Five stars Manchester United let slip through their fingers

Manchester United, 14/1 to win the Premier League, have let a number of players slip through the net over the years, deciding to sell them on before they finished their development. Coral take a look at five that have gone on to excel elsewhere.

Ron-Robert Zieler
The former United reserve goalkeeper, who once spent time on loan at Northampton Town, is currently plying his trade at Bundesliga side Hannover. He was part of the Germany squad that won the World Cup in the summer, despite not featuring and the 25-year-old looks like a talent for the future.

Gerard Pique
Sir Alex Ferguson missed a trick with this man. The 27-year-old has won it all with Barcelona, who decided to take him back home, following 12 Premier League appearances, which included one assist. He has been linked with another move back to United in January due to being left out of the team, initially to a hip problem. Boss Luis Enrique praised his defender recently, saying: “Pique’s attitude is great, he’s optimistic, working hard. His hip problem has been solved, he’s ready to help us.”

Paul Pogba
Another who quickly went from being an Old Trafford exile to a world class star. His development at Juventus has been nothing short of sensational, with the French international central midfielder strengthening every aspect of his game to become a capable all-rounder. Dubbed as the next Patrick Vieira, the 21-year-old can pick a pass, has an eye for the spectacular and puts himself about.

Zoran Tosic
The 27-year-old Serbia star arrived at United from Partizan Belgrade, and was a regular in the reserve team, though made two Premier League appearances for the senior side. An eye for the spectacular, he has built a reputation as a free-kick specialist and a tricky left winger, while playing for CSKA Moscow.

Giuseppe Rossi
Despite failing to make an impression at United, scoring one goal in 16 Premier League appearances, Rossi then found his feet at Spanish club Villarreal, where he scored 82 times in 192 appearances and contributed 26 assists. He is perhaps a striker Ferguson should have persisted with, though like Diego Forlan, it appears Rossi was suited to a different league.