Three Man Utd 'mood killers' and where they are now after Erik ten Hag parted with two

Manchester United have had a revolving door of high-profile players in recent times. However, three high-profile players in particular were put on the chopping block due to their “bad influence” in the dressing room.

Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial, who were regulars in the United line-up for several years, along with Edinson Cavani, who thrilled fans upon his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain, were all shown the exit at United following backstage chaos.

Former interim manager Ralf Rangnick was reportedly keen to offload the trio due to their disruptive influence, which was allegedly ‘killing the mood’ in the United camp, reports the Mirror. So, what happened to the players that Ragnick and his successor Erik ten Hag were seemingly eager to move on? Express Sport explores where they ended up.

Edinson Cavani

Cavani quickly became a fan favourite at United after scoring 17 goals in his debut season at Old Trafford. However, a disappointing second season saw him not only relinquish his number 7 shirt to Cristiano Ronaldo but also play just 15 games due to injury.

The situation worsened when Cavani reportedly ruled himself out of several matches due to injury, leading United legend Paul Scholes to label him a “disgrace”. Rangnick lost patience with the player and, along with Pogba and Martial, accused the 37-year-old of destabilising the atmosphere at United, according to German outlet Bild.

Rangnick was forced to bid farewell to Cavani in a United shirt back in May 2022, as the Uruguay international signed with Valencia. His spell in Spain was brief, though, before he made his way to Boca Juniors in Argentina.

Upon his departure, the United faithful heard Cavani express gratitude but also regret, as he conveyed his hopes of having “wanted to contribute more this season”, mirroring his lacklustre performance in his final campaign at Old Trafford.

Paul Pogba

Pogba parted ways with United once again, opting for a familiar comfort zone by re-signing with Juventus in summer 2022, after an unsettled period at Old Trafford.

Initially brought back to the Theatre of Dreams by Jose Mourinho for an eye-watering almost £90m price tag, Pogba’s return was anticipated to herald a newer, brighter era post-Ferguson. But what transpired were six tumultuous years marked by clashes with managers, frictions with team-mates, and tension-laden encounters with United supporters.

Though intermittently demonstrating his undeniable talent, Pogba’s time at United came to an end when Ten Hag deemed him excess to plans. Back on Italian soil, he faced another setback – his tenure at Juventus was marred by injury woes.

Pogba’s professional challenges escalated when his career took a nosedive following a four-year ban from football. The midfielder had tested positive for DHEA – a substance prohibited that is known to boost testosterone levels.

Throughout this ordeal, Pogba and his camp have consistently proclaimed his innocence, insisting that any consumption of banned substances was entirely unintentional.

In a statement he said: “I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect.

“I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me. When I am free of legal restrictions the full story will become clear, but I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements that violate anti-doping regulations.”

Anthony Martial

Martial, who made a sensational move to United from Monaco in 2015, quickly became a fan favourite after netting an unforgettable goal against Liverpool on his debut, contributing to a stunning 3-1 win. The French forward’s tenure at United saw him notch up 90 goals across more than 317 appearances.

Martial’s initial seasons at Old Trafford were marked by success, with a personal best of 23 goals during the 2019/20 season. However, his last years with the club were marred by inconsistent form and injuries.

His stint at United was relatively smooth until a public spat with then-interim manager Ralf Rangnick emerged. Following accusations from Rangnick of refusing to play, Martial took to Instagram to defend his professionalism: “I will never refuse to play a match for Man United. I’ve been here for seven years and I never disrespected and never will disrespect the club and the fans.”

After a loan spell at Sevilla for the latter half of the 2021/22 season, Martial returned to United but failed to secure a regular spot in Ten Hag’s squad. The 28-year-old is currently without a club, and according to Sky Sports, a move back to France seems the most probable. Both Lyon and Marseille, who recently signed Mason Greenwood, are reportedly keen on securing his services.