7 Former Manchester United Players Who Make the Current XI

Manchester United is in a strange place right now. Ruben Amorim has guided them to the Europa League, but they are also sitting embarrassingly low in the Premier League table, flirting with 16th and 17th. The Red Devils could consider themselves lucky, as Leicester, Southampton, and Ipswich are already relegated. The Red Devils haven’t even hit the 40-point mark yet. 

For a club of United’s stature, that is inexcusable. But maybe the problem runs deeper than tactics or injuries. The FA Cup holders have trimmed their squad in the last few years, moving on names they didn’t see as essential. Yet several players are now thriving at other clubs, playing better, more consistently, and with a hunger that’s missing in their current crop. Were they at fault? Why are players who couldn’t even do the basics right at Old Trafford now guiding their clubs to European finals?  Seven former players would walk straight into this current XI.

1. Scott McTominay

It is hard not to feel happy for Scott McTominay. After years of being scapegoated by fans and overlooked by coaches, he’s gone abroad and finally found his groove. Napoli snapped him up for £25.7 million last summer, and he’s been nothing short of brilliant.

In Serie A, McTominay has become a powerhouse. He has 12 goals and 6 assists to his name, looks fitter than ever, and plays with the intensity that United’s midfield sorely lacks. This April, he made history by becoming the first Scottish player to win the Serie A Player of the Month Award. He is one of the key figures for Antonio Conte, as they progress towards the Scudetto, and are now favorites. 

United could use someone like McTominay, despite letting him go just this summer. Box-to-box, physically commanding, a goal threat, and a player who seems to care. Letting him go is starting to look like one of the club’s most regrettable decisions.

2. Anthony Elanga

Anthony Elanga is another one that slipped through the cracks. The Swedish winger never got a fair shot at Old Trafford, usually playing in dysfunctional sides and never under a manager who knew how to use him. But since moving to Nottingham Forest in 2023, Elanga has exploded into form.

He is now Forest’s most dangerous attacking outlet alongside Callum Hudson-Odoi, chalking up 6 goals and 10 assists this season alone. He even scored the winner against United back in April, and what a goal that was. If that doesn’t sting, what does?

What stands out about Elanga is his pace, directness, and work rate. While United’s current wingers drift in and out of games and have looked inconsistent apart from Amad Diallo, Elanga never stops running and trying. At a time when the Red Devils look painfully one-dimensional in the future, Elanga would be a breath of fresh air.

3. Dean Henderson

Letting David de Gea go made sense. Replacing him with André Onana, who’s looked shaky and has cost so many games for United, only to offload Dean Henderson, was baffling. Henderson is now Crystal Palace’s undisputed No. 1 and has been sensational this season. He is a huge reason Palace are in the FA Cup final, pulling off save after save, organizing his backline with authority, and playing with a chip on his shoulder that top keepers thrive on.

Compare that to Onana, whose high-risk style has already cost United dearly in Europe and at home. Henderson might not have the same flair, but he’s solid, dependable, and Premier League-proven. Right now, that’s exactly what the Red Devils need between the sticks.

4. Angel Gomes

Remember Angel Gomes? The tiny magician with velvet feet who was supposed to be the next big thing at United? He left in 2020 after getting fed up with a lack of chances, and fair play to him. Since then, he’s rebuilt his career at Lille and become an honest technician.

Gomes is now a versatile creative force, capable of playing deeper in midfield or higher up in the final third. He’s racked up over 100 appearances in France and looks more composed and intelligent on the ball than almost anyone currently wearing red at Old Trafford.

What’s most frustrating is that United still lacks that sort of player who can thread a pass, dictate tempo, and make something out of nothing. Gomes could’ve been that guy, had he been given time. A pairing of Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes, and Gomes could’ve been fascinating!

5. Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford’s story this season is one of quiet redemption. Once United’s golden boy, he drifted to the sidelines under Amorim and seemed a shadow of the player who once lit up Old Trafford. But since his January loan to Aston Villa, something clicked again. In just a handful of games, he’s looked sharper, more involved, and hungry, chipping in with a couple of assists and showing flashes of the old Rashford.

His standout moment came in the Champions League against PSG. He nearly turned the tide in the second leg with a relentless performance, only to be subbed off just as Villa started to believe. That night reminded everyone, including England boss Thomas Tuchel, of what he is still capable of. After a long spell out, Tuchel brought him back into the national squad, praising the “fire in his game again.” 

6. Antony

Very few redemption arcs could come close to what Antony has produced since he has been loaned to Real Betis in the winter transfer window. Antony’s loan move to Real Betis in January 2025 has revitalized his career. After a challenging period at Manchester United, where he struggled to find consistent form, the Brazilian winger has become a key figure for Betis. 

Under Manager Manuel Pellegrini, Antony has thrived, contributing 8 goals and 5 assists in 21 appearances. His performances have been instrumental in Betis reaching their first-ever European final in the UEFA Conference League, including a standout display against Fiorentina, where he scored a stunning free-kick and provided a crucial assist. 

7. David de Gea

After departing Manchester United in 2023, David de Gea found a new lease of life with Fiorentina. Joining the Italian side in September 2024, the veteran goalkeeper has been pivotal in their Serie A resurgence. De Gea has kept five clean sheets in nine league appearances, showcasing his trademark reflexes and shot-stopping abilities. 

Notably, he delivered a remarkable performance against Como, making a series of crucial saves that preserved a 2-0 victory. It is pretty ironic how someone who left Manchester United and was replaced by Onana could walk straight back in the starting 11 now.

Final Thoughts

It is easy to judge with hindsight. But when you see McTominay thriving in Italy, Elanga scoring against you, Henderson lifting an underdog team to a cup final, and Rashford and Antony blossoming on loan, it stops being hindsight and starts bad planning.

Manchester United used to be the kind of club that developed talent, nurtured it, and turned it into something special. These players weren’t world-beaters when they left, but they could’ve been. Surely, some of them were given time and trust, but they still couldn’t perform. It just highlights something deep within the club that needs fixing and resonates beyond managers and players.