Clubs are always offloading players and bringing new players in. Manchester United is no stranger to shaking up its squad, which has been evident in the past few years. Scott McTominay, Marcus Rashford, and Antony were all on the receiving end of leaving the club, whether on permanent moves or loans, but have all found success with their new homes.
Stunning Scott McTominay
Scott McTominay was often criticized while at Manchester United, but he was a favorite of some fans. He came up big for the English club, scoring crucial goals in his time with the senior team. After the 2024 season, the club sold McTominay to Napoli on teadline day. Since his departure, McTominay has proved his worth and is now looking to win the Serie A title.
McTominay is a dynamic midfielder with talent on both sides of the ball. According to Napoli's sporting director, the Italian side has made McTominay the center of their team, which is what the Scotsman wanted at United. Instead, managers at United opted to use McTominay as more of a player who could come on the pitch and make an impact when the stars couldn't.
With Napoli, McTominay is in great form with nine goals in 29 games and two assists, as well. He has linked up with another former United man, Romelu Lukaku, who is also enjoying life in Italy with 12 goals and 10 assists this season. Being the star man for Napoli, McTominay has embraced the game even more and is now leading the charge to win Napoli's Player of the Year.
Had McTominay stayed at United, he could have become a focal point in a rather dreadful squad. The midfielder could have played a crucial role alongside Bruno Fernandes. His age makes him a more valuable pick than the likes of older candidates in Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.
In-Form Marcus Rashford strikes again
After a fall-out with boss Ruben Amorim, Rashford was sent out on loan with Aston Villa. Rashford has since become a key player under Unai Emery, who is looking to secure a spot in European football once again.
Rashford made his first few appearances for Villa as a substitute but has impressed and become a starter. In Villa's crucial match against Manchester City, Rashford took Ollie Watkins' starting spot and made an instant impact by hitting the post just seconds into the game. He went on to score a penalty to level the game, before a late goal secured all three points for City.
Rashford had scored four goals for United in the Premier League this season before his loan. Since coming to Villa, he has scored twice more in the league and notched two assists. He has also recorded two assists in the Champions League.
The English forward played superbly in the second leg of the quarterfinals against PSG. He created multiple chances, but Villa failed to secure another goal to send the match into extra time. Rashford and Aston Villa are still on the lookout for hardware, with the FA Cup semifinal coming up on the 26th against Crystal Palace.
It's unlikely that Rashford will play for United again, especially with Amorim at the helm. However when in good form, Rashford would be a key figure up top given the struggles Manchester United's strikers have had this season.
Antony's revival at Real Betis
Antony came into the Manchester United team with a hefty price tag but failed to meet expectations. He played in eight Premier League matches this season and didn't record any goals or assists. In fact, his lone goal for United this season came in the EFL Cup.
Like Rashford, Antony was loaned away in January. With Real Betis, Antony has scored three goals and provided two assists in La Liga. In all competitions with Betis, he has five goals and five assists. This level of productivity was never seen in Manchester, but it was seen with Ajax before his transfer.
He has been named Man of the Match for Betis twice, showing that he can still have an impact on the field. Despite his revival, Antony will most likely be sold over the summer. Real Betis might have the funds needed to secure his permanent transfer, but United are reluctant to loan the Brazilian again. Other clubs are likely monitoring the situation, as Antony has proven that with the right manager and right players, he can thrive once again.