From Red Devils to… Better Devils? Life After Manchester United

Leaving Manchester United can feel like stepping off a rollercoaster—thrilling, terrifying, and full of unexpected twists. For some players, the transition has been a breath of fresh air, while others might be wondering if they jumped from the frying pan into the fire. We’ve decided to explore the recent departures from Old Trafford to see who’s thriving, who’s struggled since their departure, and who might just be treading on thin water.

The “Finally Free!” Club

Let’s start with those who seem to have benefitted significantly from a change of scenery. There have been a number of players who struggled at Old Trafford, no matter the manager in charge. However, it seems that a change of scenery has done wonders for them—especially for those who swapped dreary Manchester for more exotic locations.
After a frustrating spell at Manchester United, Antony seems to have found his shooting boots in La Liga. His goal-scoring rate has skyrocketed from 0.14 to 0.88 goals per 90 minutes—granted, it’s a small sample size, but it’s already looking like a significant improvement. Not only is he scoring more, but his playmaking has also stepped up. His assists per 90 have more than tripled from 0.09 to 0.29, and he’s creating more chances overall, going from 1.6 to 2.1 per game. Another notable jump is in his crossing ability, with 0.6 successful crosses per game compared to just 0.2 in the Premier League. While it’s still early days at Betis, Antony’s sharp rise in attacking stats suggests he may be enjoying the fresh start he desperately needed.

Mason Greenwood’s move to Marseille has been nothing short of impressive. His goal-scoring rate has more than doubled from 0.32 to 0.67 goals per 90 minutes, making him one of the top scorers in the league with 14 goals so far. Not only is he finding the net more often, but he’s also seeing more of the ball in dangerous areas—his touches in the opposition box have increased from 4.4 to 5.4 per game. He’s taking more shots too, upping his total from 3.1 to 3.7 per match, showcasing a more confident attacking approach. Greenwood's creativity has also seen a slight boost, with his chances created per game rising from 1.3 to 1.4. His dribbling remains a key asset, attempting 4.3 take-ons per match compared to 3.9 at United, though his success rate has remained steady. Perhaps most notably, his crossing has significantly improved—he now delivers one successful cross per game, up from just 0.4 at United.

Meanwhile, Anthony Martial’s move to Greece has seen a considerable increase in goal production. The forward is currently at 0.58 per 90 minutes, compared to 0.29 when he was at Old Trafford. Maybe all he needed was some feta and sunshine.
And then we have Anthony Elanga, who is now averaging 0.17 goals per 90 minutes for Nottingham Forest. More impressively, his creative output has surged—his assists per 90 have nearly doubled from 0.25 to 0.46, and he’s creating more chances overall, jumping from 1.3 to 1.9 per game. However, there are some trade-offs. His touches in the opposition box have dropped from 6.4 to 4.3 per game, and he’s taking fewer shots (down from 2.3 to 1.7). He’s also dribbling less, with both his attempted and completed dribbles decreasing significantly. Where he has truly improved is in his delivery from wide areas. At United, he barely registered as a crosser, completing just 0.1 successful crosses per game. At Forest, that number has skyrocketed to 1.3, showing he’s becoming more of a playmaker than a direct goal threat. Elanga might not be lighting up the scoring charts, but he’s proving to be a valuable creative outlet—something he never quite had the chance to be at United.
The "Needs More Time to Adjust" Crew
Not everyone experiences an immediate upswing after leaving Manchester. Some players require a bit longer to find their footing. Nevertheless, it seems that everyone plays better away from Old Trafford, making the Theatre of Dreams more like a place of nightmares.
Jadon Sancho’s time at Chelsea has shown some notable changes in his performance. His assist rate has increased significantly, from 0.11 to 0.32 per 90 minutes, while his goal-scoring rate has dropped (0.26 to 0.13). He’s averaging 6.5 touches in the opposition box per game, the same as his time at Manchester United, but his dribbles completed per 90 have dropped from 1.9 to 1.2. His shot volume has decreased, as well as his fouls won, but his chances created have stayed relatively steady. Although his goal output has lessened, Sancho is contributing more to Chelsea's attacking buildup. Whether he can rediscover his goal-scoring form remains to be seen, especially at a time where Chelsea’s season has hit a stumbling block in recent weeks.
Scott McTominay’s move to Napoli has seen a relatively smooth transition, with his goal-scoring rate almost identical (0.32 at United vs. 0.33 at Napoli). His assist numbers are low, staying around 0.1 at United and 0.09 at Napoli, but he’s still contributing in the box, with touches per game slightly increasing from 3 to 3.4. His passing accuracy has improved slightly (83.9% vs. 82.7%), but his pass volume has dropped from 31.6 to 28.8 per 90. His duel success rate has also dipped a bit, from 49.9% to 47.3%. Overall, McTominay continues to provide steady midfield presence, with small but noticeable improvements in some areas.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s move to West Ham United has seen a slight shift in his style of play. His goal output has increased marginally (0 goals at United to 0.08 per 90 at West Ham), though his assists have dipped slightly (0.11 to 0.04). His passing accuracy has decreased from 83.9% to 81.8%, but he’s still managing a respectable number of passes per game (40.7 compared to 43.5 at United). Interestingly, his dribbles completed per 90 have doubled, from 0.8 to 1.6, suggesting more confidence on the ball. His chances created have also increased from 0.6 to 1 per game, reflecting a more attacking role at West Ham. Defensively, he’s still strong, winning similar amounts of possession and tackles as he did at United, though his duel success has slightly decreased from 59.6% to 56.3%.
The Goalkeeping Conundrum
Goalkeepers often face unique challenges when switching clubs, and our former United keepers are no exception. However, it seems that they are doing a much better job than Andre Onana, who has become genuine meme material after his arrival at the Red Devils. David De Gea's stats have taken a hit since leaving Manchester, with fewer clean sheets and more goals conceded. However, his save percentage has improved slightly, and he hasn’t made errors leading to goals, which is something that Onana definitely can’t say.

In the end, leaving Manchester United has proven to be a mix of rejuvenation and struggle for many players. Whether it’s the change of environment, the new tactical setups, or simply a fresh start, most have found their footing outside Old Trafford. Some have flourished, others are still adjusting, but one thing is clear: life after United may just be the change they needed.

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