5 Amazing players who left Manchester United on a free transfer

#2 Owen Hargreaves

Hargreaves left Manchester United for Manchester City

Owen Hargreaves was a solid midfielder, who made a name for himself in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. He is one of the few players who broke into the England National squad without featuring in the Premier League first.

He joined Manchester United in 2007 and by then he was already a renowned player, having won the Champions League with the Bavarians in 2001 and putting up a tireless and valiant display in the 2006 World Cup for the Three Lions.

At Old Trafford, his spell was hampered by injuries, which meant he was virtually absent from the first team in his last three season for the Red Devils. Nonetheless, he played a crucial role in Manchester United's 2008 Champions League and Premier League triumphs.

In 2011, it was decided that his contract wouldn't be extended and he decided to join city rivals Manchester City for free in August that year after proving his fitness.

Injuries prevented him from becoming a Premier League great and he retired from competitive football in 2012 at the age of just 31.