The most talked-about narrative surrounding Manchester United has always been how good players become once they leave the club so this one is for the fans who are tired of hearing that.
There’s a certain cognitive dissonance when talking about players who are playing elsewhere now, because the bad performances don’t get nearly enough coverage.
It creates an illusion that every player who left Man Utd has become a world-beater because only the good performances get talked about.
Here’s the other side of the story as an ex-Man Utd pair started together for their new side and one had an early shower after being sent off in just 37 minutes.
Ex-Man Utd pair’s horror show
Manchester United’s transfer strategy, especially on the selling department, took a ruthless turn last summer as they cut the cord with many.
Many young players with potential were sold when their values were high instead of the club holding on to them until their value tanks.
One such move is turning out to be a masterstroke, as Willy Kambwala’s breakout at Man Utd last season hasn’t translated to another step forward this season.
Kambwala joined Villarreal last summer and a stop-start campaign due to injuries has led to his career not yet taking off in his new surroundings.
In Villarreal’s recent game against Celta Vigo, he started alongside another cult favourite at Old Trafford, Eric Bailly.
What could have been a poetic Man Utd narrative ended up being a horror show as Villarreal were reduced to ten men due to Bailly’s sending off with a straight red card in the 37th minute.
Kambwala played the full 90 as Celta ran Villarreal ragged in a 3-0 win.
Willy Kambwala and Eric Bailly vindicate Man Utd’s decision
Bailly was effectively a player who was past it by the time he left Man Utd so nobody was questioning the wisdom of his departure.
Kambwala, on the other hand, had proven himself fairly capable of stepping up to the senior team last season so his departure garnered mixed reviews.
After 14 league games totalling just 917 minutes, it’s fair to say that United have not just been vindicated in that transfer, but they’ve come out as big winners.
Kambwala was sold when his value was at its peak, borne out of United’s desperate injury situation thrusting him into a prominent role.
That is the kind of sale clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea have built their whole transfer system on, so for United to feel vindicated on a sale like that for themselves will fill fans with confidence.
Just don’t take it as a precedent to sell Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho in the summer now!
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