QPR defender Rio Ferdinand says this summer was the right time to leave Manchester United.
Ferdinand returns to Old Trafford on Sunday.
He told MUTV: "It's an old cliché, but the club is bigger than everyone else and it's so true.
"There's more to it than one player and I understand that, I'm not selfish enough to think that everything revolves around me and that I deserve to stay at Manchester United. Everyone has their time to leave and mine was now."
Ferdinand added: "I went to the training ground over the summer to see some of the dinner ladies and the office staff that I've known for years and who helped me along the way.
"Ed Woodward offered me the chance to come down and do that [say goodbye] before the pre-season game against Valencia but it didn't feel right for me to do that, it feels far more natural for me to come back and play, give everyone a wave and say 'thank you'."
