MANCHESTER UNITED may not be competing in Europe this season, but there are still 25 PLAYERS that used to be on their books that will be playing across Uefa’s club competitions.
The Red Devils missed out on European football for the first time in over 10 years last season after their dismal 15th-placed finish and Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.
GettyRuben Amorim’s Man Utd side failed to qualify for European competition this season[/caption]
ReutersMarcus Rashford will return to the Champions League thanks to his loan to Barcelona[/caption]
AlamyAntony’s return to Real Betis means he will play Europa League football[/caption]
It was a record-breaking poor season for Ruben Amorim‘s side and it meant that they will be unable to strut their stuff in Europe.
However, as has become the case in recent seasons, so many former United stars are thriving elsewhere.
In fact, there are enough former Old Trafford aces playing in Europe this season that you would fill an entire 25-man Uefa ‘A List’ squad.
And some 15 of those players will be playing for Champions League clubs.
The summer exits of academy graduate duo Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho mean the two wingers will be listening to the Champions League anthem at Barcelona and Chelsea respectively this term.
While Rasmus Hojlund is joining fellow United ‘rejects’ Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku at Napoli.
Paul Pogba‘s return to football this season has come with AS Monaco, who will also be competing in the Champions League.
While ex-academy prospect Alvaro Carreras was a big-money signing for Real Madrid this summer.
Former Manchester United players in the Champions League
Here’s a look at the 15 ex-Man Utd players that are playing Champions League football this season…
Alejandro Garnacho – Chelsea
Alvaro Carreras – Real Madrid
Rasmus Hojlund – Napoli
Romelu Lukaku – Napoli
Scott McTominay – Napoli
Anthony Elanga – Newcastle
Mason Greenwood – Marseille
Angel Gomes – Marseille
Matej Kovar – PSV Eindhoven
Marcus Rashford – Barcelona
Marcel Sabitzer – Borussia Dortmund
Wout Weghorst – Ajax
Matteo Darmian – Inter Milan
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Inter Milan
Paul Pogba – AS Monaco
GettyAlejandro Garnacho will play Champions League football for Chelsea[/caption]
GettyFormer United academy goalkeeper Matej Kovar is on loan at PSV this season from Bayer Leverkusen[/caption]
Alvaro Carreras will compete in Europe’s elite competition for Real Madrid this termGetty
MANACOPaul Pogba will return to the Champions League after signing for Monaco[/caption]
The Man Utd academy seems to be lining the squads of Champions League clubs across the continent, with Angel Gomes and Mason Greenwood playing for Marseille this season and former Carrington kid Matej Kovar playing for PSV Eindhoven.
Goalkeeper Kovar was part of United’s youth set up for five years, making the bench for a host of senior games but never earning his debut.
The 13-time Czech Republic international left for Bayer Leverkusen in 2023 and is now on loan with Dutch side PSV.
Anthony Elanga will also be competing for Europe’s most prestigious trophy after the 55-time Red Devil swapped Nottingham Forest for Newcastle during the transfer window.
It’s not just academy kids that are succeeding elsewhere though, but also a number of failed signings.
Matteo Darmian and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will play for Inter Milan, Wout Weghorst is competing with Ajax and Marcel Sabitzer will play Champions League football for Borussia Dortmund.
The Europa League has a host of former Man Utd players, too.
Jadon Sancho and Victor Lindelof will both play under Unai Emery at Aston Villa in this year’s edition of Europe’s second-tier competition.
APFormer academy star Facundo Pellistri will play in the Europa League for Panathinaikos[/caption]
GettyZidane Iqbal will play European football with FC Utrecht[/caption]
While Antony has rejoined Real Betis to compete in the Europa League alongside failed Man Utd loanee Sofyan Amrabat.
Zidane Iqbal, a Manchester-born starlet that was tipped for big things at United, is now playing for Utrecht and will compete in the competition as well.
While Facundo Pellistri, who played 25 times for the Red Devils under Erik ten Hag, is playing for Greek side Panathinaikos in the Europa League too.
Former £52m signing Fred is also still going strong in Europe, regularly playing for Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
The Conference League has space for three ex-United players.
Goalkeeping duo David De Gea and Dean Henderson will play Conference League football for Fiorentina and Crystal Palace this term.
While Anthony Martial is competing in the third-tier European tournament for Greek club AEK Athens.
Ex-Manchester United players in the Europa League and Conference League
Here’s a list of the 10 ex-Man Utd stars that will feature in the Europa League and the Conference League this season…
Europa League
Zidane Iqbal – Utrecht
Facundo Pellistri – Panathinaikos
Jadon Sancho – Aston Villa
Victor Lindelof – Aston Villa
Sofyan Amrabat – Real Betis
Antony – Real Betis
Fred – Fenerbahce
Conference League
Dean Henderson – Crystal Palace
Anthony Martial – AEK Athens
David De Gea – Fiorentina
Shutterstock EditorialDavid De Gea now plays for Fiorentina[/caption]
ReutersDean Henderson secured Conference League football with Crystal Palace[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
