Ralf Rangnick reportedly claimed three Manchester United players, who have all since left the club, were 'mood killers' during his time in charge.
Rangnick was appointed interim manager for the second half of the 2021/22 season following the decision to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November 2021.
Despite promising a new style of play and radical changes, Rangnick guided United to sixth in the Premier League.
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Initially set to take up a consultancy role at the end of the campaign, Rangnick instead left United altogether to take charge of the Austria national team.
The appointment didn't work on several levels. What he did do was shine a light on United's ageing and bloated squad in perhaps his defining moment as manager.
Rangnick claimed United needed up to 10 new players after being taken apart 4-0 by bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield back in April.
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He put together a list of players United should sign, including Erling Haaland and Christopher Nkunku, although all that went out the window when Erik ten Hag arrived.
On that list were players he believed United needed to part ways with to start a rebuild. Bild claimed Rangnick identified two forwards and a midfielder who had too much influence in the dressing room.
Among those were Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani, who departed for Juventus and Valencia upon the expiry of their contracts that year.
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Pogba's last game for the club ended up being that game at Anfield when he left the pitch less than 10 minutes in due to injury.
Cavani, meanwhile, lost his shirt number to Cristiano Ronaldo and scored just two goals all season.
The other player Rangnick wanted to part ways with was Anthony Martial. He did get his wish, albeit temporarily, with Martial joining La Liga outfit Sevilla on a season-long loan.
Martial went on to return to United but struggled to force his way into the starting XI and played his final game against Bournemouth in December 2023.
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Martial ended his nine-year association with United after his contract expired but he is yet to find a new club and remains a free agent.
Lille and Atalanta have both been linked but no move is close to happening as it stands.
Topics: Ralf Rangnick, Manchester United, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Edinson Cavani
Daniel Marland