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ZEROS TO HEROES  Five Man Utd ‘rejects’ play in Champions League and Europa finals this week… SunSport looks at the ones who got away

MANCHESTER UNITED do not feature in a Euro final this weekend — but some of their old boys do. Here SunSport explores the ones who got away from Old Trafford to make  a name elsewhere.

Former Manchester United pair Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young at Inter Milan

PSG's Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera are former United players
ANDER HERRERA

United wrestled Herrera out of Athletic Bilbao for £28.8million in 2014.

A five-year stint saw him scoop the club’s Player of the Year  in 2016-17, the same season they won the League Cup and the Europa League — where he was also man of the match in the final.

But the summer 2017 arrival of Nemanja Matic meant fewer starts and  Herrera, now 31, joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free in July 2019.United wrestled Herrera out of Athletic Bilbao for £28.8million in 2014

Herrera joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free in July 2019

ANGEL DI MARIA

Much was expected when Louis van Gaal paid Real Madrid £59.7m for the Argie star in 2014. 

It started well, scoring a few goals early on — including a superb chip in a 5-3 loss at Leicester.

He struggled to settle in the North West and his early form fell away, with one goal in the second half of the season — at Yeovil in the FA Cup.

That July he did not board United’s pre-season flight to the US and joined PSG days later.

Much was expected when Louis van Gaal paid Real Madrid £59.7m for Di Maria in 2014
In July 2015 Di Maria did not board United’s pre-season flight to the US and joined PSG days later

ROMELU LUKAKU

United sprang a surprise in summer 2017 when they pipped Chelsea to the £75m signing of Lukaku from Everton. 

Ten goals in his first nine games broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s club record. 

The Belgian went on to rack up 27 overall  in his first season  but after Jose Mourinho’s axe in December 2018 he never really won over Ole  Gunnar Solskjaer.

Lukaku, 27, joined Inter Milan for £73m last summer and has scored 33 goals for them so far.

United sprang a surprise in summer 2017 when they pipped Chelsea to the £75m signing of Lukaku from Everton

Lukaku joined Inter Milan for £73m last  summer and has scored 33 goals for them so far

ASHLEY YOUNG

Joined from Aston Villa for a fee of around £16m in 2011.

He was one of Alex Ferguson’s last buys, playing his part in his last title win in 2013 and converting to a left-back along the way. 

Inter came in last  January and, after more than eight years  and 260-plus appearances, the club let him go.

Young, 35, has four goals and four assists for the Italians.

Young spent more than eight years  and made 260-plus appearances for United

Inter came in last January and signed Young

ALEXIS SANCHEZ

The Old Trafford club  signed the striker  in January 2018, giving him the No 7 shirt and wages around   £500,000   per   week. 

Yet boss Jose Mourinho struggled to get a tune out of him and it was no better with Ole.

He scored just three Premier League goals before leaving for Inter on loan last August and completing a permanent deal this month.

Alexis Sanchez scored just three Premier League goals before  leaving for Inter on loan
Sanchez completed a permanent deal this month

Western Global Pictures

Comments

  1. Unknown20 August 2020 at 02:48

    I wish them all the best... Manchester United as lost good players.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sharma20 August 2020 at 07:07

    Hope we do not ruin our transfer window as we did for Moyes, linked with Bale, Ronaldo and ended up with Fellaini, Sancho is stalled, Grealish just a rumour, David Brooks Really?? Why did we buy Daniel James, some questions better answered for new signings now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sumi sumi20 August 2020 at 07:11

      Sharma
      man utd is football club my friend not cricket are u on correct page

      Delete
    2. David Chisam20 August 2020 at 07:12

      Sharma he is not involved in transfers. Educate yourself please.

      Delete
  3. Jason Bellden20 August 2020 at 07:50

    A little over a year ago zero French teams made any final, it was an all English club affair... having French team in s final dose not really break the fact that the French league is not considered by most a top league.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown20 August 2020 at 10:56

    Wow good

    ReplyDelete

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