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In the past, joining Manchester United was a crucial turning point in any player's career. However, currently, it seems that leaving Old Trafford offers many players the opportunity for significant development and advancement.
Elanga's turning point
One of the clearest examples of this is Anthony Elanga, who scored against Manchester United in the match between Nottingham Forest and his former club in the 30th round of the Premier League on the morning of April 2nd. This goal helped Forest win 1-0 and boosted Elanga's reputation, leading people to question Manchester United's decision to sell him.
In the 2024/25 season, Elanga is not the only case of a player shining after leaving Manchester United. Last weekend, Marcus Rashford scored a brace to help Aston Villa beat Preston North End in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Prior to that, the English striker left Old Trafford to join Villa on loan in the January 2025 transfer window.
Last year, Rashford won the FA Cup with Manchester United. This season, he could win it again. Like Rashford, Antony also received enthusiastic support from Real Betis fans, to the point that they launched a fundraising campaign for the Spanish club to buy him outright. This shows how good the Brazilian star is. Antony's situation is similar to Rashford's; both had to pack their bags and leave the Manchester club.
However, while Rashford and Antony's performances were impressive, they couldn't have the same impact on Manchester United as Elanga did in the recent match. The Swedish international's spectacular goal at The City Ground not only secured the victory for Forest but also highlighted the progress of a player who had previously been sold for a modest price. Now, with his current form, Elanga is likely to feature in the Champions League next season, a memorable milestone in his career.
In the summer of 2023, Manchester United decided to sell Elanga to Nottingham Forest for £15 million, a rather modest sum for a young player with potential. At the time, many MU fans were not particularly concerned about Elanga's departure. He was considered a player with speed and agility, but his finishing skills and composure in crucial situations were seen as weaknesses.
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Elanga scored in Forest's 1-0 victory over Manchester United on the morning of April 2nd. |
However, with Elanga only 21 years old when he left, the decision to sell him seems increasingly wrong when looking back at what he has achieved at Forest. Since moving to his new club, Elanga has scored 11 goals and provided 17 assists in the Premier League.
Remarkably, no Manchester United player has managed to do this many times in the same period. Elanga currently leads Forest in assists and has six Premier League goals in the 2024/25 season – including a spectacular goal where he ran 85 meters in just nine seconds before unleashing a powerful shot that beat United goalkeeper André Onana.
At Forest, Elanga rediscovered the form and confidence he never had at Manchester United. This season, the Swedish international has become a key player in Nuno Espirito Santo's squad, contributing significantly to Forest's pursuit of a Champions League spot. Elanga's goal against MU confirmed that perhaps the environment at Manchester United, with its invisible pressures, had hindered his development.
A question mark hangs over MU.
Elanga's success at Forest also raises questions about the environment at Manchester United and the pressures players face. Ruben Amorim, Erik ten Hag's successor at MU, once commented on why many players from MU have been successful after leaving.
Amorim argues that at Manchester United, players don't have enough time to develop and face immense pressure. This is evident not only in Elanga's case but also in many other instances where players never had enough opportunities to prove themselves at Old Trafford.
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MU suffers a bitter defeat at the hands of a former player. |
Elanga had a memorable first season at Manchester United, particularly in the Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, where he scored the equalizer with a burst of speed. However, the departure of Ralf Rangnick, who had a significant influence on Elanga, prevented him from regaining his consistent form. Elanga then became a "commodity for sale" for Manchester United in the summer of 2023, and Nottingham Forest quickly signed him.
Steve Cooper, former Forest manager, also played a key role in convincing Elanga to join the team. Cooper made numerous Zoom calls with Elanga from Forest's training camp in Valencia, explaining the team's tactics and playing style.
At the same time, Everton also showed interest in Elanga, but the player expressed concerns about the Merseyside club's style of football. Ultimately, this helped Forest secure the Swedish international's signature.
After a challenging first season at Forest, where the team struggled in the relegation battle, Elanga has completely transformed this season. He has become a key player in Forest's counter-attacking style, with his speed, technique, and skill. This season, Forest are competing for a top-four spot and have reached the FA Cup semi-finals.
Elanga's success at Forest serves as a reminder of Manchester United's transfer mistakes. Players like Elanga, McTominay, and many others have proven they can thrive and shine after leaving the club. This not only highlights shortcomings in the Red Devils' player development strategy but also raises questions about the team's ability to cultivate and develop talent.
While Manchester United struggled with rebuilding their squad, Elanga seemed like another talent the club had let slip away. The young player found the right environment at Forest and is on his way to becoming a new star in English football. Players like Elanga demonstrate that sometimes, leaving Manchester United can be a turning point, helping them rediscover themselves and achieve remarkable success.
Source: https://znews.vn/elanga-cho-mu-sang-mat-post1542725.html
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