Anthony Elanga came back to haunt Manchester United on Tuesday night.
The Sweden international scored a remarkable solo goal in just the fifth minute to hand Nottingham Forest a 1-0 win over the Red Devils, a result which keeps Manchester United 13th in the Premier League.
In regards to Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side remain third, in what has been a truly impressive 2024/25 campaign. They are also in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
After seeing Anthony Elanga race beyond several defenders to score, a number of Manchester United fans are presumably wondering whether a buyback clause was negotiated in the deal which saw him move to the City Ground in July 2023.
Manchester United did negotiate a clause, but not a buyback clause
When selling the Swede to Nottingham Forest for £15m, Manchester United only inserted a sell-on clause into the deal, with no buyback clause agreed upon.
ANTHONY ELANGA, THAT IS INCREDIBLE! ⚡
The winger scores a blistering solo goal against his former side 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/9J38PnbMsV
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 1, 2025
That is according to the Mirror.
However, the value of this sell-on clause remains undisclosed, but even if it is worth just 20%, that could still land Manchester United millions in future if Elanga, who Wayne Rooney admires, maintains his superb form.
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
The Nottingham Forest No.21 now has six goals and eight assists in 30 Premier League appearances this season, a fine return for someone who has played on the left, right and also centrally.
Anthony Elanga has no hard feelings towards Manchester United
It would be easy for the 22-year-old to feel bitterness towards the Red Devils after they offloaded him, but he remains grateful for what he learned at Old Trafford.
Speaking after Nottingham Forest beat Manchester United 1-0 on Tuesday, Elanga, who Everton wanted, said: “All you want to do is keep on improving. Coming here is about playing and developing. I appreciate Manchester United so much as I learned a lot there. I am enjoying my football and I want to keep on going.”