7 players whose careers dipped after joining Manchester United

Alexis Sanchez went from top to bottom of the game after joining Manchester United.
Alexis Sanchez went from top to bottom of the game after joining Manchester United.

#5 Alan Smith

Alan Smith
Alan Smith

Alan Smith was one of the leading lights of the great Leeds team that set pulses racing in England and across Europe before they dramatically collapsed. In a contentious transfer, he moved to great rivals Manchester United after Leeds were relegated.

Though Smith played 93 times for the club, he never really regained the form he displayed at Elland Road. Made into a midfielder by Sir Alex Ferguson from a striker, Smith was then moved on to Newcastle United where he had another disappointing spell. The player finally ended his career at Notts County.


#4 Kelberson

Kleberson
Kleberson

Kleberson was touted as one of the main reasons why Brazil won the 2002 FIFA World Cup by the team's coach himself, Luiz Felipe Scolari. Thus, Manchester United immediately jumped in to get his signature. But the midfielder was bogged down by injuries and in the end played only 20 times for the club, never ever managing to settle down in his new environment.

Eventually, Kleberson was sold at a loss to Besiktas where he had another horror spell. He went back to Brazil before ending his career with the now defunct Fort Lauderdale Strikers who played in the North American Soccer league. He had had a spell in the MLS before that too.


#3 Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba

One might feel that Paul Pogba, a World Cup winner and still only 27, has time on his side to fulfill his potential and become one of the best-ever midfielders to have graced the game. His vision, passing and shooting ability put him up with the best, but his second spell at Manchester United has seen more lows than highs.

In 109 games, Pogba has netted only 25 times for Manchester United and has shown flashes of his brilliance but has often seemed alienated and uninterested in the club besides picking up injuries. Gone are the days when Pogba played with brilliant abandon at Juventus. The embattled Frenchman is now at a mediocre Manchester United trying to turn around the the fortunes of his club and his own.

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Edited by Bhargav