Kuszczak: Sir Alex blocked Leeds move

Manchester United back-up goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak says Sir Alex Ferguson blocked a proposed loan move to Leeds United.

Despite not playing in the same division since Leeds were relegated from the Premier League in 2004, there remains a fierce trans-Pennine rivalry between the two clubs.

Kuszczak currently finds himself behind David De Gea and Anders Lindegaard in the Manchester United pecking order and hinted that the reason behind the failed Leeds move was the clubs’ intense rivalry.

“My loan to Leeds was not possible because Alex Ferguson has blocked it,” Kuszczak told Onet.

“I could only go to Sheffield United, or to Doncaster.”

Leeds were looking for a loan replacement for the former Manchester United trainee Paul Rachubka after he was substituted at half-time during Leeds’ midweek 5-0 mauling at home to Blackpool.

Leeds boss Simon Grayson, however, has been able to bring in Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy on a month’s loan deal from their Championship rivals.

Kuszczak has been at Old Trafford since moving from West Bromwich Albion in 2006, initially on loan, but has never been able to hold down a first-team spot at the Premier League champions.