Bastian Schweinsteiger

Manchester United’s forgotten Premier League XI

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When you’ve won the Premier League 13 times, it can be quite easy to forget so many of the players that put on that iconic red shirt.

It’s not hard to remember Ryan Giggs ripping through teams or Roy Keane smashing into someone.

But do you remember Lauren Blanc at United…

Yeah, didn’t think so.

Here’s a team full of the Red Devils forgotten players.

GK Victor Valdés

Now this was only 10 years ago, but in 2015, Victor Valdés swapped the sunny beaches of Barcelona for bucket loads of rain in Manchester instead.

He signed as a free agent on an 18-month contract to be a back up to Spanish colleague David de Gea.

Valdés had worked with United coach Louis van Gaal while at Barcelona, which was an extra incentive for him in joining the club.

He made just two appearances and lasted only a year before he asked to leave.

A decade later, it seems like a fleeting memory that Valdés actually played for United at one point.

RB Danny Simpson

While it’s quite well known that Danny Simpson originated from the United academy, it’s still bizarre to think he made three first team Premier League appearances and likewise three Champions League appearances. This happened to be in the 2007/08 season when United won the league and Champions League.

Then he was a crucial part in the historic Leicester City team, who won the Premier league in the 2015/16 season as well.

So Simpson has won two Premier League titles. Who’d have thought.

CB Gerard Piqué

This team wouldn’t be right without Gerard Piqué.

Most football fans would know of the Spaniard’s time at United, but it still seems odd because when you hear that name, you only think of Barcelona.

After joining from the ‘La Masia’ academy, Piqué made his debut in the 2004/05 season, featuring once in the League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League.

But it took till the following season for him to make a Premier League appearance.

Only eleven more league appearances followed, before he went back to Barcelona.

Piqué struggled for game time ahead of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić, so told Ferguson of his desire to return home.

It’s crazy how useful he could’ve been to the club.

CB Laurent Blanc

Like Piqué, Laurent Blanc has a humongous footballing reputation, with almost none of this associated with United.

Blanc was France’s footballer of the year in 1990 and then won the World Cup with them in 1998.

At club level he’s best known for his time at Montpellier HSC, making 273 appearances, scoring 80 goals for the French side.

But in 2001, Sir Alex Ferguson lured the World Cup winner to Old Trafford for £2.5m.

He made 75 appearances in his two years at United, before retiring at the club aged 36.

LB Kieran Richardson

There wasn’t many shockers at left back but Kieran Richardson is likely another player most won’t associate with United.

He started his career down in London at West Ham’s academy, before making the move up north to Manchester.

Richardson made 84 appearances for United.

He then joined Roy Keane’s Sunderland in 2007 for around £5.5m.

CM Juan Sebastián Verón

One of those signings that never lived up to expectations.

When Juan Sebastián Verón arrived in Manchester for £28.1m, United expected him to hit the ground running and be a world class starter.

But life didn’t turn out that way and Verón struggled to adapt to English football in the eyes of Ferguson.

He said: “Juan Verón was capable of exceptional football and was talented. But, at times, he found the Premiership a bit difficult.”

Verón lasted two seasons before he was shipped off to Chelsea for £15m.

CM Bastian Schweinsteiger

A German footballing legend.

Like Blanc, Bastian Schweinsteiger made the switch to English football at the very end of his career but struggled to stay fit.

In just under two years at the club, he only made 35 appearances.

But he still holds United in his heart and is very public about his support for the team.

CM Kléberson

Now this is one United fans are probably trying to actively forget themselves.

The Brazilian midfielder dazzled in his sides World Cup winning campaign in 2002.

This earnt him the move to United the following year.

United spent £6m on Kléberson, with high expectations.

But after just 30 appearances across two seasons, United sold him. He didn’t match the expectations.

CAM Jordi Cruyff

Now you’d think if you’d won the treble at any club then you couldn’t possibly be forgotten, but this isn’t the case for this Dutch midfielder.

Jordi Cruyff left on loan to Celta Vigo in the January of 1999, before United did the unthinkable.

The comeback of all comebacks.

Any excuse to show this video.

Cruyff made 58 appearances at the club, before leaving permanently in 2000.

ST Henrik Larsson

He’s a victim of the lack of time he spent at the club.

Henrik Larsson joined United on loan in the January of 2007.

He immediately hit the ground running scoring on his debut for the club.

But he made only 13 appearances before his loan expired in the summer.

Some will remember him fondly, but many will forget just because of how little time he spent in Manchester.

ST Radamel Falcao

Radamel Falcao joined the club with an incredible reputation having been fantastic for Porto and Atletico Madrid, but he could never reach those heights at United.

He joined Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie in United’s attack.

How could it possibly go wrong with that offense?

Just 29 appearances and 4 goals later and it did go wrong. Very wrong.

Falcao was just one of those disappointing signings that didn’t work out.