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.
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
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.
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
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