Manchester United icon Gary Neville dubbed Old Trafford a ‘graveyard’ for Red Devils players after Erik ten Hag’s side were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Manchester City last weekend. The former defender pointed out that several stars have joined United at the peak of their powers, only to never be the same again.

“I honestly believe this toxicity that’s existed at this club, and has done for years by the way, it just eats alive every manager that comes and every player that comes,” Neville told Sky Sports. “Harry Maguire was going to go to Manchester City. Mason Mount was going to go to Liverpool. They come here and it’s a graveyard for them.”

Express Sport picks out five players who give credence to Neville’s argument…

Paul Pogba

Pogba had the world at his feet in 2016. The midfielder had made the correct decision to leave United to accelerate his development in 2012. He should never have returned to Old Trafford.

But the temptation to complete unfinished business proved too good to turn down. Pogba became the world’s most expensive player when he completed his £89m move to link up with the then-new United boss Jose Mourinho.

There was huge expectation on Pogba and while he showed glimpses of his incredible talent, he seemed nullified at United and struggled to realise his huge potential. The Frenchman was never in the same bracket as Kevin de Bruyne.

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Jadon Sancho

Just like Pogba, Sancho was one of Europe’s brightest talents before he moved to United. At Borussia Dortmund, the south London-born winger became a prolific scorer of goals and provided plenty of assists.

Many expected that Sancho would settle easily at United, given his previous spell at rivals Man City. He knew the area, seemed able to live with the attention of being a huge talented footballer, and was returning home to England.

But a £73m transfer to the Red Devils in 2021 has not worked out. Sancho now finds himself banished from the first team after a falling out with Ten Hag. There remains time for the 23-year-old to rekindle his career, but it is unlikely to happen at United.

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Donny van de Beek

Van de Beek was one of the stars of Ten Hag’s Ajax team which reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2018. The Dutchman was expected to transform United’s midfield, but that has not panned out quite as the Red Devils might have hoped.

Van de Beek has played in only 35 Premier League games for United in over three seasons. He failed to find a transfer exit in the summer.

Harry Maguire

Neville used Maguire as an example in describing Old Trafford as a ‘graveyard’. The 30-year-old was England’s best centre-back prior to leaving Leicester for United in 2019, becoming the most expensive defender in world football at the time.

Maguire had earned his reputation as one of the Premier League’s top defenders in a Leicester side that sat deep and relied on counter-attacks. In truth, that should have raised alarm bells at United, where being higher up the pitch and keeping more of the ball is a necessity.

Things have not gone well for Maguire at United. He was stripped of the captaincy by Ten Hag, demoted to fourth-choice centre-back, and has at times harshly become a figure of public ridicule. Maguire must soon move on.

Christian Eriksen

There were few better feel-good stories than Eriksen’s return to football with Brentford. The creative midfielder returned from six months out after collapsing during Euro 2020 and subsequently having an ICD fitted.

Eriksen helped steer the Bees clear of the relegation zone in 2021-22 and was tipped to sign a contract extension. However, United beat Brentford to his signature as a free agent that summer, without really appearing to have a plan for where he would fit in.

The Dane has often been used as a deep-lying midfielder under Ten Hag and it has not suited his style. Eriksen, 31, has started just four Premier League games this season.

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