DON'T LOOK BACK ELANGA
How Marcus Rashford should take heart from a string of players who left Man Utd for bigger and better things
The Red Devils even want to re-sign a former flop after seeing him dominate in Europe
MARCUS RASHFORD should be very, very excited after joining Aston Villa on loan.
But it's less about Villa, no disrespect to the Midlanders who are flying high, currently in the Champions League last 16 and chasing a top-four spot in the Premier League.
11
11
11
It's more about Manchester United - once the biggest team on the planet, with the best manager, a squad of elite players and trophies coming out of their ears.
And now? The Red Devils sit 13th in the Premier League with an unproven boss in Ruben Amorim, a raft of largely overpaid and underperforming flops and no title since Sir Alex Ferguson's final season, 2012-13.
On paper, things should be rosy for the red half of Manchester with lots of talented players, like Bruno Fernandes.
Their ability to beat rivals to the signing of in-demand stars including Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte, Rasmus Hojlund and many more.
READ MORE SPORT STORIES
The transfer of former world-beating Real Madrid star Casemiro was a particular coup at the time.
There's even been an influx of talented youngsters breaking into the team, most-notably Kobbie Mainoo.
So what on earth is going on at Old Trafford? How have their top transfer targets, for the most part, fizzled out and the incredible array of talent in the squad struggle so much?
Given how many managers United have gone through since Fergie left, it's starting to look less and less like the managers... and you can hardly blame the players for a 12-year slump.
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
What, perhaps, is most telling is how many players quit Man Utd and go on to become world-beaters once more.
In recent years, we've seen the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Memphis Depay, Wilfried Zaha and Angel Di Maria - to name a few - quit United and thrive elsewhere.
Marcus Rashford says joining Aston Villa from Man Utd was an easy decision
And the theme has continued well into this season... with Rashford the latest big-name star to jump ship, joining Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season, at least.
As we prepare for Rashford's debut for the Midlanders, SunSport takes a look at seven stars enjoying a monster season having recently quit Old Trafford.
David De Gea
He won the Premier League in Fergie's final season, as well as two Prem Golden Gloves, five Man Utd Player of the Season gongs and five Prem Team of the Season entries.
And yet by the end the Spaniard, now 34, looked a shell of his former self.
A string of high-profile blunders seemed to shatter his confidence and United quickly went public in looking for a new goalkeeper - one who was better with his feet.
De Gea was released in the summer of 2023 and spent a year unemployed before Fiorentina came knocking.
And ever since, the ex-Atletico Madrid stopper appears to be a man reborn and clearly loving life.
After being limited to two Conference League matches to start his Viola career, De Gea has quickly become the Serie A giants' No1 and was even statistically the best shot-stopper in Europe this season until December.
You'd wager United fans would have him back between the sticks now...
11
Chris Smalling
Smalling's 10-year spell at United did see him rack up more than 300 appearances - in which time he won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League.
But when he departed for Roma on loan in 2019, it looked as though his stock was falling - out of favour at Old Trafford and looking unlikely to ever add to his 31 England caps.
That was until he began to produce some sensational displays for the Italian giants.
He permanently joined the club in 2020 and thrived even further under former Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho, helping the club to Europa Conference League glory and the Europa League final.
While Smalling, 35, was never given another England look-in despite seemingly coming close, he continue to dominate in Italy before joining Saudi side Al-Fayha.
11
Man Utd player ratings vs Crystal Palace
MANCHESTER UNITED'S mini-revival under Ruben Amorim came to an abrupt end as Crystal Palace ran out 2-0 winners at Old Trafford.
Here's how the Red Devils stars rated on a disappointing day.
Andre Onana - 5
Was left vulnerable by a shaky back-line and beaten by Lacroix's looping header, which came off the crossbar into Mateta's path.
But he couldn't do much about the second goal.
Leny Yoro - 5
Came in for De Ligt, who was benched. Was inches away from scoring his first United goal early on.
Did well to block Mitchell after a Mazraoui error, but his positioning was a problem later in the game.
Harry Maguire - 3
Lost his battle with centre forward Mateta, who held the ball up well and got in behind every time, and was left stranded for the Frenchman's first goal.
Hasn't connected with Yoro. Palace, namely Sarr, opened them both up with ease and should've buried some chances through Mateta.
Lisandro Martinez - 6
Was stretchered off after jarring his knee in the 79th minute.
The Argentine has been scoring the goals recently, but blazed a centre-back's shot over the bar on the brink of half-time.
Noussair Mazraoui - 5
He was okay in the right wing-back role again but it is obviously not his best position.
Struggled with the dual threat of Mitchell and Daichi Kamada down Palace's left side.
Diogo Dalot - 4
Awful link-up play with a horrible blind pass inside the Palace box in a promising team position before the break.
He's not a left winger and it's clear why Patrick Dorgu has been signed.
Manuel Ugarte - 6
Missing in the middle when Mateta's stunning 80-yard run. Missed half a chance in the second-half.
Bruno Fernandes - 5
Restricted. Couldn't get forward much and was unlucky not to score from his usual 20-yard territory after being denied by Henderson.
Was one of three United players booked.
Amad Diallo - 6
Great individual runs, on and off the ball. Dropped to wing-back after Mainoo came off and was involved in anything good creatively.
Alejandro Garnacho - 5
Predictable build-up. But worked hard tracking back as one of the two 10s.
Was quieter in the second half and struggled to step up when the going got tough.
Kobbie Mainoo - 4
Huge experiment by Amorim to have Mainoo lead the line, albeit falsely. It didn't pay off, but it wasn't all his fault.
He didn't get the service or have the hold up play required to be effective.
SUBS
Hojlund ('70 for Mainoo) - 5
Came on for the last 20 minutes and ran around a bit without doing much of note.
Zirkzee ('70 for Mazraoui) - 5
As above, not a great deal to write home about despite trying to make things happen.
Alvaro Carreras
United swooped to sign Alvaro Fernandez Carreras from Real Madrid in 2020, when he was just 17.
After a couple of years in the youth squad, hopes were high the Spaniard could be the answer to the club's well-documented issues at left-back.
He was loaned out to Preston, Granada and Benfica before eventually joining the Portuguese giants on a permanent deal last summer.
United made just £5million selling the defender, 21, but have now sent scouts to check him out with a view to re-signing him.
Worryingly for United, it's claimed there's a £42m buy-back clause in the deal.
Should Amorim swoop for the star - who would fit his preferred 3-4-3 very nicely - it would prove to be a disastrous bit of business, financially.
11
Scott McTominay
Eyebrows were raised when Erik ten Hag allowed the midfielder to quit and sign for Napoli - linking up with fellow Scotsman Billy Gilmour.
McTominay, 28, started to show promise in a more advanced role having been touted for huge things by Sir Alex Ferguson when he was younger.
Entering his prime years, United only managed to rake in £25m for the midfielder, who's since been dubbed Napoli's 'Elixir' and 'Blue Label Scotch' following a phenomenal start to life in Italy.
McTominay has scored six times in 22 games for the Naples giants and won over fans with his work ethic and all-around play.
Perhaps somewhat tongue-in-cheek, the midfielder has been dubbed a Maradona regen by giddy supporters.
The Scot ace had been on the books of the Old Trafford side since he was FIVE YEARS OLD, and yet, becomes another man reborn outside of Old Trafford.
11
Angel Gomes
After joining the United youth ranks aged just six, United expected big things of Gomes.
The 5ft 6in midfielder, now 24, played just five times in the Premier League for United.
And in 2020, he was sold to Ligue 1 giants Lille in a shock transfer.
Gomes has gone on to play 132 times for Lille and forced his way into a crowded England midfield set-up, putting in a string of impressive performances under interim boss Lee Carsley.
Now with four senior caps to his name, having played for every Young Lions age group from Under-16s to Under-21s, the future is looking very bright for Gomes.
Another one who slipped through the net...
11
Anthony Elanga
Having joined United aged 11, fans couldn't wait to see the talented winger in action for the senior side.
He played twice late in the 2020-21 Premier League season before forcing his way into the squad.
However, he was limited to a bit-part role and after two fairly impressive seasons, he joined Nottingham Forest in a £15m deal.
Elanga, now a 19-cap Sweden international aged just 22, immediately became a force for the reinvigorated fallen giants.
He played all but two Prem matches in 2023-24 and has featured in every league match this season with surprise-package Forest flying high in third.
Elanga even bagged a hat-trick of assists in Forest's 7-0 mauling of Brighton at the weekend.
In fact, he's easily outperformed ALL of United's attackers since leaving Old Trafford...
11
Cristiano Ronaldo
A man who needs no introduction, rejoined United for a second stint in a shock transfer in the summer of 2021.
The Red Devils beat neighbours City to the coup and hoped he'd bring with him his sensational goalscoring record from Real Madrid and Juventus with him.
However, after a strong start, Ronaldo quickly faded away.
And, in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, the 217-cap Portugal legend took aim at then-boss Erik ten Hag in brutal manner.
After just 16 months, Ronaldo led a Saudi revolution, joining Al-Nassr in a shock deal - where he has found his feet again, scoring 87 times in 95 matches and even winning the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023.
11
Bonus round: Antony
It's only been one game... but Antony already looks a star reborn at Real Betis.
In two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford, the £85.5m signing became one of the club's most-criticised transfers ever.
In 62 Prem games, he scored just five times and rarely had a major effect on games.
After leaving last month to join LaLiga side Betis on loan, Antony had an immediate impact, as his shot just 14 minutes into his debut led to an easy tap-in for ex-Real Madrid star Isco.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Fans on X were quick to pile into the Red Devils, with one even saying: "Maybe United are the problem."
Given the amount of talent who leave the club and suddenly look like world-beaters again, you can't blame supporters for thinking that.
11
Topics