Manchester United has, in recent times, formed a toxic relationship with some of the stars that arrived at the club amidst its struggles.

Many secured moves to the Theater of Dreams at the peak of their powers, only to hit the downward curve at the club, and fail to fulfill their potential or the demands of the club.

This has been the hallmark since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of the 2012-13 season. Players and managers alike have struggled in their quest to restore the club to the company of elites, where it belongs.

Manchester United hierarchy has also not been shy to splash the cash. They've invested heavily in both youth and marque players, in the hope to finally bid a lasting farewell to the trenches, but each time, they found themselves languishing in the unwanted status.

Amongst the stars signed by the club or those who became one after leaving the club, many have gone on to shine at their future club, signalling that the problem isn't in the men but the club.

In the wake of Antony's newfound joy following his loan move to Real Betis, we take a look at five players who got their respective careers back on track after ending a toxic relationship with Manchester United.

5 players who rediscovered form after leaving Manchester United

5. Antony

Ultimately, maybe Ajax did not swindle Manchester United. After years of struggle at the Manchester club following his big-money move from Ajax, it has taken just a few games for the Brazilian to show the world he was well worth the money.

Antony, in 96 Manchester United appearances, has 12 goals, just four of which have come since the start of last season in 52 appearances.

He failed to justify the price paid to Ajax and ultimately lost the trust of his managers, leading to him being overtaken by Amad Diallo, who has risen to become the most important attacker at the club.

Antony joined Real Betis on a six-month loan in January 2025. He was heavily involved in the opening goal on his debut and was crowned the official man of the match.

The Brazilian has gone on to score in each of his next three games, winning the player of the match award in the two that have come in LaLiga, while adding an assist and winning a penalty in their most recent fixture against Real Sociedad.

Although it is still very early into his time in Spain, it already shows that the toxic environment at Old Trafford was the limiting factor to Antony's development, and this could make players think twice before deciding on joining the club in the current situation.

4. Memphis Depay

Memphis Depay is one of the foremost names on what is now becoming a trend. The Dutchman arrived at Manchester United in 2015 as one of the brightest youngsters in Europe but struggled to make a telling impact.

In January 2017, he ended his association with the Red Devils, joining French side Olympique Lyonnais in a deal of around £17 million, excluding add-ons.

At Lyon, Depay rediscovered his confidence and form, becoming a key player and one of Ligue 1's standout performers. His first six months produced 12 goal contributions in 18 games, which was two more than the 10 he managed in 53 games over 18 months at United.

In four and a half years at Lyon, Depay scored 76 goals and assisted 53 others in 178 games across all competitions, earning him a lucrative move to Barcelona in the summer of 2021 on a free transfer.

There, he won two silverware, went on to play for Atlético Madrid before joining Corinthians in Brazil in 2024.

3. Romelu Lukaku

The Belgian joined in a £75 million move from Everton in the summer of 2017, with expectations due to his impressive record in the Premier League.

He had an impressive first season in Manchester, scoring 27 goals and nine assists in 51 games across all competitions. Unfortunately, his performances were overshadowed by the team's collective shortcomings.

His relationship with the fans started deteriorating in his second season at the club. Lukaku's struggles were visible, and he decided to move on after producing 15 goals in 45 games in his second season.

He joined Inter in 2019 and, under Antonio Conte, he rediscovered his goal-scoring form, leading the club to the Europa League final in his first season, and winning the player of the season in the competition.

He won the Serie A title in 2021, claiming the MVP award, while also receiving a Ballon d'Or nomination. His resurgence earned him a return to Chelsea and later a loan back to Inter, then to Roma, and now Napoli.

Romelu Lukaku continues to score goals and enjoy his football, winning silverware and remaining one of the best strikers around these days.

2. Jesse Lingard

Jesse Lingard, a product of Manchester United's youth system, is one of the most famous names on the list – experienced fluctuating fortunes at the club; he joined West Ham United on a six-month loan in January 2021. 

At the London club, Lingard shone and played unarguably the best football of his career, earning himself the Premier League player and goal of the month awards in April.

In just 16 Premier League appearances for West Ham, he scored nine goals, more than he did in any of his full seasons at Manchester United in the competition.

Lingard also assisted four goals in the competition for the Hammers, taking his goal contributions to 13, in no league season has he contributed to more goals to date.

He returned to Manchester United at the end of his loan spell but again failed to leave a mark, before permanently joining Nottingham Forest at the end of his contract.

1. Angel Di Maria 

Ángel Di María’s time at Manchester United in 2014-15 was a frustrating chapter in his otherwise illustrious career.

Signed from Real Madrid for a then-British record fee, the Argentine struggled under Louis van Gaal’s rigid tactics and lack of positional freedom.

For a player fresh from winning the best playmaker award in the previous LaLiga season, his form dipped, and after just one season, he couldn't live with it, and he left for Paris Saint-Germain.

At PSG, he flourished, regaining his creative spark and becoming a key figure in the club’s domestic dominance. 

In his first season, Di Maria was directly involved in 37 goals in 47 appearances for PSG, which included 22 assists, 18 of which came in Ligue 1, making him the best playmaker of the season in the league.

He contributed significantly to multiple Ligue 1 titles and played a crucial role in PSG’s run to the 2020 Champions League final. In total, he won 19 silverware with Les Parisiens, scored 92 goals, and assisted 111 others.

He also had a decent stint at Juventus before returning to Benfica. Di Maria has also won two Copa America titles and one FIFA World Cup title with Argentina.

These five names are considered top of the list, albeit several other players fall into this category.

The trend appears unending as players like Antony and Scott McTominay, who have recently departed, are having their best moments away from the club.

It does show that Manchester United continues to omit an important detail in their rebuild, and that is creating an environment that allows players to express themselves better.