The 8 players let go by Man Utd last summer and how they’ve fared since

Before departing Manchester United at the end of last season, Ralf Rangnick called for a major overhaul of the squad, and his successor agreed with a number of big-name players following the Austrian out the door. 

What was a hugely busy summer turned out to be a largely successful one with Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Antony all playing big parts in the club’s best season in years.

Have things gone as well for those that left? Let’s take a took…

Note: This only includes the first-team players that made appearances for United’s senior team. It doesn’t include released youth quartet Reece Devine, D’Mani Mellor, Connor Stanley and Martin Svidersky or Lee Grant and Paul McShane, who retired.

Edinson Cavani

Cavani left United on a free transfer at the end of last season and signed for Valencia. He had his moments at Mestalla but hasn’t lived up to the lofty standards he’s set for himself over the years, notching just five goals in 25 La Liga appearances as Los Che only narrowly avoided the drop.

To be fair to him though, nobody in that side did particularly well last season with the club ending a very underwhelming 16th.

Reports suggest that Cavani will leave the club this summer. He’s been left out of their pre-season squad and it sounds as though his contract will be terminated. Boca Juniors are reportedly in for the 36-year-old striker.

Jesse Lingard

It may have been a free transfer, but Nottingham Forest forked out to sign Lingard last summer, making him one of their highest-paid players. He has two goals and two assists in the League Cup but didn’t justify those wages on the whole, failing to impress in the Premier League.

Lingard’s one-year contract at the City Ground expired in the summer and now he’s in limbo. Things might’ve worked out a whole lot differently for the former England international had he maintained momentum by moving to West Ham after that impressive half-season loan spell a few years back.

READ: 13 Man Utd academy graduates looking for a club this summer

Juan Mata

One of the nicest blokes in football decided to grace Turkey with his presence following his contract expiration, joining Galatasaray on a one-year deal.

The Spaniard only made three starts for the Turkish outfit, but he did claim a first league title of his career as they romped home to the Super Lig in impressive fashion.

Mata, 35, is now a free agent once again. It would be no major surprise if he decides to call it a day. He was recently back in Manchester as part of the city’s international festival. Of course he was, the cultured so-and-so.

QUIZ: Can you name Manchester United’s XI from Juan Mata’s debut in 2014?

Nemanja Matic

Reuniting with former manager Jose Mourinho, Matic has proved to be a decent signing for Roma, starting in almost all of their matches as they finished sixth in Serie A and runners-up in the Europa League.

Paul Pogba

Pogba also headed to Italy, rejoining Juventus, but his move hasn’t gone nearly as well as his former midfielder partner’s, with the Frenchman picking up a knee injury in July that ruled him for the first half of the season and meant barmy witchcraft scandals were the only thing he was in the news for.

The 29-year-old made his long-awaited return at the end of February but endured a frustrating stop-start season from there. He played fewer than 200 minutes in all competitions and made just one start for the Old Lady in 2022-23.

Andreas Pereira

Pereira has done well at Fulham, getting four goals and six assists in 33 Premier League appearances for Marco Silva’s surprise package Cottagers last term.

It was nice to see the Brazilian thriving in the Premier League after spending so long on the periphery at Old Trafford.

Ridiculous footwork, @andrinhopereira. 🕺#FFC pic.twitter.com/v6g5Q6g9IC

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) December 19, 2022

Tahith Chong

After he spent the 2021-22 season on loan at the club, Birmingham decided to sign Chong permanently, and he’s played 38 times since then, getting four goals and five assists in the Championship.

James Garner

United fans were far from pleased when the club allowed the highly-rated Garner to leave for Everton for just under £9million, but it’s not yet clear whether they were right to be angry.

The 22-year-old failed to pull up any trees at Goodison Park, although he became more integrated as the season went on. By the end of the campaign, Garner started to show he could be an important player for the project Sean Dyche is building in Merseyside.

READ NEXT: Erik ten Hag’s 7 best and brilliantly creative Man Utd punishments