PLAYING for Manchester United can be a heavy burden for some players, even the very best.And many find their way again after moving away from Old Trafford to the frustration of supporters.
These former Man Utd stars flourished away from Old Trafford
These seven did especially well after leaving the Premier League giants behind.
From a Uruguayan legend to a Dutch star who’s just earned a transfer to Barcelona, here’s the flops for whom life got much better after leaving United.
ROMELU LUKAKU
The Belgium centre forward is definitely the one that got away.
Often, Lukaku was deemed not good enough by supporters who felt he was overweight and cumbersome.
However, he now cuts a more shredded figure at Inter Milan, where a new diet and fitness regime has seen the striker lose 16lbs and get into the best shape of his career.
Lukaku also rediscovered his goal touch and has 64 strikes in his two seasons at the San Siro.
Romelu Lukaku lost his way at Old Trafford and was criticised by supportersCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
After shifting over a stone in weight, Lukaku is one of Serie A’s most feared strikers at InterCredit: AFP
MEMPHIS DEPAY
In 2015, United splashed £25million on the Dutch star on the insistence of Louis van Gaal.
But Depay looked lost at sea on our shores, playing 53 times and managing just seven goals.
Two seasons later he was sold to Lyon for £20million, where he rediscovered his form.
This summer, after scoring 76 goals in 178 games, he is back on the big stage again and has joined Barcelona on a free transfer.
Memphis Depay struggled for goals at Old TraffordCredit: Getty Images – Getty
After moving to Lyon, Depay has re-emerged for club and country – recently signing for Barcelona
ANGEL DI MARIA
It’s not uncommon for Argentinian stars to lose their way at Old Trafford – with Juan Sebastian Veron also struggling on our shores.
Di Maria was a marquee signing in 2014 for a British transfer record fee of £60million.
In his only season, he managed just four goals in 32 games and soon fell out of favour with boss van Gaal.
A year later he was sold to PSG for £40million, where he has scored double figures in goals in five of his six seasons with the French club, as well as been integral in four Ligue 1-winning campaigns.
Angel Di Maria was a marquee signing for the Red Devils costing £60mCredit: PA:Empics Sport
After his Manchester United nightmare, Di Maria found his feet at PSGCredit: AFP
WILFRIED ZAHA
In 2013, United moved to sign Zaha from Crystal Palace for £15million – in what was Sir Alex Ferguson’s final acquisition for the club.
A year later he found himself out of favour under new boss David Moyes and was loaned out to Cardiff City.
Zaha would later say he never felt he was given a fair chance at Old Trafford.
He was loaned to the Eagles, who eventually bought him back for £10million – and he’s gone on to become one of the Premier League’s biggest danger men.
Wilfried Zaha argued that he didn’t get a chance at Old TraffordCredit: PA:Empics Sport
After returning to Crystal Palace in 2015, Zaha became one of the Premier League’s best playersCredit: Getty
DALEY BLIND
A lot of Blind’s problems at Old Trafford stemmed from where managers thought he should play.
Was he a left-back? Should he play in a midfield holding role? Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho just couldn’t work him out.
In 2018, the Dutch international returned to Ajax, where he has won two league titles and contributed to the club’s brilliant Champions League run in 2019… playing at centre back.
And at the Euros, he has starred for the Netherlands.
Daley Blind struggled in various positions at Manchester United, including left-back and in midfieldCredit: Getty Images – Getty
At Ajax, as a ball-playing centre half, Blind has impressedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
DIEGO FORLAN
At the time, Forlan was a costly £7million buy for United in 2002.
However, in his first 13 Premier League games and five Champions League games he was ridiculed for failing to hit the back of the net.
United sold him to LaLiga’s Villarreal, where he was an instant hit scoring 25 league goals and winning the Spanish Golden Boot trophy and the European Golden Shoe in his first season.
He would repeat that trick in 2009 at Atletico Madrid – scoring a sensational 32 goals in 33 games.
In his first 18 games with the club, Diego Forlan failed to score for Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty – Contributor
Forlan found his shooting boots in LaLiga, first with Villarreal and then with Atletico Madrid
RADAMEL FALCAO
The Colombian striker, now 35, is currently starring for Galatasaray, where he has 20 goals in 40 games.
At Old Trafford, on loan from Monaco, he really struggled with just four goals in 29 games, although a serious knee injury and a struggle to initially return to fitness hindered him.
After his Manchester United nightmare, a poor spell at Chelsea followed.
But a return to Monaco helped Falcao find his Midas touch again. He scored 70 goals in his last three seasons with the French giants before continuing his rejuvenation in his twilight years in Turkey.
Radamel Falcao’s loan move to Manchester United was a disasterCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Returning to Monaco was Falcao’s saving grace and he scored 70 goals in three seasons with the club after spell in EnglandCredit: Reuters
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