5 players who performed well against Manchester United after leaving the club

Undoubtedly, football is the most popular sport in the world. The game has, in the course of history, produced some breath-taking moments. On the other hand, football has also produced some moments that left fans in outright shock.

As part of the process, players often move to other clubs during the transfer window for various reasons. These could be to pursue more playing time, enjoy the full stretch of a better contract or on the realisation that they are surplus to requirements at their current club.

It is almost poetic for the same players when they not only face their former employers but also score against them. Respectfully, some choose not to celebrate goals due to their previous ties. However, it has not been cast in stone that this should always be the case. Other players feed off the moment and make sure that they remind their old bosses of their quality.

20-time English champions Manchester United managers have over years done some pretty good business in the transfer market such as the acquisition of Romelu Lukaku and Cristiano Ronaldo. On the flip side, the Red Devils' bosses have let go of players in decisions that quite literally came back to haunt them during matches.

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#5 Ben Foster

On April 15, 2018, West Brom visited Old Trafford at a time when they were positioned at the bottom of the Premier League with only five matches left to play. It was expected that Jose Mourinho’s side would thrash the visitors if the impressive nature of their comeback win over the then champions-elect Manchester City in their backyard was anything to go by.

Prior to that match, West Brom had lost eight of their previous 10 league matches. 35-year-old goalkeeper Ben Foster had a dream move to United in July 2005 from Stoke City. During his near five-year spell at the club, he made just 12 appearances for the United under the stewardship of Sir Alex Ferguson. Having struggled to cement a starting berth, he went on several loan spells at Watford. It is said that goalkeepers get better with age and the shot-stopper proved that when he faced his former side.

In that match, Foster produced four crucial saves including a double in the 20th minute to keep out Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez on the follow-up. He was alert in getting quickly off his line on several occasions to thwart any potential threat. The minnows went on to stun the home crowd courtesy of Jay Rodriguez solitary goal in the 73rd-minute. This result essentially handed City the title.

#4 Welbeck strikes twice

Welbeck

Danny Welbeck joined Arsenal after former United manager Louis van Gaal preferred the more potent Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. This was a highly charged transfer given that United sold a player to a direct rival. The move was no surprise as Welbeck’s record at the time left a lot to be desired. As a centre-forward, he managed 29 goals in 142 appearances for the club.

On March 9, 2015, United lined up against Arsenal in what was a pulsating FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford. With the scores level at halftime, Arsenal players were limited to a few half chances. In the 61st minute, Welbeck capitalised on a poor back pass by Antonio Valencia intended for David De Gea. He rounded the United goalkeeper before firing into the empty net. He chose a rather fired up celebration in front of the home crowd.

The England international was it again on May 7, 2017. With United concentrating squarely on the Europa League, Arsenal picked apart their opponents in this encounter. After Granit Xhaka had given the Gunners a 54th-minute lead, it was Welbeck who put the result beyond doubt with a powerful header barely three minutes later to break United hearts once more.

#3 Gerard Pique

Pique

Gerard Pique is arguably one of the best central defenders of the last decade. Barely a year after leaving United, he had established himself as a regular in Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side. In the 2009 UEFA Champions League final, Pique was instrumental in keeping United’s attackers at bay.

His first meaningful contribution was just three minutes into the match. After Victor Valdez had parried the ball from Ronaldo’s free kick, Pique made a crucial block to deny Park Ji-Sung who was poised to score on the rebound.

In the end, United just had two shots on target from 11 attempts which was a testament to the Spanish side’s well-balanced defensive setup. Barcelona went on to seal the match 2-0 as Pique scooped back-to-back winners’ medal. It was more of the same script during the 2011 final that Pique played in as Barcelona had a whopping 68% possession and limited United to just one shot on target from four attempts at goal.

#2 Carlos Tevez

Tevez

The Argentine was no stranger to scoring against United. In fact, he scored the vital goal when West Ham claimed a priceless 1-0 victory to avoid the drop in 2007. When he moved to Old Trafford, Tevez was part of a formidable offensive partnership that involved Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo. In January 2010, he orchestrated City’s comeback win over their neighbours during a pulsating League Cup semi-final first leg match. His two goals were instrumental as City secured a 2-1 victory.

On that match day, Tevez was not received well by United supporters. He remained unfazed as he converted a penalty just before halftime in front of the travelling United fans celebrated wildly. In the 65th minute, he rubbed it in United's face with an overzealous celebration of his winner near the technical area where Ferguson stood to truly make a statement.

He went on to score a total of 73 goals for City in 148 appearances. This was a good return of about a goal every two games when compared to the 34 goals in 99 appearances he scored for United.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo

After clinching over 10 titles with United in what was a glittering spell, Ronaldo went on to cement his legacy as one the greatest players in history at Real Madrid. Though he endured a rough start at Old Trafford, he greatly improved over time to attract the big money move to the Spanish giants.

On March 5, 2013, United hosted Madrid at Old Trafford for the return leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final. In the first leg played in Madrid, the two sides battled to a 1-1 draw in a match that Ronaldo plunged the first dagger. That performance set the tone for his monumental return to Manchester where he scored 118 goals.

In that match, Ronaldo was undoubtedly the main man in Madrid's offence. He unleashed 11 shots aimed at David De Gea's goal with five being on target. This figure was almost four times more than any other Madrid player. Despite the predictable fact that he was the target man up front, United defenders could not keep up with his movement and interplay on the wings.

The prolific Portuguese was on hand to score what turned to be the winner in a 2-1 result to send his former side crashing out of the competition.