Manchester United’s transfer window is effectively in the hands of five players they don’t want anymore, and Ben Foster can’t believe they’d make a formal demand.
The pre-season at Man Utd was rocked before it even began when it emerged that the club had given permission to five players to return late.
While the rest of the squad returned on July 7, these five players – Antony, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Tyrell Malacia – were free to explore moves.
It was a clear line drawn in the sand that they had no future at the club, as United wanted to make it public that they wanted to leave the club, and hence, the club was accepting their request, but Ben Foster has dismantled that argument.
Alejandro Garnacho left winger of Manchester United and Argentina lament a failed occasion during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between Manchester United and Athletic Club at Old Trafford on May 8, 2025
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Ben Foster on five wantaway Man Utd players
In many ways, the news was a confirmation of what Man Utd fans always expected, which is that these five players had played their last game for the club.
However, the manner in which they were given swift clarity over their future caught some by surprise, especially as some of the players’ camp denied they had asked to leave.
Rashford, for example, was reportedly ready to return to training on July 7, but the club gave them extended leave.
Ben Foster, speaking on his YouTube channel, has now refused to believe the club’s side of things that the players had handed in a formal transfer request.
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He said: “There’s no way on earth, any one of the five of them has handed in a transfer request. It just hasn’t happened. I promise you. As soon as you hand a request in, the club has the power to withhold any remaining [loyalty bonus] and all those things.
“It’s up to you to find a transfer, and when that happens, you push it. It gets the club off the hook like you wouldn’t believe. These players are on a lot of money.
“It foregoes the rest of the contract [pay-off to leave]. By handing a request in, you lose all that leverage. No player does that now unless they are fully miserable and not on massive wages.”
Foster’s assertion is more likely correct
Ben Foster usually comes up with pretty questionable takes, but this one looks absolutely correct, especially considering what has happened since then.
The players’ insistence that they are ready to report to training contradicts the club’s line that they have asked for a move.
They clearly don’t want to put in a formal transfer request, which would see them face a scenario Foster lays out in the comments above.
That is proven to be true in the exit links since then, as Jadon Sancho is preparing to take a pay-off from Man Utd to leave for Juventus, or Marcus Rashford is rejecting moves to anywhere except Barcelona.
Had they put in a transfer request, United would have not only saved on the loyalty bonuses, but the likes of Sancho would have had no choice but to take a wage cut.
It’s likely that Ruben Amorim simply didn’t want these five anywhere near the squad as he seeks a clear slate for next season.