Ex-Manchester United Trophy Winners Who Thrived After Leaving Old Trafford
Many players leaving Old Trafford were once criticized, questioned, or even blamed for Manchester United’s struggles, often labeled as underperforming or “problem” players. Yet, leaving the club proved to be a turning point in their careers. Ex-Manchester United trophy winners like Cristiano Ronaldo went on to lift the Arab Club Champions Cup with Al-Nassr, while Scott McTominay celebrated a Serie A title with Napoli. Their journeys show that what some viewed as problems at United were often untapped potential, realized fully once they moved on.
Several former Manchester United stars found glory after leaving Old Trafford, proving that success doesn’t end with a transfer. Cristiano Ronaldo continued to shine at Al-Nassr, lifting the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023, while Paul Pogba returned to Juventus and celebrated Coppa Italia glory in the 2023–24 season.
Scott McTominay made an immediate impact in Italy, helping Napoli secure the 2024–25 Serie A title, and Juan Mata enjoyed back-to-back league triumphs, winning the Süper Lig with Galatasaray in 2022–23 before adding a J1 League title with Vissel Kobe in Japan the following year.
At Crystal Palace, Dean Henderson made headlines by contributing to the FA Cup and Community Shield victories in 2025. Meanwhile, Inter Milan became a second home for Ashley Young and Alexis Sánchez, with Young lifting Serie A in 2020–21 and Sánchez collecting multiple trophies, including Serie A, Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa Italiana.
Ander Herrera thrived in France with PSG, winning Ligue 1 twice, Coupe de France, and two Trophée des Champions titles. Italian football also rewarded Romelu Lukaku and Chris Smalling, with Lukaku winning Serie A with Inter and the UEFA Europa Conference League with Roma, while Smalling also lifted the Conference League. Lastly, Daley Blind enjoyed domestic dominance with Ajax and Bayern Munich, collecting multiple Eredivisie titles and a Bundesliga championship.
The journeys of these players show that leaving Old Trafford doesn’t mark the end of their careers. Many of the stars once criticized or labeled as “problems” at Manchester United went on to shine elsewhere. From Cristiano Ronaldo lifting the Arab Club Champions Cup with Al-Nassr to Scott McTominay celebrating a Serie A title with Napoli, the stories of ex-Manchester United trophy winners prove that success can follow players across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Were these players truly the problem at Manchester United, or did leaving unlock their real potential?
