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Manchester United is a club that is headed for a crisis right now, with key players like De Gea and Anthony Martial out of contract next summer.
Though the possibility of these players leaving on a Bosman transfer next June seems unlikely, but with contract negotiations currently on hold, fans are holding their breaths as the transfer window inches closer.
If we take a look at the transfer history of the Red Devils we'll find that over the years some very interesting names have left the Old Trafford for next to nothing.
So, with Manchester United not far away from losing as many as 10 players for free next summer, let us take a look at the five stars who were let go by the club on a free transfer.
#1 Paul Pogba
Manchester United's management must've been kicking themselves when they realized that the player they let on free in 2012 blossomed into one of the best midfielders in the world. Paul Pogba who spent two years in the Manchester United academy only made his Premier League debut in 2012.
He would go on to make only three substitute appearances in the Reds jersey in the Premier League, before making a move to Turin to join Juventus.
The Frenchman won four consecutive Serie A titles with The Old Lady, also claiming the Golden Boy award in 2013. His midfield exploits made him one of the hottest prospects in Europe back then.
His stock only kept rising higher and higher in Italy where he impressed everyone with his long-range shots and exquisite skills. In 2016, it was his old club that would break the world record for transfer fee by bringing him back to Old Trafford for €105 million.
To this day, losing Pogba for a measly fee of £800,000 is considered as one of the biggest mistakes of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.
Without a doubt, his move to Juventus can be described as one of the biggest free transfers of all time.
#2 Owen Hargreaves
Owen Hargreaves was a solid midfielder, who made a name for himself in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. He is one of the few players who broke into the England National squad without featuring in the Premier League first.
He joined Manchester United in 2007 and by then he was already a renowned player, having won the Champions League with the Bavarians in 2001 and putting up a tireless and valiant display in the 2006 World Cup for the Three Lions.
At Old Trafford, his spell was hampered by injuries, which meant he was virtually absent from the first team in his last three season for the Red Devils. Nonetheless, he played a crucial role in Manchester United's 2008 Champions League and Premier League triumphs.
In 2011, it was decided that his contract wouldn't be extended and he decided to join city rivals Manchester City for free in August that year after proving his fitness.
Injuries prevented him from becoming a Premier League great and he retired from competitive football in 2012 at the age of just 31.
#3 Louis Saha
When we talk about prolific strikers to have played for Manchester United, one player that gets overlooked is Louis Saha, whose true potential was wasted due to injuries. The Frenchman arrived at Old Trafford on 23 January 2004 from fellow Premier League club Fulham after helping them secure promotion last term.
He quickly proved his worth when he scored seven goals and assisted three more in the second half of the 2003-04 season and formed a partnership with Ruud van Nistelrooy. Though his spell was highly injury-riddled, he still managed to score 42 goals in 120 games for the club.
United legend Rooney claimed that he was the best strike partner he ever had in an interview. He said:
"There are so many but I'm going to say Louis Saha. He was a fantastic player, a real handful for anyone and I just really enjoyed playing off him."
In 2008 the talented player was let go on account of his injuries and he joined Everton on a pay as you play basis.
#4 Wayne Rooney
A modern-day Premier League legend, Wayne Rooney is probably the one of best #10 to have ever played in the English top-flight.
Having joined Manchester United in 2004 from Everton, he opted to move back to his childhood club after his contract at the Old Trafford expired.
Rooney who is only the second player in Premier League history to cross the 200 goal milestone, was a true hero among Old Trafford faithful.
His free transfer from Old Trafford to Goodison Park proved fruitful for him, as glimpses of his past glories were seen in his performances as he ended the season being the club's top goalscorer with 10 goals in the Premier League.
The only good thing about this move was that this deal facilitated the €85 million transfer of Romelu Lukaku from Everton to Manchester United.
#5 Nemanja Vidic
We are opting for Nemanja Vidic in our list, though his defensive partner Rio Ferdinand also left Manchester United in 2014 on a free transfer.
Vidic was one of the most feared centre-halves of the last decade. He was an ever-present figure of the Manchester United team that dominated the Premier League under Sir Alex Ferguson.
At Old Trafford, he won a total of 15 trophies including - 5 Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy, while also claiming two Player of the season awards.
At the age of 33, the Serbian decided to move out of England and agreed to an Inter Milan move in 2014.
Though he was clearly past his prime he fought for his spot in the Inter squad and made 23 league appearances, even scoring with a header in the process.
The free transfer of the player was a mutually agreed move between the player and the club and thus his spell with the club ended without any bitterness.
