Marcus Rashford’s revival at Barcelona, Antony’s spark in Seville, even Jadon Sancho finding footing again in England all feed a familiar debate. Are these the ghosts of Manchester United mistakes, proof that Ruben Amorim misread his squad? Or are they simply the natural consequence of a club clearing space, where some will inevitably thrive in fresh surroundings?
It is the kind of tension that hangs over Old Trafford every season. Players leave, reputations are rebuilt, and those left behind are judged against them. This year, with United already struggling for consistency, the contrast feels more relevant than it ever has before.
Premier League Reality Check
The backdrop to this conundrum does little to ease the conversation. These are surreal times at Old Trafford, with United trading at 66/1 in the Premier League 2025/26 winner odds.
Painfully for those in the Stretford End, the bulk of football bets have gone on Liverpool and Manchester City winning the title. It frames the question neatly: if rivals are consolidating while former United men shine abroad, does that reflect more on Amorim’s decisions than on the players themselves?
Why They Look Different Abroad
Take Rashford’s case. Three goals and five assists in ten games for Barcelona tell one story, but his influence runs deeper. Freed from being the face of United’s attack, he is thriving as part of a balanced forward line. Spanish defenders are still adjusting to his direct running, and that extra space has helped him rediscover the timing that deserted him in the Premier League.
Rashford appreciation 👏👏#UCL pic.twitter.com/vqBhc4vQAE
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 18, 2025
Antony’s return to form in La Liga carries a similar lesson. Away from the heavy price tag and the scrutiny that accompanied every touch in Manchester, he looks more expressive and more willing to take risks.
Betis look like the Real deal since signing Antony permanently. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/3dCqGs2T4v
— Flashscore.com (@Flashscorecom) October 6, 2025
Sancho’s reintegration at Villa has not yet hit those same heights, but the signs are that regular football in a more stable environment could bring a player once lost in United’s churn back into focus.
To make matters worse, weekly reports from Naples highlight a former United No. 9 scoring with more regularity than he ever managed in the Premier League. For critics, it is the clearest symbol of a theme: players deemed not up to the shirt in Manchester often seem to find another level once they leave.
The Perception Battle Amorim Cannot Escape
And yet the pattern cuts both ways. Rashford’s career has always been defined by streaks, with blistering runs followed by long dry spells. Barcelona fans are already wondering whether this is sustainable or another burst that will fade. Antony’s best form has often come in spurts too, while Sancho’s rhythm has been stop-start since his Dortmund days, summed up best by Chelsea passing up the option to sign him. United supporters know better than most how fleeting these revivals can be.
That is why inside United the mood is less panicked than it appears online. Amorim’s backers argue the exits were part of a wider structural reset. Some players would succeed elsewhere; that was expected, but the judgment was that they would not provide the consistency United required under the heaviest spotlight.
Whether that proves true will be measured in results, not highlight clips from abroad. Still, every goal scored by an exile, every glowing headline from Spain or Italy, keeps Amorim under the microscope. For a manager already learning how unforgiving United can be, perception may prove just as decisive as points.
