While they might not dominate like they once did, being a player for Manchester United still comes with a sense of pride and immense pressure to uphold the high expectations set by supporters.
Some players thrive under this pressure, but many others crumble, falling out of favor or struggling to break into the starting lineup, often left spending week after week on the bench.
Notably, while some careers at United have stalled unexpectedly, a phenomenon known as the “post-United bounce” has emerged in football circles. This refers to players who, after leaving Old Trafford, quickly regain their form at new clubs.
This season alone features notable examples such as Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Højlund, and André Onana, who all left the Premier League giants during a low point but have quickly experienced a resurgence in form elsewhere.
These three are not alone; a growing list of players has benefitted from similar experiences since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
– Every time Man United’s Ruben Amorim has addressed his position
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2025-26
Marcus Rashford
After a challenging time and low morale, Rashford was made available for loan by his boyhood club at the start of the year. Aston Villa took him on for the latter half of last season, followed by Barcelona securing a season-long deal for him this summer.
The 27-year-old appears rejuvenated and confident, having made a solid start at Barça with three goals and four assists in his first ten matches, including a standout performance where he scored twice against Newcastle United in the Champions League, earning applause from the home crowd.
1:03
Amorim: The pressure of playing for Man Utd was difficult for Onana
Ruben Amorim discusses the challenges faced by André Onana during his time at Manchester United following the confirmation of his loan move to Trabzonspor.
André Onana
Once a target of ridicule under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim for a string of errors that cost him his starting position, goalkeeper Onana eventually left the club. He signed a loan deal with Trabzonspor for the 2025-26 season, making an impressive debut where he was named man of the match despite the team suffering a 1-0 defeat. He followed this up by contributing an assist in his second match, which helped secure a 1-1 draw against Gaziantep FK.
Rasmus Højlund
After a disappointing goal-scoring season, Højlund found himself excluded from the United squad as the 2025-26 season kicked off. However, Napoli came to his aid in September, offering him a return to Italy.
Struggling with just four Premier League goals last season, the 22-year-old Denmark striker wasted no time, scoring in just 14 minutes during his first match with the Partenopei. He quickly tallied four goals in his first six outings, highlighted by a two-goal performance in a 2-1 Champions League win over Sporting CP and a decisive goal against Genoa just before the October international break.
2024-25
Scott McTominay
McTominay made a surprising move to Napoli in summer 2024 after experiencing limited playing time under Ten Hag the previous season.
The Scotland midfielder went on to win the Serie A title and earned the league MVP award in his debut season in Italy, becoming a fan favorite among Napoli supporters for his relentless work ethic, physical play, and crucial goal-scoring ability.
2:11
Why Antony felt disrespected at Manchester United
Real Betis winger Antony reflects on his difficult time at Manchester United.
Antony
After United acquired Antony from Ajax for £82 million, making him the third-most expensive player in the club’s history, he struggled to find his feet. Following two underwhelming seasons in England, the Brazil winger joined Real Betis on loan for the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, where he thrived, scoring nine goals in 26 games and earning a nomination for the LaLiga player of the month award shortly after his arrival in Spain. He has since made a permanent move to Seville.
2023-24
Dean Henderson
A product of United’s academy, Henderson spent eight years at the club but only made 13 appearances. After numerous loan spells, he signed permanently with Crystal Palace in August 2023, going on to claim an FA Cup victory and earning an England senior debut in his second season at Selhurst Park.
David De Gea
Another long-time servant, De Gea ended his 12-year tenure at United quietly, his contract expiring without much notice. After a season as a free agent, he joined Fiorentina in August 2024, where he contributed with crucial saves and clean sheets, helping the team secure a spot in Europe (via the Conference League) during his debut campaign.
2019-20 and 2020-21
The Inter Milan Exodus
A transition period at United led to the departure of numerous high-earning and underperforming players, making way for new talent.
This major exodus included several players moving to Inter Milan, contributing to the club’s success in capturing the Serie A title in 2020-21, with many remaining in the team as they claimed the title again in 2023-24.
Notable transfers include Romelu Lukaku (2020-21), Ashley Young (2020-21), Alexis Sánchez (2020-21, 2023-24), Matteo Darmian (2021-22, 2023-24), and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (2023-24), all of whom achieved significant success with Inter while also participating in Champions League and Europa League finals.
Beyond enduring criticism regarding his performance at United, Lukaku was named Serie A MVP in 2020-21 and finished as one of the top scorers, later achieving his second Serie A title with Napoli.
Chris Smalling
Smalling left United on a loan to Roma during the same period before making the move permanent in the following summer.
He quickly made a name for himself at the Giallorossi, achieving European success by winning the Conference League in 2021-22 under José Mourinho’s management. Smalling was named man of the match in the final against Feyenoord and earned a spot on the UEFA team of the tournament, a feat he later repeated after Roma finished as runners-up in the Europa League in the subsequent season.
2018-19
Daley Blind
A versatile defender during his tenure at United, Blind enjoyed a successful run, winning an FA Cup in 2015-16 and later clinching both the Carabao Cup and Europa League in 2016-17.
Although some viewed him as a fading player upon his exit from United, the Netherlands international returned to Ajax, where he won three more Eredivisie titles and two KNVB Cups before spending one season at Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga in 2022-23. Now 35, he is still active and currently playing for Girona in Spain.
2016-17
Memphis Depay
Depay’s time at United under Louis van Gaal was underwhelming, leading to his departure in January 2017 when he signed with Lyon.
At just 22, his career began to take off; he technically won LaLiga with Barcelona in the 2022-23 season (despite leaving halfway through after four appearances) before moving to Atlético Madrid. Recently, he secured a championship, winning the Brazilian Serie A with Corinthians in 2025.
2015-16
Ángel Di María
Di María, renowned as one of the world’s most skillful wingers, joined United in August 2014 for £60 million, a record transfer fee for a British club at the time.
However, despite a promising start, a series of injuries and an inability to adapt to English football saw him frequently sidelined under Van Gaal, leading to his departure after one season when Paris Saint-Germain offered a solution in 2015. During his time in Paris, he won a domestic quadruple in his first season and went on to secure 15 additional top honors, alongside victorious international stints with Argentina, including a FIFA World Cup and two Copa Américas.
At 37, Di María continues to play for his childhood club, Rosario Central.
2014-15
Wilfried Zaha
Zaha, who symbolizes the rocky transition period following Ferguson’s retirement, was signed by the manager in January 2013 but joined the club the next summer under new coach David Moyes.
Struggling for opportunities under Moyes, Zaha spent time on loan at Cardiff City before returning to Palace in 2014-15. He quickly regained form, establishing himself as a fan favorite and playing a pivotal role in the club’s resurgence, winning the player of the year award three times from 2016 to 2018.