He owes a lot to Newcastle because Kevin Keegan plucked him from obscurity when he signed him for £500,000 from Metz in the summer of 2008.
The Senegal international's form in the second half of the relegation season earned him an £8m move to Tottenham.
Bassong didn't start against United, but he replaced Roman Pavlyuchenko after Younes Kaboul was dismissed midway through the second-half for a clash with Cheik Tiote.
Bassong: "I left the club after one year. They were amazing with me, and it's normal to get booed.
"When I came on I thought 'it's good – I'm going to play against Newcastle'. I wanted that, so maybe God helped me.
"It's a good win for us two days after Boxing Day, and we went down to 10 men as well.
"We're happy about it, but it was difficult for Newcastle. They had some players missing – Jose Enrique and Kevin Nolan – and they were struggling.
"I hope they get better for the rest of the season and stay in the Premier League.
"I really wish the club can stabilise and settle down, and that they will work with the manager for a long time.
"If they do that, the club will go up and up, for sure."