Manchester United XI worth £240m in transfer fees made up of players not going to World Cup

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Sixteen Manchester United players were named in World Cup squads for the tournament in Qatar which starts on Sunday.

But there could have been a lot more players representing the Red Devils had some nations qualified for the tournament in the Middle East, and if some of United’s biggest names weren’t overlooked by national team bosses.

Erik ten Hag‘s side don’t play again until Wednesday 21 December when Vincent Kompany’s Burnley head to Old Trafford for a Carabao Cup fourth-round tie.

The clash against the Clarets comes three days after the World Cup final, so it will be interesting to see which World Cup players Ten Hag has available following the resumption of the domestic season.

But with United’s World Cup representatives heading off with their national sides, United in Focus has put together a Manchester United XI made up of players not going to the World Cup.

Manchester United XI made up of players not going to World Cup

David de Gea, who joined the Reds from Atletico Madrid for £18.9m in 2011, was not included in Luis Enrique’s Spain squad despite being in good form and showing positive signs with his distribution and willingness to rush off his line.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, a £50m signing from Crystal Palace when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was at the helm, doesn’t look like he’ll play for the club again having not even been on the bench against Fulham when Diogo Dalot was suspended.

Left-back Tyrell Malacia was preferred over United’s number 29 who hasn’t featured since a four-minute cameo against Liverpool back in August.

Victor Lindelof, a £31m signing from Benfica five years ago, couldn’t inspire Sweden to securing a place in Qatar after his nation was beaten by Poland in a play-off.

Academy duo Scott McTominay, who has played at centre-back for Scotland, and Brandon Williams, who is yet to feature this season, make up United’s non-World Cup XI defence.

Zidane Iqbal, who impressed in pre-season alongside his good friend Charlie Savage, is yet to feature for the senior side this season and the Iraq international may go out on loan during the January transfer window.

Donny van de Beek, who was signed for £35m from Ajax, wasn’t called-up to the Netherlands squad by former United boss Louis van Gaal.

Like Lindelof, Anthony Elanga couldn’t fire Janne Andersson’s Sweden to World Cup in Qatar.

It says a lot about Jadon Sancho’s plight that Gareth Southgate didn’t even mention United’s number 25 when announcing his England squad.

The £73m signing from Borussia Dortmund has had a difficult start to life at Old Trafford, but maybe spending extra time with Ten Hag on the training ground could prove the catalyst in him thriving during the second half of the season.

Alejandro Garnacho, who will no doubt star for Argentina at future World Cups, will be itching to kick on and build on his impressive recent form when the season resumes next month.

Anthony Martial became the world’s most expensive teenager in September 2015 when Van Gaal’s Manchester United paid Monaco £36m to bring the Frenchman to the Theatre of Dreams.

Had United’s number nine not struggled with injuries this season, then he may have forced his way into Didier Deschamps 26-man Les Bleus squad.

But France’s loss is certainly Ten Hag’s gain, and the Dutchman will be looking forward to Martial being in peak fitness for the second half of the season.

Manchester United’s best non-World Cup XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Lindelof, Williams, Iqbal, Van de Beek, Elanga, Sancho, Garnacho, Martial.