Top 10 players Manchester United regret selling

Manchester United have built a reputation as one of the greatest football clubs in the history of the game. All that is down to the legends that have passed through their doors. They also have been home to the likes of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, who have overseen their entire career at Old Trafford.

However, not every player who has played for the Red Devils has had the same destiny as Giggs and Scholes. Throughout the years, Manchester United have let go of some of their best players and have rued their decisions.

In this slideshow, we take a look at ten such football stars whom the club still regret selling.

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#10 Patrice Evra

Patrice Evra left after signing a contract extension

Patrice Evra's eight-year trophy-laden spell with the Red Devils came to an end in the summer of 2014, when the club offloaded him in a mass exodus, just two months after he had extended his contract by a year. However, the spell that followed his departure was enough for United to rue his sale.

Manchester United brought in Luke Shaw from Southampton for £27 million. But little did they know that the player would be constantly marred by injuries and remain on the sidelines at Old Trafford. The youngster failed to become a worthy successor for the Frenchman, while United rotated the likes of Tyler Blackett and Daley Blind on the left most of the time.

Evra, on the other hand, had a relatively successful spell at Juventus, winning five titles and a Champions League runner-up medal. His departure also meant United lost one of their commanding leaders at the back.

#9 David Platt

David Platt was one of the finest players of his generation

David Platt was a product of Manchester United's youth academy who signed a professional contract with the club in 1984. However, after a mere six months, the Englishman found himself at Crewe Alexandra in the Fourth Division after being discarded by the club.

To his credit, he bounced back and showed them how wrong they were in letting go of him. He achieved success with the likes of Juventus and Arsenal, becoming a key player for the English national side.

As for Manchester United, they were left with another transfer blunder to rue about.

#8 Gerard Pique

Gerard Pique(L) left for Barcelona

A product of La Masia, Gerard Pique served a spell in the youth academy at Manchester United before breaking into the first team in 2005. But, homesickness became the crucial reason behind his departure from England.

At Barcelona, Gerard Pique has stamped his authority as one of the best defenders of the generation. The number of trophies he has won may well be enough for United to get upset about letting him return to Spain.

Frankly speaking, Gerard Pique stood little chance of making the starting XI considering the sturdy defensive partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, who were probably the best defensive duo of the decade. Would you blame Sir Alex for not breaking the partnership in order to draft in a young, inexperienced defender just to grant him playing time?

Despite having Vidic and Ferdinand, Ferguson would, no doubt, have relished holding on to Pique back then.

#7 Javier Hernandez

Chicharito fell out with Louis Van Gaal and David Moyes

Chicharito arrived at United from Guadalajara in 2010 and became an instant fan-favourite following a 20-goal haul in all competitions in his debut season. However, after six years with the club, he was sold to Bayer Leverkusen after falling out with David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal.

Remember, we are talking about a player who notched one of the best minutes-to-goals ratios in the Premier League. That is down to the club's decision to use him more as a substitute after Robin van Persie's arrival. The Mexican, however, neither complained nor disappointed, scoring quite a few crucial match-winning goals coming on from the bench. That hat-trick against Aston Villa is a testament to his claim as a super sub and a worthy successor to Ole Gunnar Solksjaer at Old Trafford.

The interesting thing is, it is Jose Mourinho who regrets his sale, albeit he didn't have the chance to manage him. And you can't blame him, can you? Chicharito scored 39 goals in 76 appearances for Leverkusen, becoming exactly the kind of goal-poacher United needed during their dark period.

He may be playing for West Ham at present, but Chicharito certainly deserves better, don't you think?

#6 Jaap Stam

Jaap Stam was sold to Napoli

Dutch centre-back Japp Stam joined Manchester United in 1999 for £10.6 million, becoming the most expensive Dutchman in football history back then. However, an association which was worth lasting a decade ended when the defender was controversially sold to Italian outfit Lazio three years later.

Sir Alex was reportedly furious with some of Stam's claims in his autobiography. This led to a row between the gaffer and him, which paved the way for the Dutchman's move to Lazio.

Years later, Sir Alex expressed his regret over the decision stating, 'When I think of disappointments, obviously Jaap Stam was always a disappointment to me, I made a bad decision there.'

As for Stam, he didn't win enough silverware to match his exploits at Manchester United. Had he stayed, his name would have certainly gone down in the club's hall of fame.

#5 David Beckham

David Beckham left for Real Madrid following a rift with Sir Alex Ferguson

David Beckham had already become the most popular player of his generation when he left for Real Madrid in 2003 following a rift with Sir Alex Ferguson. The fans were angered by their legendary no.7's sale, but what happened next makes you think whether to regret Beckham's departure or not.

Whatever happens, happens for the good. That dictum proved itself again as United brought in a more than worthy successor, an 18-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo who set the Premier League alight for the subsequent six years.

Returning to David Beckham, the Englishman did fail to replicate his success at Real Madrid, but then, why should we regret his sale?

Sometimes, our love for our favourites prevails over everything else, and that's what happened in Beckham's case. He might not have been at his belligerent best, but many fans pined to see those pin-point crosses and free-kicks at the Stretford End even after his departure. Ronaldo might have made us forget Beckham earlier than we expected, but undoubtedly, every United fan and player would have loved seeing the latter retire in the famous red shirt.

#4 Paul Pogba

Manchester United rectified their mistake by re-signing Paul Pogba

He might have a god-like stature at Manchester United, but the error leading to Paul Pogba's sale proves Sir Alex Ferguson is much like anyone of us - human. Pogba's departure for free and acquisition for a world record £89 million transfer fee was enough for them to become somewhat of a laughing stock for many, considering the gigantic fee they paid to bring the Frenchman back to Old Trafford. The transfer cost them a huge chunk of cash in lieu of their manager's mistake.

Pogba left because of Sir Alex's preference in setting up his team. In spite of showing promise, he found himself behind the likes of Tom Cleverley, Darron Gibson and Anderson. The return of Paul Scholes further damaged his chances of sitting tight at Old Trafford. The final straw came in a league game against Blackburn when the gaffer selected Rafael Da Silva as Park Ji Sung's partner in midfield ahead of Pogba. The young midfielder was quick to seal a Bosman transfer to Juventus the following summer.

Everyone is aware of what happened next. The Frenchman left no stone unturned in making the legendary manager regret the decision as he transformed into a world-class midfielder. Since then, Manchester United have rectified the error, albeit at a really hefty price tag. That amount of money could definitely have been used in making another marquee signing.

#3 Peter Beardsley

Peter Beardsley(L) became a legendary figure at Liverpool

Signed for a £250,000 fee, Peter Beardsley's is a tale that will always haunt Manchester United. Despite showing promise, Ron Atkinson used him only once in the 1982-83 season before shipping him off to where he came from, the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Fourteen years since then, the club bore the pain of watching their reject become one of the finest English strikers of his age with Liverpool, Everton and Newcastle United. He also contributed a major share in denying United the league titles in 1988 and 1999.

Sir Alex Ferguson did consider buying him back while he was with Everton, but any such move failed to materialise, leaving the club to regret its decision of letting go of the English legend.

#2 Johnny Giles

Johnny Giles was sold by Sir Matt Busby

Coming through the youth ranks in 1957, the most torrid time in the club's history following the Busby Babes disaster, Johnny Giles failed to establish himself as a regular in the starting XI at the club. Sir Matt Busby sold him to Leeds, who were in the second division at that time, in 1963.

But, little did the great gaffer know that the Irishman would come back to haunt him in the years to come. The English midfielder established himself as the kingpin in a Leeds United side that would become United's rivals

"Giles could grab hold of a match, tuck it in his back pocket and carry it around with him. He didn't need to find space, it was as if space found him."

Brian Clough's statement above is a fine testimony to Giles' ability as a world-class midfielder. Sir Matt Busby, on the other hand, was left with nothing but regret regarding the legend's sale.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2009

I bet every Man United fan will be teary-eyed after watching the milestones Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved at Real Madrid. If it wasn't for fate, all that the Portuguese skipper has done for Los Blancos could have gone down in the favour of the Red Devils.

Here is the most important question begging to be asked. Have Manchester United been the same since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure? Most certainly not! Yeah, they have won silverware, but the winger's absence has seen a considerable loss of quality in the Manchester United side for the past nine years. Also, they have found it impossible to find a worthy successor to the number 7 shirt since Ronaldo said his last goodbye.

Initially, Ronaldo wanted to switch Man United for Real Madrid in 2008 but stayed put for another year to honour Sir Alex's word. The starting seasons weren't as productive for CR7 but the times have changed since.

That brimming trophy cabinet of his is a strong testament to how he has lived his Real Madrid dream to the fullest.

As for the United fans, the craving for their former no.7 might have diminished as years have passed by, but the regret still remains fresh in every heart.