Manchester United’s cock-up XI – The team of stars who were allowed to leave Old Trafford too soon
Manchester United have had plenty of hits in the transfer market but there have been players who have been sold and with hindsight could have done with keeping
MANCHESTER UNITED have had more than their share of successes in the transfer market over the years.
Sir Alex Ferguson was the master of balancing pricey new additions with youngsters promoted from the club’s academy.
However, there have been a few instances where the Red Devils have let go a player too soon and ended up regretting it when they then go on to star for another team.
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Football Whispers have put together an XI of players United might wish they hand hung onto a little longer.
Goalkeeper - Tom Heaton
United signed Tom Heaton from Wrexham as a teenager in 2003, and when they brought in 20-year-old goalkeeper David de Gea to replace the outgoing Edwin van der Sar in 2011, it became apparent that the Englishman would find it very hard to crack the Old Trafford first-team.
However, the 20-time champions may wish they hadn’t allowed the now-England international join Cardiff City on a free transfer in 2011.
Heaton has since shown his pedigree at Burnley in recent years and, given a bit more game time at United, could have at least fetched the Red Devils a tidy sum.
Defence – Gerard Piqué
Another player United brought in as a teenager was Spanish centre-back Gerard Piqué.
The classy defender looked to have a bright future at the club but his path to regular game time was blocked by Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
Piqué returned to boyhood club Barcelona in 2008, winning the treble in his first season back at the Camp Nou.
Defence - Michael Keane
Having made his England debut this week, Stockport-born defender Michael Keane has gone from strength to strength since leaving Old Trafford to join Burnley in 2015.
The 24-year old only made one Premier League appearance for United and was loaned out four times before eventually being sold to the Clarets.
Now one of the most sought-after centre-backs in the country, what would José Mourinho give to have him back?
Defence - Johnny Evans
Another central defender Mourinho would love to be able to call upon amid his current injury crisis is Northern Ireland international Johnny Evans.
The 29-year-old graduated from United’s academy and went on to make an impressive 131 Premier League appearances at the club before being sold to West Bromwich Albion in 2015.
Since moving to the Hawthorns Evans has benefited from regular football in a well-organised defensive unit, and ironed out many of the flaws that led to his departure from United.
Defence – Ryan Shawcross
Much like Keane, Ryan Shawcross was a budding young defender in United’s academy who found playing opportunities hard to come by and was sold to Stoke City in 2008.
The towering Chester-born centre-back is now captain of the Potters and one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League.
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Midfield – Paul Pogba
When his contract expired in 2012, Paul Pogba left United to join Juventus, with the English club receiving a paltry compensation fee of just £800,000. Little did they know at the time, they’d end up breaking the world transfer record to bring him back.
Pogba had grown frustrated at a lack of first-team opportunities at Old Trafford, and went on to win four successive Serie A crowns with the Bianconeri before making his headline grabbing return to the red side of Manchester last summer.
Midfield – Ángel di María
United smashed the British transfer record to sign Ángel di María from Real Madrid for £59.7 million in 2014, and few purchases have elicited as much excitement among the Old Trafford faithful.
However, after a promising start the Argentinian’s performances went downhill following a break-in at his home, apparently shaking his confidence and stripping his desire to play in England.
Di María soon found himself out of the team and was sold to Paris Saint-Germain the next summer, where he has since recovered his devastating form.
Midfield – Wilfried Zaha
Wilfried Zaha was Ferguson’s final signing as United manager, having agreed a £10million deal for the winger in January 2013.
But the fact that the Ivory Coast international was loaned back to the Eagles for the remainder of that campaign meant that David Moyes had taken control at United by the time the youngster arrived at Old Trafford.
With two substitute appearances to his name in the Premier League in 2013-14, Zaha was loaned out to Cardiff City before being sold back to Palace for just £3million.
He was never given a real chance to show his skills with the Red Devils.
Now reportedly the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Palace could expect to recoup more than £25million for Zaha if they decide to sell him again.
Forward – Danny Welbeck
Although injuries have plagued his time at Arsenal, whenever fit, Danny Welbeck has shown United exactly what they have been missing.
Many inside Old Trafford still lament the England international’s sale to the Gunners in 2014.
His pace, power and clinical finishing would not go amiss in the current Red Devils line-up.
Forward – Javier Hernández
Mexican striker Javier Hernández, nicknamed “Chicharito” – the little pea – was signed from Guadalajara as an unknown 21-year-old in the summer of 2010, and immediately became a fan favourite thanks to his knack for scoring important goals.
However, having fallen down the pecking order under Louis van Gaal, the 28-year-old was sold to Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, where he has since established himself as one of the hottest strikers in the Bundesliga.
Forward – Diego Forlan
After arriving at Old Trafford from Independiente in Argentina in January 2002, Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan went 18 games without a goal.
His first strike for the club came from the penalty spot in a Champions League game against Maccabi Haifa the following season.
It would be nine months from the date of his signing before he bagged his first strike from open play.
Still remembered fondly thanks to a brace against Liverpool, Forlan was sold to Villarreal for just £2million in 2004, where he went on to develop into one of the best strikers in the world.