7 players released by Man Utd who proved them wrong including returning star
Last week, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag announced his retained list ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign.
Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe, Ethan Galbraith, Di'Shon Bernard, Eric Hanbury, Charlie Wellens and Manni Norkett have all said goodbye to Old Trafford, while David de Gea could still depart. Talks are ongoing between Ten Hag and the goalkeeper over a new contract.
United have released many players over the years, although few of them have gone on to achieve significant success. Sir Alex Ferguson's judgement was impeccable and even the greats who left Old Trafford, such as Jaap Stam, was sold rather than released.
Yet there are a few players who have proved the Red Devils wrong since there departures. Here, Mirror Football takes a look at six notable stars... including a United legend (and remember, these are ONLY players who were released from United - not sales).
Phil Jones was released by Manchester United earlier this month (Tom Purslow/Getty Images)Tom Heaton
Tom Heaton won the Carabao Cup with United in February (Getty Images)Which player do you think should've made our list? Let us know in the comments below!
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Ferguson wanted to keep hold of Heaton, offering him a new contract in June 2010. But after six loan spells away from Old Trafford, the 24-year-old goalkeeper decided to continue his career elsewhere and signed a deal with Championship side Cardiff.
Heaton went on to become an established second-tier goalkeeper before achieving promotion to the Premier League with Burnley in 2014. He won three senior England caps during his time at Turf Moor and was eventually re-signed by United in July 2021.
Alexis Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez has reignited his career since leaving Old Trafford (Getty Images)Here me out. Sanchez's time at United was very disappointing, with the Chilean scoring just five goals in 45 games. Yet he's done well since quitting Old Trafford, winning the Serie A title, Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup during a three-year spell with Inter Milan.
Now 34, Sanchez is flourishing in France. The former Arsenal forward scored 18 goals and provided three assists for Marseille last season, with his ill-fated stint at United now looking like a blip. Perhaps he should've been given more time at Old Trafford.
Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher regained his consistency after leaving United (Getty Images)Fletcher was one of Ferguson's most reliable players, yet his career was hampered by a crippling bowel issue. The Scot eventually recovered but had fallen down the pecking order and was allowed to leave Old Trafford on a free transfer in February 2015.
United boss Louis van Gaal was left to rue that decision when Fletcher made 91 consecutive Premier League appearances for West Brom and continued playing until the age of 35. He returned to United as a coach in October 2020 and is now the club's technical director.
Ron-Robert Zieler
United failed to get a transfer fee for future World Cup winner Ron-Robert Zieler (Getty Images)United released academy graduate Zieler in June 2010 after an unconvincing two-game loan spell at League One side Northampton. Four years later, the German was a World Cup winner. That is some turnaround for the unfancied goalkeeper.
Although Zieler was never good enough to be United's No.1, he could've been a useful back-up for De Gea. He's since played more than 400 games at club level - with many of those appearances coming in the Bundesliga - and won six senior caps for Germany.
Peter Schmeichel
Peter Schmeichel still had four years left in him after leaving Old Trafford (Getty Images)Schmeichel was another player Ferguson was desperate to keep hold of but couldn't. The Dane turned his back on United after they won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 1999, as eight intense years at Old Trafford had taken their toll.
Schmeichel was still at the top of his game and played for another four seasons. It took Ferguson years to find a sufficient replacement in Edwin van der Sar, with many critics believing Schmeichel is the greatest goalkeeper in the Premier League's 31-year history.
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Ander Herrera
Ander Herrera quit United for PSG (AFP/Getty Images)Herrera's five-year spell at Old Trafford came to an end in June 2019 when the Spaniard was given a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. He went on to win seven trophies in France - including two Ligue 1 titles - before re-joining boyhood club Athletic Bilbao.
United's midfield struggled in the wake of Herrera's departure, with the likes of Fred and Scott McTominay battling to fill the void. It wasn't until the arrival of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen a year ago that United looked strong in the middle of the park again.
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes was soon called out of retirement by Sir Alex Ferguson (Getty Images)Scholes left Ferguson's squad in June 2011 after hanging up his boots, a decision both parties came to regret six months later with United struggling behind Manchester City in the Premier League title race. They re-signed him in January 2012.
Scholes failed to lead United to the title that season, but he played a role in their title victory a year later. That was Ferguson's last triumph at Old Trafford, with United failing to win the Premier League since. Perhaps United's biggest regret is letting Fergie leave.
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