearing his desk by 8.30 the next morning.
"I was devastated to lose the job because it was something I felt we could make a real success of," Moyes said.
Plenty rallied round Moyes after his dismissal and the man himself felt he was not given time to settle into the role.
"In the end, I don't feel I was given the time to succeed or fail," he added.
"In the end it was difficult for my family, the way we discovered - via the media - that I'd lost my job."
