Ole Gunnar Solskjaer oversaw multiple changes to Manchester United's first-team squad across two-and-a-half seasons in the Old Trafford hot seat but instantly made the decision to move on three players.
Solskjaer entered the dugout initially on an interim basis in December 2018 and initially oversaw a sharp upturn in form. That brought about his permanent appointment before the end of that campaign, and he stayed in the role until November 2021.
Yet prior to his permanent appointment back in that 2018/19 decision, Solskjaer had already made his mind up to move on three first-team squad players and instructed then-CEO Ed Woodward to sanction their departures.
The Red Devils have been serial underperformers in recent years with multiple low points under all of the predecessors of current boss Erik ten Hag. Each of David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Solskjaer struggled to elevate United back into football’s elite.
Back in 2019, United had appeared an initial resurgence under Solskjaer following a dreadful slump under Mourinho. Yet despite a run of three months of strong results under the Norwegian, the 2018/19 campaign fell apart in a familiar fashion in the closing months.
There was an appetite for the significant upheaval of the United squad and each of the three players Solskjaer had already wanted to leave departed the club. Antonio Valencia, Alexis Sanchez and Marcos Rojo were all moved on.
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Club captain Valencia's contract was up that summer, and while United did have a one-year option to extend his stay, they elected not to take it up. He spent a season-and-a-half at Ecuadorian club LDU Quito before calling time on his career in the 2020-21 campaign after a brief spell at Mexican side Queretaro.
Defender Rojo was another whom Solskjaer prioritised moving on. The Argentine had fallen to fifth choice in the pecking order for central defence, while £80million was spent on signing Harry Maguire that summer.
Rojo, who featured just nine times in all competitions in the 2018-19 campaign, returned to Argentina initially on a loan deal with Estudiantes, the club where he began his career. He then joined Boca Juniors on a permanent basis and is currently captain of the Buenos Aires giants.
Sanchez – a marquee signing from Arsenal in the final year of Mourinho’s management – was another to depart in the summer of 2019. The Chilean’s initial move to Inter was on loan before being made permanent the following year. Now aged 34, he has impressed for Marseille this campaign – netting 18 goals.
