FORMER FA Youth Cup-winning captain Rhys Bennett posted an emotional goodbye as he left Manchester United after 16 years.
Bennett, 22, joined the club’s academy as a kid and progressed through, leading the side which included Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho to cup glory in 2021-22.
The centre-back signed a professional contract with the Red Devils in the same year and updated his terms the following year.
Despite appearing on the bench in the Premier League, he did not make a first-team appearance for his boyhood club and had loans at Stockport and Fleetwood.
And he completed a permanent switch to League Two outfit Fleetwood at the end of January, bringing an end to his long association with United.
Bennett took to social media to thank the club for all their support both on and off the pitch – especially after his father David tragically took his own life in October.
The defender posted a series of snaps through the years at United, including the FA Youth Cup victory, meeting Pele, playing friendlies with the first team and as a very young kid outside The Cliff training ground.
Bennett wrote: “After 16 years @manutd, my time has come to an end.
“Can’t even put into words how appreciative I am of the people that have helped me on and off the pitch throughout my whole time at the club.
“I wish everyone the best.
“Ready to kick on and grow even more as a player and as a person.”
The post has racked up more than 24,000 likes and nearly 300 comments – including from some of his former team-mates.
Harry Maguire said: “Do your thing mate.”
Scott McTominay typed: “Good luck son.”
Shea Lacey added: “My brother all the best Benno.”
Charlie Savage, Shola Shoretire, Tyler Fredricson plus Jack and Tyler Fletcher also posted replies.
Bennett bravely opened up on his dad’s death in a candid interview in December.
The youngster was given compassionate leave by United and told Sky Sports: “To be honest, the first two, three days were the worst feelings I’ve ever had in my life.
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“Then a week or two passes on and you look at it and say, ‘I can never feel that bad again, I can never feel like I did that day when I found out.’”
On mental health, he added: “It can be difficult to talk but you are never past help and there is not an age limit on when you can speak up or go to therapy.
“Speaking up is important, it could be a two-minute conversation but you don’t realise how much that can help.
“My dad would not have known how much he was loved and cared for. We have had so many messages, even from people who have met him once.
“You don’t realise just having a conversation about how you feel, and it’s important to not have that stigma around it and especially with men, how much that can help.
“I’ve been with the club since I was eight years old and you try and put on this brave face and you think that you can’t talk about how you might be feeling, but it’s so important.
“You should talk about any walk of life, any workplace, whatever it might be, talking about how you feel, there’s never a problem with that.”
