Five Manchester United players have informed the club that they want to leave this summer and will therefore not attend pre-season training with the rest of the squad. According to reports, United have postponed their return date until later in July to allow them to secure a move away from Old Trafford.
Players on their way out
Among the players who will not return to pre-season training in time are:
- Marcus Rashford (loaned out to Aston Villa last season)
- Alejandro Garnacho
- Jadon Sancho (loaned to Chelsea)
- Antony (loaned to Real Betis)
- Tyrell Malacia (on loan to PSV Eindhoven)
According to journalist Nathan Salt, these players have been told that they can return later in July to work on a transfer. Chris Wheeler, meanwhile, reports that they will be taken back to the club if they do not find new employers, and will have access to medical treatment and rehabilitation while they are away.
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Background for the departures
United have just confirmed the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton for £62.5 million, and the club are still looking for more reinforcements – including Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and an England international.
At the same time, manager Ruben Amorim has to sell players to balance the accounts. Rashford, Garnacho, Sancho, Antony and Malacia are all on the starting list.
What happened last year?
- Sancho impressed to some extent at Chelsea (5 goals in 41 games), but the London club did not exercise the £40 million call option.
- Antony had a good spell at Real Betis (9 goals in 26 games), but his high salary remains an obstacle to a permanent transfer.
- Malacia made 12 appearances for PSV after a loan spell in the spring.
- Garnacho got a lot of game time (58 games, 11 goals), but his future seems to lie elsewhere, with Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea on the line.
If any of the five do not find new clubs, they will return to United’s training base. But everything indicates that several of them have played their last game in red.
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