8 G/A star reflects on ‘playing for the sake of it’ at Utd, he’s making them rue their decision every week

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·15 janvier 2025

8 G/A star reflects on ‘playing for the sake of it’ at Utd, he’s making them rue their decision every week

In July 2023, Manchester United sanctioned the exit of Carrington graduate Anthony Elanga in a £15 million transfer to Nottingham Forest. Since then, he’s notched more goal contributions than any forward at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils signed off on Elanga’s sale after he had been utilised sparingly throughout Erik ten Hag’s maiden season, making only seven starts in total across all four competitions. He was granted 19 appearances off the bench and notched two assists in total, presumably spurring United to see what kind of fee they could recuperate for him.

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Yet, he’s proceeded to make them rue their decision – even more so this term. The Sweden international has been a scintillating spark amid Forest’s unprecedented run of form, which has Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sitting second-placed in the table.

They are the only team to have overturned leaders Liverpool this season – doing so at Anfield to make their triumph even more impressive – and are now on course to return to Europe, where they remain the last English club to retain the European Cup.

Elanga believes he was unable to truly flourish at United

Anthony Elanga has been in red-hot form this season. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Nonetheless, Elanga has directly contributed to eight goals thus far, scoring three and creating five in 21 outings. Last night’s assist for Chris Wood against Arne Slot’s men extended a remarkable six-game streak in which the 22-year-old has either scored or assisted, with his next chance to do so coming on Sunday when Forest host rock-bottom Southampton.

Reflecting on his United departure over a year on, he recently told club legend Rio Ferdinand (via TNT Sports): “[We spoke about] wanting to move and stuff because, at the time at United, I felt like I was just playing for the sake of playing.

“I wanted to find ways to learn and improve. Coming to a different team [with] a different type of status allowed me to properly find ways to improve.

“I feel like here (Forest) it’s a really, really big family club that everyone’s really together – I’m not saying we weren’t together at United, but I’m just saying here, we’re really, really together.”