Manchester United’s recent woes have only been further highlighted by the success of those who have left the club in recent times, with a handful of high profile stars having been unburdened by the decision to depart Old Trafford.
Indeed, recent months have seen both Antony and Marcus Rashford find their groove out on loan at Real Betis and Aston Villa, respectively, with the Brazilian already chalking up eight goals and assists in just 12 games for the LaLiga side, while the latter man has registered two goals and four assists in ten games at Villa Park.
Even Anthony Martial, meanwhile, who scored just twice in all competitions last season, has hit form since moving to Greece on a free transfer, with the mercurial Frenchman netting nine times in just 20 outings for AEK Athens to date.
It would appear that breaking free of United shackles can do the world of good for a player, with that having notably been evident on Tuesday night, as Anthony Elanga proved the matchwinner at the City Ground.
The Swedish speedster – who was allowed to leave Old Trafford on a £15m deal back in the summer of 2023 – ran almost the length of the pitch before slotting past Andre Onana in the opening exchanges, with that marking the 22-year-old’s 29th goal involvement in 73 games since moving to Nottingham Forest.
Such an impact may spark a tinge of regret among those of a United persuasion, with there also perhaps fears that a similar scenario could be set to occur with regard to another of Ruben Amorim’s current crop.
Anthony Elanga's game in numbers vs Man Utd
As is often the way for United – having notably seen academy graduate Danny Welbeck score on six occasions against them over the last decade or so – they were undone by ‘one of their own’ on Tuesday evening, despite putting in a largely encouraging performance up against their high-flying hosts.
The Red Devils had 23 shots in total yet once again failed to showcase that much-needed cutting edge in front of goal, while Elanga, meanwhile, needed just one early chance to break the deadlock.
The speed at which the Malmo native drove from just outside his own penalty area was simply frightening, with both Patrick Dorgu and the sliding Alejandro Garnacho having failed to even get close to him in truth.
Touches
Bruno Fernandes (110)
Accurate passes
Leny Yoro (75)
Key passes
Bruno Fernandes (6)
Successful dribbles
Anthony Elanga (6)
Duels won
Anthony Elanga (9)
Tackles
Noussair Mazraoui (6)
Clearances
Murillo (12)
Dribbled past
Noussair Mazraoui (4)
Possession lost
Bruno Fernandes (31)
That moment of magic also marked one of six successful dribbles that Elanga completed on the night – more than any other player – having also been a real asset for his side defensively, after winning nine total duels.
There could well have been a second for the 21-cap Sweden international had it not been for a stunning intervention from Leny Yoro late in the second half, with the teenage Frenchman just about managing to keep pace with the electric winger.
In all, such a statement showing from the Forest starlet served to highlight United’s own attacking flaws, having also shown the benefits to others of flying the nest, particularly considering he only registered four goals and four assists during his first-team stint back in Manchester.
Man Utd star is in danger of becoming the new Elanga
The debate will continue over whether Elanga simply needed a fresh start to be able to truly flourish, or whether he was actually not afforded a fair chance at the Theatre of Dreams, having made just 26 appearances under Erik ten Hag during the 2022/23 campaign.
Whatever the case, the £15m man now has 14 goals and assists to his name in the top-flight this season – only Bruno Fernandes (18) betters that tally among Amorim’s ranks.
There may be a concern that a repeat scenario could occur with the aforementioned Garnacho, with talk having been rife in recent months regarding a potential sale for the Argentine youngster.
Reportedly valued at around £60m, amid January interest from Chelsea, the 20-year-old could prove a casualty of United’s desire to meet PSR regulations, with the sale of the academy graduate set to prove pure profit – much like Elanga.
Much like his former teammate too, there may be a question mark over his role under the new management regime, with Garnacho registering just six goals and assists in 24 games for Amorim, after previously racking up 32 goal involvements in 98 games under Ten Hag.
In the case of Elanga, the promising winger burst onto the scene in 2021/22 following Ralf Rangnick’s appointment, with three of his four goals for the club coming during the German’s interim spell. Under Ten Hag in the following campaign, he wasn’t even involved in the matchday squad for the final 13 league games of the season.
Garnacho – who scored in the FA Cup final back in May – was Ten Hag’s man, but can he be Amorim’s?
If not, the Spain-born forward may find himself following in Elanga’s footsteps by finding his feet elsewhere, with that likely to be a scenario that both United and INEOS would live to regret.
Yes, as his profligacy on Tuesday showcased, the £50k-per-week ace has the ability to frustrate, yet ever since his promotion into the first-team ranks, Garnacho has been a player to get the crowd off their seat. As journalist Samuel Luckhurst previously noted, he is a “game-changer”.
Part of an otherwise lifeless forward line, Garnacho is currently the one capable of igniting it, with it set to be no surprise if he does flourish elsewhere should a move be made, much like Elanga has.
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1 ByRobbie WallsApr 2, 2025
