Man Utd proven right with decision over three players, two are fighting for their futures

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Manchester United made a decision to release three players at the end of the 2023/24 season and will have no regrets.

This summer Manchester United’s sales have been impressive, closing in on £100 million in transfer fees for the window.

The exits provide a substantial saving on player wages, which were cut substantially when the club decided to release three first team squad players at the end of June.

Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial and Brandon Williams were all released, saving approximately £600,000 per week in salary costs.

• READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

Martial and Williams without clubs

Anthony Martial and Brandon Williams are yet to find new clubs as the summer transfer deadline approaches. As free agents, they will have additional time to find clubs – but the longer the wait goes on, the tougher it gets.

Interest in Anthony Martial has been slim, a result of a woefully injury-hit 2023/24 season, in which his last game came in December 2023. Now nine months on, there is low appetite for his services.

Now 28, the former Golden Boy should have been reaching his peak. Instead he is fighting for his future in the game at the top level.

Sky Sports reported in early August that Martial was being considered by French side Lille, which followed alleged interest from Atalanta.

This has yet to materialise into anything more substantial and the trail has run cold for now.

Brandon Williams is in a similar boat to Martial. The academy graduate has not played a match in 2024.

Williams was playing a useful role on loan at Ipswich Town before he suffered injury problems which have blighted his career.

It was no surprise Williams was released, and quite telling that Ipswich have not shown interest in bringing him back as a free agent.

Now 23, a fortnight ago Williams was connected with a move to Scottish side Rangers. This could be one which develops. He would have preferred to find a club long before now.

Varane takes a step down

Raphael Varane is the only one of the trio who has found a club. The experienced centre-back has signed with Italian side Como.

Como are ambitious, yet they are minnows in Serie A, recently promoted. It’s a step down for Varane, who was playing at Real Madrid before his three-year spell with Manchester United.

The experiences of this trio of Varane, Martial, and Williams, underline that Manchester United were right to move them on.

In the cases of Williams and Martial, their exits were well overdue, with the club unable to find buyers for them a year ago.

Varane has achieved so much that he has nothing to prove, but Martial and Williams risk wasting their potential, and are running out of time and opportunity.