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Manchester United are a massive club and it is a dream come true for many players around the globe to play for the Red Devils. The Premier League giants have made some amazing signings in the past and even in the most recent summer transfer window, they have done pretty well.
That being said, there are times when signings don't work out. There could be more than one reason for this to happen and Manchester United have seen such cases in the recent past.
Many players have struggled at Manchester United
Post Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement as Manchester United's manager, the Red Devils haven't seen the best of times. Amidst frequent changes in management and tactics, combined with poor form, quite a few players have failed to live up to their reputation.
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That being said, circumstantially, it would have been very difficult for most players given the changes Manchester United have seen in the past nine years. In the process, many players regret joining United, no matter how great a chance it was for them.
On that note, we take a look at five of the players who probably wish they had not joined Manchester United:
#5 Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku was signed by Manchester United from Everton in 2018. Prior to signing for United, Lukaku had developed a reputation for being a regular goal-scorer in the Premier League.
With his strong and tall physique, lethal finishing, heading abilities and impressive hold-up play, Lukaku was looked upon to achieve big things at Manchester United. He played under both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. In his two seasons with the Red Devils, Lukaku scored 42 times in the 96 matches that he played.
Over time, Lukaku started less frequently at United as he struggled to find form in front of goal. In one of his recent interviews, Lukaku was found stating that he was in 'a deep hole' at Manchester United. He was also of the opinion that he was made the scapegoat more often for United's failures on the pitch.
He eventually left United to join Inter Milan in 2019 and ended up winning the Serie A the very next season. Lukaku is now back in the Premier League after rejoining his former club Chelsea in the summer transfer window.
#4 Radamel Falcao
Radamel Falcao is arguably one of the best strikers of his generation. Considering his stunning skill-set, there were not many better than him during his prime.
As it has been the case with many footballers, Falcao too took a hit in form post his ACL injury in 2014. Falcao joined Manchester United on loan from AS Monaco after recovering from injury to play under then United manager Louis van Gaal. The Dutch manager had taken over as United's manager the very same season.
Falcao started well as he registered an assist on his debut and scored his first goal in his fourth appearance for the Red Devils. With Van Gaal still settling in, Falcao too struggled to settle as he faced competition from Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney.
Over time, Falcao's game-time drastically reduced. In an interview in 2016, Falcao explained how the lack of game-time affected his confidence and eventually it affected his performance. He also explained how United were struggling to adapt post Ferguson's retirement and how it all went wrong for him at United. Falcao ended his loan spell at the club with just four goals in 29 appearances.
It was a case where both the player and club were in transition. With the intensity of the Premier League, it was always going to be difficult to cope with and it was Falcao who was on the receiving end this time. Falcao joined Chelsea on loan the following season and it only got worse for him in the Premier League.
#3 Memphis Depay
Manchester United were in the hunt to find their perfect replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo ever since the Portuguese left for Real Madrid in 2009. The Red Devils eventually zeroed in on Memphis Depay to replace Ronaldo as they signed the Dutchman from PSV Eindhoven in 2015.
In his first season under then United manager Louis van Gaal, Depay struggled to adapt in the Premier League and lost a bit of confidence. But the Dutchman did not lose hope. He trained well and kept getting ready for the second season and it was then when Van Gaal was replaced by Jose Mourinho.
Somehow Depay and Mourinho did not get along. Depay explained in one of his interviews stating that it was never in Mourinho's mind to give Depay the chance he deserved. Depay even went on to say that even his teammates were surprised seeing him not get enough chances.
It all ended in frustration for Depay and the Dutch winger opted to join Lyon in January 2017. Since that move, Depay has endured a meteoric rise and recently joined Barcelona. It is safe to say that Depay certainly looks back on his time at Manchester United with regret.
#2 Alexis Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez was one of the best players in the Premier League when he decided to leave Arsenal in January 2018. Despite Manchester City strongly fighting for his signature, it was Manchester United who ended up signing the Chilean.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be a horror of a signing for Manchester United. The forward managed to score only five times in his 18-month spell at Old Trafford. The move looked even worse as Sanchez was paid around £400,000 a week.
Sanchez was found posting on Instagram that he wanted to return to Arsenal just after the first training session at Manchester United. He was of the opinion that something did not feel right from the onset itself. He struggled to get along with then manager Jose Mourinho as he felt he was made the scapegoat on a regular basis.
It got emotionally draining for Sanchez and it was only after Mourinho was sacked that the Chilean expressed his concerns. Newly-appointed manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sanctioned his transfer as Sanchez initially joined Inter on loan before making the move permanent on a free transfer the following season. Sanchez thoroughly regrets the move till date.
#1 Angel Di Maria
When it comes to regretting the move to Manchester United, no player has better expressed it than Angel Di Maria. The Argentine forward was signed by Manchester United from Real Madrid in the summer of 2014. At the time, it looked like an interesting prospect as the early signs gave a very positive feel about the move.
After a decent start to his Manchester United career, Di Maria showed a dip in form, especially after a burglary took place at his residence in Manchester. To add to his misery, then manager Louis van Gaal kept changing his positions on the field. The Argentine was least happy about it and it only fuelled more when van Gaal criticized him more after every game for all the wrong passes he made.
Everything went in the wrong direction, eventually ending with Di Maria joining Paris Saint Germain in the summer of 2015. Di Maria holds a bitter taste for his time in Manchester and even United fans have a mutual feeling about it when it comes to the Argentine. No player would have regretted his time at Manchester United any more than Di Maria.
