Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is taking his players on a trip to the United States.
Ruben Amorim has made it clear to four unwanted stars that they will NOT get the chance to play their way back into his plans. The Manchester United manager is taking a hard line by confirming that their careers at Old Trafford are over for good. – An attitude that can backfire if the well-paid players do not move on.
Amorim took charge of the North West English giants in November last year, but was unable to reverse the trend as the team finished in their worst ever finish in the Premier League – 15th. Having also seen United put in a lacklustre performance in their defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final in Bilbao, the Portuguese coach is fully aware that he has a huge task to do in restoring the club’s former greatness.
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Thankfully, the manager will have funds to spend this summer and has already signed Matheus Cunha for £62.5m from Wolves. While hopes for Bryan Mbeumo are still hanging by a thread, Amorim is very focused on bolstering the attack, with a striker also on the radar this summer.
But from the United boss’s point of view, the exits are just as necessary regardless of the outcome of player purchases.
Three of them – Antony, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford – have just completed loan spells elsewhere, but will all turn up for pre-season training at the beginning of July, as things stand.
A fourth, Alejandro Garnacho, has also been given the go-ahead to leave this summer after a break with the manager due to his omission in the Europa League final. (He’s furry in other words)
Now all chances the quartet had to play their way back into the manager’s plans are gone. The demanding United boss has already decided that the four will not be part of the travelling team to either Stockholm (where they face Leeds United on 19 July) or the United States (where they play West Ham on 27 July, Bournemouth on 31 July and Everton on 3 August in New Jersey, Chicago and Atlanta respectively).
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A club source quoted by the Athletic states:
“Amorim puts his authority on the club. It was difficult to come in the middle of the season, but now he has the opportunity to shape the team in his image. And he doesn’t waste time.
“He only wants players who are willing to die for the shirt and who support his ideas.
“He also wants a smaller squad to create a closer team spirit, so that everyone gets enough playing time to be top tuned when they are called up. He doesn’t want any rotten apples or distractions.”
What now for Garnacho, Antony, Rashford and Sancho?
After the quartet are told that there is no way back to Old Trafford, their agents are working overtime to find new clubs that can give their careers a boost.
Antony is perhaps the closest to a departure after a promising loan spell at Real Betis. A surprising Serie A club has shown interest, and Fabrizio Romano has revealed where the Brazilian sees himself next season.
Sancho is wanted in Italy, with both Napoli and Juventus seriously interested. He showed glimpses of his potential on loan at Chelsea, but not enough for the Blues to make his stay permanent. Instead, Enzo Maresca’s team paid a £5 million clause to withdraw from a permanent deal.
Rashford still has the dream of playing for Barcelona, who would be his first choice this summer. The 27-year-old impressed on loan at Aston Villa this spring, but will now explore opportunities outside England first.
However, his chances of a move to Barca look questionable after the club has entered into personal terms with Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams.
Garnacho is also linked with Napoli again, but United have understandably lowered the price further to attract Premier League interest in the Argentine.
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