His exit decision clearly indicates how far Man United has come
Next season, Manchester United will return to Europe’s elite, but the future of the player who scored their last Champions League goal is uncertain.
During the 2021-22 season, Anthony Elanga played 27 times for the Reds, including 16 starts, while Ralf Rangnick was the interim head coach. He thrived while the team and others struggled. He became a bright point during a dark period by scoring three goals.
In the last 16 of the Champions League, Manchester United drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in Spain, which was a crucial equalizer. It may not have had as much of an impact as it could have, and in less than a year, Elanga has fallen from a starting position to struggling to even make the squad.
Only once this calendar year, against Charlton in the Carabao Cup in January, has he started, and he has not been included in 10 of the last 13 Premier League matchday selections. United have reduced their asking price for the Swedish international from £20 million to £10 million, which is half of what it was.
In January, there was interest in loaning the 21-year-old out, but Erik ten Hag decided to keep him in the squad. Initially slated for a loan exit this summer, the attacker is now available on a permanent basis.
\The summer acquisition of Antony from Ten Hag’s former club Ajax and the emergence of Facundo Pellistri have relegated Elanga to the bench. He has had an entire year to prove himself in training, but his sporadic appearances have not lived up to the promise he displayed last year. And because United has advanced under Ten Hag, Elanga has fallen behind.
With the Dutchman at the helm, the Reds have improved significantly, and Elanga, along with several other bench players, is one of the casualties. The player himself admitted earlier in the season that he had spoken to Ten Hag about his lack of playing time and desire to play routinely, so a summer exit will benefit all parties.
“It is aggravating. You desire to participate. It is essential. In March, Elanga stated, “But if you don’t play, it’s not up to me; it’s up to the coach.” “I have spoken with Erik, and our conversation is private. I understand what he expects of me, so I can continue to train diligently. When the opportunity arises, I must be prepared to seize it.
“We have a great deal of conversation, not only about it but also about what is occurring around us. The good part about the club is that we talk a lot and they are very helpful.”
Despite all the chatter, however, Elanga has not seen much action. He is unlikely to play in the FA Cup final this weekend, and despite making 26 appearances for United in all competitions, he has had little impact.
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It does not reflect poorly on the athlete, but rather the progress made under Ten Hag. His ceiling isn’t as high as United’s, so the man of the moment in Madrid will have to move on if he wants to achieve similar heights.
His exit decision clearly indicates how far Man United has come