10 players that Manchester United shouldn't have sold in the Premier League era

Very rarely are Manchester United questioned for the players they have sold in the Premier League era due to the success enjoyed by the club under Sir Alex Ferguson in the last two decades. But that does not mean United always get their transfer business right.There have been occasions when former United manager Ferguson and the managers to follow have sold players that they should have retained. We take a look at the 10 players that the Red Devils should never have sold.

#1 David Beckham

The celebrated English wide man was part of the Class of ‘92 at Manchester United. Fans in England, especially Manchester United, have worshipped Beckham since he made his debut for the club. His modelling and guest appearances in movies had only increased his market value throughout the world.

After spending nearly a decade with the club, Beckham was sold to Real Madrid for £25 million to be a part of the Galacticos. When Beckham was sold at the age of 27, many felt that Ferguson did the right thing as the former English captain's best days looked to be over.

Beckham, however, played well for many more years after leaving United. Hence, watching one of United's favourite sons moving away from Old Trafford following his dispute with Sir Alex did not please many.

#2 Diego Forlan

The Uruguayan international's transfer to Villarreal in 2004 for £2 million turned out to be one of the best bargains around. Manchester United bought Forlan for a fee around £6.9 million in the 2001/02 season but his career never really took off at Old Trafford as he had to wait for nine months to score his first goal.

However, he enjoyed immediate success at Villareal by scoring 25 goals in his very first season. He later moved to Atletico Madrid where he thrived playing alongside Sergio Aguero.

Notably, Forlan collected the Golden Ball award for the Best Player in the 2010 World Cup after finishing the tournament as joint top scorer with 5 goals.

#3 Gerrard Pique

Many forget that Gerard Pique was once a Manchester United player. That was mainly because the Spaniard managed only 12 appearances in the four seasons he was at United. Pique, along with Jonny Evans, were unable to break into the team thanks to the stellar partnership of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand at the back.

Hence, Ferguson decided to keep Evans as their deputy and sold Pique to Barcelona. Since then, the Spanish centre-back has won many titles with the Catalan club. Notably, two Champions League crowns were won when Barcelona beat his former club in the finals.

With United struggling to find world-class centre-backs since the departure of the old stars, it might have been wise to retain Pique. But would he have stayed on? Doubtful.

#4 Giuseppe Rossi

Regarded as one of the talented young strikers in football at the time, Rossi never convinced Ferguson enough to gain a regular berth in the starting lineup. So Sir Alex sold him to Villareal in the 2007/08 season; much to the annoyance of the fans who expected a lot from him.

Just as expected, Rossi enjoyed a successful stint with the Spanish club for whom he scored 82 goals in five seasons. He later left them for Italy to play for Fiorentina.

Just like Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck, Rossi was never able to break into the star-studded United frontline which forced him to leave the club.

#5 Paul Pogba

Pogba joined Juventus for first team action

Pogba was another promising player who left Old Trafford for regular first-team football. The Frenchman was expected to be the long-term replacement for Roy Keane in the United midfield but the midfielder never got enough chances to prove his worth. It led to the French youngster refusing to extend his contract and he signed for Juventus.

As United fans feared, the young French player went on to become one of the best midfielders in Italy. He went to the World Cup in 2014 with France and won the the ‘Best Young Player’ award. He has been a regular ever since with his national team.

United soon swung into action and broke the transfer record to bring him back when Jose Mourinho took over at Old Trafford. Juventus asked £89m of the Red Devils and soon Pogba returned to United’s midfield at the age of 23.

#6 Danny Welbeck

Despite coming through United’s youth system, Welbeck was sold to Arsenal

Louis van Gaal raised a few eyebrows by selling life-long Mancunian Danny Welbeck to Arsenal in the summer of 2014. Despite his less than impressive goal scoring record, Welbeck had always been a fan favourite for being a local lad.

He is also a good attacking player, who makes up for his lack of goals by bringing his teammates into the game. His pace is also a valuable asset for quick counter-attacking teams and he also tracks back to defend.

However, Welbeck was unable to play up front regularly due to the star-studded United attack. When Arsenal came calling, Welbeck even requested the move. At Arsenal, Welbeck is enjoying himself after being allowed to play in his favourite position. Watching the childhood United fan in the Gunners jersey will definitely hurt his boyhood club’s fans.

#7 Jaap Stam

Sir Alex Ferguson has not made many mistakes during his time with Manchester United, but the standout one was selling Stam to Lazio for £16.5 million in 2001. The Dutch centre-half enjoyed a great spell for five seasons at Lazio after his departure from Old Trafford, which prompted Ferguson to admit it was a “bad decision” to sell him.

“It was one of the mistakes I made – hopefully I haven't made too many – but that was one,” Ferguson had said. “I thought if we could get Laurent Blanc for a year or so and bring the young ones through – like Wes Brown and John O'Shea – but it backfired.”

#8 Ruud van Nistelrooy

Van Nistelrooy was one of Manchester United’s best goalscorers

The Dutch forward will always be remembered as one of the best Manchester United strikers in the Premier League era. He scored 150 goals for United in 219 appearances during his five-year stint in England.

Just like Beckham, he too fell out with Ferguson and was transferred to Real Madrid in 2006 for £11 million at the age of 30. Again, he looked like a player who was sold after his prime was over. But, it was not to be.

Van Nistelrooy enjoyed a good stint with Los Blancos and scored 31 goals in his debut season as Madrid won their first league title since 2003. He followed that up with 20 goals in the following campaign as the Galacticos retained their title.

No doubt that United fans would have loved to have him at the club for a couple of years more at least.

#9 Ryan Shawcross

Just like Pique, not many might remember that the England centre-half was once a Manchester United player. Back then, Shawcross had to fight for a first team place which was occupied by Vidic and Ferdinand and also with young players like Jonny Evans, Craig Cathcart, and Paul McShane competing for a spot in the team.

So Ferguson decided to sell him to Stoke for an initial £1 million fee in the summer of 2008. After seeing his development with Stoke, Sir Alex regretted his decision.

“I was delighted to see him called up for the England squad because he is a quality player I have wished – particularly of late – was still at Old Trafford,” Ferguson said in 2012.

“We made the right decision by keeping Jonny Evans, but I'm not so sure about letting Shawcross join Stoke,” he added.

#10 Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo was sold to Real Madrid for £80 million

The multiple-Ballon d'Or winner was bought at the age of 18 by Manchester United in the summer of 2003 to replace the departed David Beckham and it’s safe to say he was more than an able replacement. Despite his early struggles with the club, Ronaldo slowly started to become a fan favourite with his impressive performances.

Notably in the 2007/08 season, Ronaldo found the back of the net 42 times for the Red Devils. Overall, he scored 118 goals during his six-year stay at the club.

Ronaldo then transferred to Real Madrid for a world record transfer fee at the time. Despite getting £80 million for his transfer, many still wonder if it was a mistake to sell one of the best players on the planet.

Ronaldo has gone on to break a multitude of records for the Galacticos. He has scored at a rate of more than one goal per game for Madrid and one has to wonder how United would have benefited from these goals if the Portuguese captain had stayed in England.

Also read: 5 Cristiano Ronaldo records that won't be broken for a long time to come

Edited by Staff Editor