The 'Theatre of Dreams' only really served up nightmares for this group of players, but they managed to revive their careers elsewhere
Manchester United was once the most attractive club in European football. During the Sir Alex Ferguson era, countless world-class players flocked to Old Trafford in pursuit of the biggest prizes, and often fulfilled their dreams as part of a swashbuckling, resilient team boasting a win-at-all-costs mentality.
Some fell short of expectations, but those cases were few and far between because Ferguson was a masterful man-motivator who demanded the highest possible standards. Unfortunately, the success-hungry culture the Scottish coach generated did not continue to flourish after his departure in 2013, though, and over time United has become something of a graveyard for talented footballers.
It's now common for high-profile signings or promising academy graduates to fail miserably on the biggest stage with the Red Devils before finding salvation in new surroundings. Marcus Rashford is attempting to do the same after joining Aston Villa on loan in the January transfer window, and no one would be surprised if he suddenly starts banging in the goals again despite burning all his bridges in Manchester with his poor performances and attitude over the past two years.
The sad fact is, leaving Old Trafford is being seen as a form of liberation these days. As such, GOAL has ranked the top 10 United flops who have excelled after escaping their personal hells, starting with another who sealed a winter move…
Getty10Antony
After two-and-a-half seasons of abject misery, Antony joined Real Betis on loan, and is already starting to look at least something like the £85 million ($106m) player United thought they were buying from Ajax in 2022. The Brazilian winger has registered two goals and an assist in his first three games for Betis, having been instantly handed a starting role by ex-Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini.
Now, we admit Antony's inclusion on this list is very premature, and we haven't forgotten that he also made a strong start at Old Trafford, becoming the first United player to ever score in his first three Premier League appearances. But the 24-year-old has also picked up successive Player of the Match awards in a Betis shirt, which was a just reward for his dynamic performances.
Antony struggled to get to grips with the speed and intensity of English football, but has more space and time on the ball in La Liga. There's a good chance he will continue to thrive and potentially earn a permanent transfer to a far less pressurised environment, which Betis have already opened the door to.
AdvertisementAFP9Tim Howard
United went through a very erratic period with their goalkeepers after the departure of legendary shot-stopper Peter Schmeichel in 1999. The disastrous tenures of Massimo Taibi and Mark Bosnich were followed by a rollercoaster three years with Fabian Barthez as the No.1, with the France World Cup winner just as prone to moments of madness as he was brilliance.
In 2003-04, United States goalkeeper Tim Howard took over, but folded under the weight of expectation as United slumped to a third-place Premier League finish. He was then drawn into a selection battle with the calamitous Roy Carroll, before the arrival of Edwin van der Sar forced him to look for a new home.
Howard got his second chance in the Premier League at Everton in 2007, and went on to rack up 414 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees over the next nine years. Everton fans took the American into their hearts because of his impressive reflexes and leadership skills, and to this day he remains ninth on the list for the most clean sheets in Premier League history.
AFP8Angel Gomes
Angel Gomes was once heralded as the most exciting academy product on United's books, having initially started his journey with the club as a six year old. The English midfielder graduated into the senior team in 2017, and became the fourth-youngest debutant in the club's entire history at the age of 16 years, eight months and 20 days when he stepped off the bench in a Premier League encounter against Crystal Palace.
However, he would only appear in nine more matches for the Red Devils after failing to kick on under Jose Mourinho or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and was eventually released in the summer of 2020. Gomes subsequently joined Lille, and after an encouraging loan spell at Boavista in 2020-21, he managed to establish himself as a key player for the Ligue 1 giants.
The 24-year-old has impressed enough to break into the England squad, and it has been reported current United head coach Ruben Amorim is interested in bringing Gomes back to the club this summer when he becomes a free agent. It's fair to say that United should have been more patient with Gomes, who would now be wise to look elsewhere if he wants to take the next step forward in his rejuvenated career.
Getty Images Sport7Scott McTominay
We know what you're thinking: it is a bit harsh to put Scott McTominay in these rankings. After all, he made over 250 appearances for United and recorded a respectable 37 goal contributions, while also getting his hands on Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup winners' medals.
But aside from his final season at the club, in which he became a regular source of crucial late goals, McTominay was little more than a workhorse who, at times, ran around like a headless chicken with no positional sense or elegance on the ball, and formed one half of the much-maligned 'McFred' midfield partnership. His status as a guaranteed starter was seen as a sign of United's mediocrity, so when the decision was made to accept a £25m ($31m) bid for his services from Napoli last summer, it felt long overdue.
However, the one thing McTominay has always had in abundance is character. He's bounced back to serve as the driving force behind Napoli's surprise bid for the 2024-25 Scudetto, with former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte proving to be the perfect mentor for the determined Scot. United would probably take him back in a heartbeat now.
