Pogba and the Man Utd players who left on a free transfer this summer

James Shearman

11 Jul 2022 04:30 CDT
4 min read

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba — © ProShots

Manchester United are undergoing a complete overhaul of the first-team squad this summer transfer window.

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Erik ten Tag has taken over from head coach Ralf Rangnick and has the entirety of the window to rebuild the team.

There are likely to be a number of incomings - with Tyrell Malacia already joining from Feyenoord - given the players that have left on free transfers.

In fact, six senior members of the squad have left for nothing, including club-record signing Paul Pogba.

Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba returned to Manchester United in 2016, on the back of an excellent four seasons in Serie A for Juventus.

The £89 million man failed to live up to expectations, however, with his best form since the move coming on international duty with France.

He really underwhelmed this past season, ever since the 5-1 opening day win over Leeds. He has returned to Juventus on a free transfer, the club he played for from 2012 to 2016.

Jesse Lingard

Jesse Lingard showed his quality on loan at West Ham in the 2020-21 season, registering nine goals and four assists in just 16 Premier League games.

However, a huge factor in that was the confidence that came from playing week-in week-out.

At United, he was never afforded that opportunity in recent years, and he decided to leave this summer.

Juan Mata

Juan Mata won Chelsea's player of the season award two years running before then-manager Jose Mourinho decided to let him go to Man Utd.

As such, the Spaniard arrived at Old Trafford with plenty of expectation but failed to replicate the form he displayed at Stamford Bridge.

Now 33 years of age, Mata's time to return to his best ran out and he is likely to move on to a team in La Liga.

Nemanja Matic

Another ex-Chelsea player, Nemanja Matic developed into one of the Premier League's best central midfielders in west London.

🗣 "He was one of the reasons why I chose Roma"

Nemanja Matic says reuniting with José Mourinho was a big reason for his move from Man Utd to Roma and he's eyeing a record set by Frank Lampard 👇 pic.twitter.com/G7q9DP4N43

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 4, 2022

Yet, again, he never hit those heights in a United shirt, although he was a decent servant in his five years at the club.

The Serbian international has linked up with Jose Mourinho again by joining Roma on a free transfer.

Edinson Cavani

Edinson Cavani's move to Manchester United can be deemed a success, as in his debut season he scored 17 goals in 21 starts in all competitions.

However, the return of Cristiano Ronaldo limited his gametime in the 2021-22 campaign, making just 14 appearances in the Premier League.

He also experienced several injury problems which, at the age of 35, does not bode well going forward.

Lee Grant

The 39-year-old Lee Grant wouldn't have expected to play much at Old Trafford, but just two appearances in three seasons is surely a personal disappointment.

Even though Dean Henderson has also left this summer, Tom Heaton will assume back-up duties, meaning Grant's place in the squad was unnecessary. He has nw retired to become a coach.