Manchester United announced on Friday that no less than 11 players are leaving the club upon the expiration of their contracts this month.
Erik ten Hag is expected to bring in a number of players in the transfer window but may also allow some in-contract players to leave to free up more funds. He will get some return on the cash the club initially paid for those personnel, unlike the squad members leaving on a free.
The 11 players exiting Old Trafford, overall, cost more than £180m to sign. Each will be defined by their service to the club, with some being given a warmer send off than others.
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Paul Pogba
The Frenchman is not one of those who will be remembered favourably at Old Trafford. Many fans feel undersold by his 2016 £89m fee - which at the time was a world record.
Many were unhappy with his overall efforts to the team, having just a Europa League and a League Cup to show for it. In the end, the divide between player and supporter was evident.
Jesse Lingard
After a strong few years under Jose Mourinho, Lingard experienced a rough few years at United. Many feel his departure is a year too late for both player and club, albeit his two-decade service to United won’t be forgotten.
Juan Mata
Mata became a utility player towards the end of his stay. Many feel now is the right time for him to leave and he will be thanked for his efforts but, ultimately, he didn’t propel to the heights he previously reached at Chelsea.
Edinson Cavani
Cavani’s 17 goals fired United into a second placed finish last season and the striker will get the acclamation from fans because of that. The striker was usurped by Cristiano Ronaldo in August, who also stole his No.7 shirt at the start of an injury-riddled season.
Nemanja Matic
The Serb turned out to be a useful asset for United this season, although it should never have got to that stage. He never set the world alight but was a steady presence in midfield and put in several displays that saw the team earn results.
Lee Grant
After 511 senior appearances, the back-up goalkeeper has called time on his career. Grant was effectively a coach in his three-year twilight stint and is expected to enter coaching going forward.
Paul Woolston
The goalkeeper has sadly been forced to retire due a persistent hip injury, announcing his tough decision in April. Woolston joined United after being released from Newcastle’s youth ranks in 2018, and was an active member in the Under-23s.
Paul McShane
The 36-year-old was helping to nurture United’s academy youngsters on the pitch anyway but this summer he officially comes off the playing staff. He will continue working with the club’s Under-18s and 23s.
Reece Devine
Following difficult loan spells at St Johnstone and Walsall, Devine is being let go having failed to earn his first team debut. The 20-year-old left-back used to be part of Manchester City’s youth set-up, crossing the divide in 2018.
D’Mani Bughail-Mellor
After making his first team debut against Astana in the 2019/20 Europa League, the striker failed to kick on. A miserable loan spell at Salford in the first half of the season saw the 21-year-old return to captain United’s Under-23s during the second half, when scored eight times in 12 Premier League 2 matches.
Connor Stanley
The 20-year-old winger joined the United academy from Birmingham in 2018 before securing a move to US franchise Atlanta United’s second team in April 2021. He scored once in 27 games before returning in November.
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