Manchester United’s culture needs to be overhauled, that much is clear because players seem to get better after leaving but this particular example is remarkable.
Man United sold a lot of players last summer as Ineos took to bludgeoning the squad Glazers had left them and started shaping it in their image.
They made more than £100 million in sales, a feat which allowed them to spend nearly £200 million despite skirting the financial fair play rules.
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Many of those sales were well-timed, but the three players who were let go of for peanuts are not talismans of their respective sides who are in a title race against each other.
Manchester United’s Greek connection
When the whole footballing world was trying to cash in on the Saudi Arabia train, United were too late to get on it, leaving them a lucrative option short to sell players.
The unexpected common destination of their departures turned out to be Greece instead, with three players leaving to play in the Greek Super League.
After 22 games in the league, they sit second, third, and fourth in the league, all in the title race and contributing to their teams’s success to varying degrees.
Anthony Martial is tearing it up at AEK Athens (second), be it through scoring goals or just being regularly available after shaking off injury worries.
Facundo Pellistri is getting regular football at Panathinaikos (third), having already played more minutes of football this season so far than he did for Man Utd in the last three years combined.
The third is Shola Shoretire, once United’s youngest debutant now rebuilding his career at PAOK (fourth) with decisive contributions in limited minutes.
Martial and Shoretire left on a free transfer while Pellistri left for a nominal fee. Fair to say, their clubs are pretty happy with their move!
Step down after leaving Man Utd to relaunch
All three of Martial, Pellistri, and Shoretire took a step down after leaving United, departing when their stock was at its lowest.
The latter two have age on their side so it is conceivable that they leverage their performances in Greece to earn themselves a move back into top-five leagues.
Martial isn’t getting any younger but he’s performing at such a high level that it is possible an elite team comes in for him straightaway in the summer, looking at him as a spark plug off the bench.
Ultimately, leaving United has been a decision that has been loudly vindicated for the trio.
Now to win the title, they’ll have to beat their two teammates and the small matter of league leaders Olympiacos.
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