Wilfried Zaha has revealed how he battled rumours linking him with an affair with David Moyes’ daughter.
Which happened during his brief stint at Manchester United, without receiving any support from the club.
During his first season at Old Trafford, the Ivorian was rumoured to be sleeping with Lauren which contributed to his lack of first team action.
Zaha was limited to four appearances in David Moyes’ team before he was loaned to Cardiff City in 2013/2014 season.
He returned to Crystal Palace on an initial loan the following season after his not so impressive Cardiff spell.
But he bemoaned the lack of help from Manchester United during the period when the rumours were circulating.
“No one at the club at all told me anything, I didn’t know what to do whatsoever,” Zaha said in a chat with Rio Ferdinand.
“I remember tweeting something about it saying ‘silly rumours’ because it was getting too much, so I had to say something myself.
And then I remember the club media messaging me saying ‘you shouldn’t have done that, you shouldn’t have done this’ and I’m thinking ‘you haven’t helped me.’
“I’m here by myself, struggling because people are telling me I’ve slept with the manager’s daughter and that’s why you’re not playing me.
“The funny thing is, it’s carried on for so long I felt like, is the manager not going to come and have a word with me over this?
“That’s how I felt and I’m thinking this is ridiculous man.
Up to this day, I still get people that think that’s true and I’ve never even met his daughter.”
Zaha who has scored three goals and made three assists for Crystal Palace this season before football break.
He explained how traumatic the experience was for him as a teenager.
“It was stressful, I’m 19 living in Manchester and all of a sudden we come back from a tour.
And I’m not playing for no reason so obviously people are going to make up rumours,” he continued.
“I’m in Manchester where I’m by myself, and I’m not playing on top of that, so it’s stressful enough to have a rumour.
“People came out with it, I see it trending on Twitter.
People came out with how can he play so well on tour then just be dashed out like that with nothing.
No one telling us anything he must have slept with the manager’s daughter.
“And that started going and I’m 19, and my Twitter is blowing up.
I’ve never had it before and my Twitter is blowing up and there’s no one for me to speak to.”
