5 players who regretted leaving Manchester United

Despite not winning the league since 2013, Manchester United is still one of the world's biggest clubs, despite a series of fallouts and poor showings in recent years. After 26 years of Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm, it was always going to be a difficult transition.

Jose Mourinho has restored some presence to the side and the team looks to be heading in the right direction. Even though they've endured some difficult times recently, the list of players who regret leaving Man United could still fill several books. These players range from talents full of youthful promise who ultimately did not fulfil their potential to experienced players who found out that the grass was not greener on the other side.

The list of successful one-club men at United like Giggs, Paul Scholes and Bobby Charlton show that being at United for a long time is better in the long run. Even long players who weren't regular first-team players like Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea and Wes Brown still enjoyed glory on a regular basis. However, it is easy to see why the players left the club, perhaps for the promise of regular playing time after being consigned to the bench at United.

#1 Park Ji Sung

Park Ji-Sung was well-renowned throughout his career for his boundless energy and enthusiasm and nearly endless stamina, being branded 'Three Lungs Park' for his workload. His time at United was definitely was when he was at his peak, winning several titles and being a trusted lieutenant of Sir Alex Ferguson in the big games to shackle creative opponents, even if his first-team opportunities were comparatively limited.

He also developed a reputation for scoring in the big games, particularly against Arsenal. As a result of his commitment and his die-hard commitment to the cause, he became a fans' favourite during his time at the club. While he may have been overshadowed by some in his time at the club, he used the other side of his game to blunt other stars with his tackling and tracking back.

However, once he left for QPR at the end of 2011/2012, things rapidly went downhill, as he only made a handful of appearances during an injury-hit two-year spell with the club, which eventually resulted in his retirement. It doesn't seem fair that his career petered out in this manner after the glory he tasted at United.

#2 Carlos Tevez

Carlos Tevez left the club in 2009 for neighbours Manchester City

Prior to entering the Tevez's arrival at the Theatre Of Dreams in 2007, the little Argentinian had a reputation for being a divisive character who was always after a move after a couple of years at a club, as he proved - somewhat justifiably - after being ignored for some of his time at West Ham under Alan Pardew.

However, what he did have was a pure love for the game, a hunger which was matched by his then strike partner Wayne Rooney, so in his case, it was very much a case of taking the rough with the smooth.

So it proved at United, where he scored several goals amid a series of arguments, which was never going to sit well with Sir Alex who always maintained that no player was bigger than the club as David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy and even Cristiano Ronaldo can all appreciate.

He ultimately left the club in 2009 for neighbours Manchester City, which spawned the infamous 'Welcome to Manchester' poster. At City, he went on an extraordinary sabbatical after a row with boss Roberto Mancini and basically downed tools to get a move away from the club. Spells at Juventus and Chinese clubs followed as Tevez slipped sharply down the ladder.

#3 David Beckham

David Beckham exited in 2003 for Real Madrid

Beckham's inclusion on this list may be a surprise to some people, given how well regarded as a global icon of soccer and fashion, but, but in purely footballing terms, there is no doubt that his career declined after leaving United.

At United, he was part of the famous 'Class of 92' a bunch of local lads who powered United to the very pinnacle of the game. Scoring from the halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996 is one of the stand-out moments of his career.

He also had a unique talent for crossing, passing and set-pieces. But his time was up as soon as 'he became bigger than the club' (according to Sir Alex Ferguson), and he exited in 2003 for Real Madrid, where he stayed for another 4 years before signing for LA Galaxy in 2007.

From this point onwards, Beckham seemed to concentrate on off-field interests more than football dropping out of the England Team. Eventually, he ended his career with a short-lived spell at PSG, which seemed to be more of a publicity stunt, rather than anything to do with football.

#4 Andy Cole

Andy Cole was known to be quite an introverted character at United

As a striker, Andy Cole was prolific for most of his career, until he left United. At United, he was arguably at the peak of his powers, averaging more than a goal every 2 games he played for the club.

His telepathic relationship with Dwight Yorke was largely responsible for United winning the treble in 1998/99.

However, Cole was known to be quite an introverted character at United, who didn't really get on with his striking partners apart from Yorke. Cole ultimately left United in 2001, for Blackburn Rovers, a move that started a slide down the league pyramid, playing for some of the Premier League's lesser lights like Portsmouth and Fulham.

He was always on the fringes of the first team in these clubs and his league career culminated in a torrid spell at home-town team Nottingham Forest, where he didn't even manage a goal.

#5 Ruud van Nistelrooy

Ruud van Nistelrooy left in 2006 for Real Madrid

Van Nistelrooy is one of the best finishers ever to play for Man Utd, along with Javier Hernandez and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. In terms of pure goal-getting, the Dutch striker was in a league of his own - 150 in 219 appearances to be exact, which is a phenomenal scoring rate, especially after he suffered what would normally be classed as a career-ending injury prior to joining Man Utd.

However, his greatest strength may have been his greatest weakness because he didn't contribute much more to the team apart from goals. His selfishness began to annoy other teammates and the final straw was when he fell out with the then fledgling, superstar Ronaldo. He left in 2006 for Real Madrid. Sadly, he never really recaptured the heights that he hit at Man United with his other clubs.

At Madrid, he was in and out of the team and his scoring rate gradually declined. Eventually, he wound his career down with comparative minnows Hamburg and Malaga, and Van Nistelrooy himself later admitted, with admirable candour, that his behaviour had been unacceptable in his later years at United, even ringing Ferguson to apologise, which he described in his autobiography.

Van Nistelrooy is right to have regrets - if he had stayed at United, he could easily have become the all-time top goal scorer, a prize which was eventually thoroughly deserved by Wayne Rooney.