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Henderson dedicates FA Cup victory to his father: “He was with me every kick of the ball.”
Notable Ex-United Players: McTominay (Serie A winner with Napoli), Sancho (Conference League winner with Chelsea), and Henderson (FA Cup winner with Crystal Palace).
Once, leaving Manchester United signaled career stagnation. Is that perception still accurate?
The recent Conference League final featured Sancho (on loan at Chelsea) and Antony (on loan at Real Betis), both under contract with United, competing on opposing teams.
Amidst Manchester United’s challenging 2024-25 season review, Sancho secured a European winners’ medal following Chelsea’s 4-1 victory in Wroclaw.
Furthermore, Mkhitaryan and Darmian, both former United players, could feature in Inter Milan’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Considering Sancho, Antony, and McTominay’s successes away from Old Trafford, does leaving Manchester United rejuvenate careers?
Sancho and Antony: What’s Next?
McTominay’s Transformation into a Napoli Icon
Sancho’s Chelsea Ambitions: “I Want to Bring Excitement”
McTominay’s journey exemplifies this shift. Once a fringe player at United, he sought a change last summer, a move facilitated by United’s financial needs under Premier League regulations.
After over 20 years at United, beginning at their soccer school at age five, he bravely embarked on a new chapter in Italy.
His £25.7m transfer fee now appears remarkably undervalued.
Unsurprisingly, former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as recently stated to BBC Sport, questioned the sale.
McTominay’s performance metrics have significantly improved since joining Napoli, reuniting with former teammate Romelu Lukaku.
In 2024-25, he scored 13 goals with 4 assists in 2,972 minutes, exceeding his previous season’s 10 goals and 3 assists in 2,772 minutes at United.
His passing accuracy rose from 82.7% to 85%, alongside improvements in chances created and touches in the opposition box.
Former Scotland midfielder Paul Lambert highlighted the transformative impact of the Italian experience, emphasizing the accelerated growth fostered by European competition.
According to BBC Sport’s Simon Stone, then-United manager Erik ten Hag opposed the McTominay transfer, highlighting the complexities of United’s transfer strategy and the failure to adequately replace him.
McTominay’s Serie A MVP award further underscores his success.
Antony’s resurgence at Real Betis provides another compelling example. After a less successful spell at United (5 goals in 62 Premier League appearances), his move to Spain yielded 9 goals.
Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague noted Antony’s revitalized demeanor and improved connection with Betis fans.
While under contract with United until 2027, a permanent move to Betis remains a possibility.
Stone suggests that Antony’s situation highlights the exorbitant transfer fee paid for him rather than a lack of playing time.
Henderson’s career trajectory also shifted positively after joining Crystal Palace in a £20m deal in August 2023, earning his first England cap and contributing to Palace’s FA Cup win.
Henderson’s penalty save secured a 1-0 victory against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
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Henderson’s crucial penalty save.
Elanga’s success at Nottingham Forest, securing a Conference League spot, mirrors Henderson’s positive trajectory after leaving United.
Elanga’s strong season at Forest (11 assists and 6 goals) contrasts with his limited impact at United before Ten Hag deemed him unsuitable for the squad.
De Gea’s move to Fiorentina, securing a Conference League place after a sixth-place Serie A finish, also exemplifies positive outcomes after leaving United.
Antony’s Betis Heroics After United Struggles
Henderson’s Remarkable Ascent: “They Now Sing England’s Number One”
Conversely, some players haven’t experienced the same success. Pogba’s career, after his record-breaking transfer to United, has been significantly impacted by a doping ban.
Martial now plays in Greece for AEK Athens, and Lingard is at FC Seoul in South Korea.
Van de Beek’s move to Girona hasn’t yielded significant impact either, playing for a team who finished 16th in La Liga.
Lingard’s Challenging Start in Seoul
Several players are expected to depart United this summer as manager Ruben Amorim reshapes the squad.
Rashford, on loan at Aston Villa, is unlikely to return, and Garnacho will be allowed to leave.
Will Rashford and Garnacho thrive elsewhere?
Garnacho’s development at United has been hindered by the team’s lack of experience, in contrast to younger players at other clubs who benefited from more seasoned teammates.
Garnacho’s final eight matches yielded only one goal and one assist.
Sancho’s future remains uncertain despite his Conference League final goal. Will he stay at Chelsea or return to United?
Stone suggests that Sancho’s performance at Chelsea, while positive, doesn’t guarantee a permanent move, highlighting the quality of United’s replacements.
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