What happened to five players released by Jose Mourinho at Manchester United

Mourinho wasted little time in showing Valdes the door, releasing the Spaniard shortly after his appointment as manager in 2016.

The former Barcelona goalkeeper spent the 2016-17 season on loan at Middlesbrough before retiring in January 2018 after several months without a club.

Valdes has since coached the youth teams of amateur side Moratalaz and his former club Barcelona, though he was sacked by Barca last October after just three months in charge of their Under-19 team. He had a spell as manager of UA Horta before teaming up with Joan Laporta's bid to become Barcelona president.

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A young player with real promise when he joined United from Crewe in 2012, things didn’t quite work out for Powell at Old Trafford.

After struggling to break into United’s first team, Powell was released in 2016 and joined Wigan Athletic, where he had previously spent a productive season on loan.

At age 26, Powell joined Stoke City in the Championship and was released at the end of the 2022-23 season, then signed with Stockport County this summer on a three-year deal.

Powell recently told the MEN Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013 left him feeling lost at United.

The German midfielder did not figure in Mourinho's plans from the start, making just four appearances during the 2016-17 season before being allowed to join Chicago Fire in March 2017.

Schweinsteiger spent three seasons with the Fire before retiring. He has since forged a career as a broadcaster in Qatar.

The enigmatic Swede was released in 2017 after a year at the club. At the age of 35 and following a serious knee injury, it seemed a logical decision for Mourinho, despite his admiration for