Manchester United XI if they had kept their best players

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Manchester United have a star-studded squad laced with quality and depth, but there are still a few that got away.

Former Manchester United duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez

In our series of looking at clubs starting XI’s if they had kept their best players, or in some cases, players who would become good enough to be among their best players, there have been some real standout teams. Teams such as Liverpool and Southampton would see their starting XI’s improve immeasurably if they some former players back on their books.

The same probably cannot be said of Manchester United. The Red Devils have spent heavily in recent seasons to maintain their position among England’s elite following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, and whilst they have been unable to maintain Fergie’s extraordinary levels of success, their team is undoubtedly a talented one.

There is of course one former player that Manchester United fans would love to see gracing Old Trafford once more, a certain Portuguese winger now playing for Real Madrid. However, we feel that there are another couple of former Red Devils that Jose Mourinho would love to welcome into his squad. Here is our take on Manchester United’s starting XI if they had kept their best players:

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea

David De Gea

In goal, David De Gea would obviously maintain his place. Regarded by many as the finest goalkeeper in world football, the Spaniard endured a rocky start to life at Old Trafford, but he has won the club’s Player of the Year award in each of the last three seasons now.

Antonio Valencia

The first position where there could be any kind of genuine debate, former United full-back Rafael is still a popular figure among supporters and won nine trophies at the Theatre of Dreams. However, Antonio Valencia just edged him out. The South American winger-turned-right-back has taken to his new position like a duck to water and is a regular fixture under Jose Mourinho.

Read: Meet The Man Who May Have Designed Manchester United’s New 3rd Kit

Gerard Pique

Gerard Pique celebrates during his time at Manchester United

The first player in this starting XI that isn’t currently at Manchester United, Gerard Pique left United in 2008, after four years at Old Trafford, to join his boyhood club Barcelona. Pique won the Premier League and the Champions League at Manchester United, but has far exceeded that with the Catalan giants, winning an extraordinary 24 trophies in 9 years at the club. Pique has also won both the World Cup and the European Cup with Spain.

Eric Bailly

Manchester United currently have a handful of capable centre-backs but are probably yet to hit upon their best combination. The pick of the bunch is Eric Bailly. A big-money signing from Villareal in the summer, the Ivorian made a bright start to life in the Premier League before picking up a serious knee injury in October.

Luke Shaw

Another player who has had his problems with injuries in recent times, Luke Shaw hasn’t played a great deal of football since his nightmarish double leg fracture in September 2015. If Shaw can come back the same player and continue to progress as he had been doing up until that point in his career, he will become a Manchester United and England regular for years to come.

Paul Pogba

Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and St Etienne’s Florentin Pogba

The first of our two central midfielders is world record signing Paul Pogba. The Frenchman has inevitably come in for some stick since his £89 million return to Old Trafford from Juventus in the summer, some of it justified and some of it rather unfair. Ultimately, Pogba is a very gifted player with all the tools to become incredibly important to Manchester United.

Ander Herrera

A player who divides opinion within the wider footballing community, Ander Herrera is becoming very popular among Manchester United fans. The Spaniard spent much time making sporadic appearances here and there, but is now a regular fixture in the side.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

On the right wing it is Armenian superstar Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Like Herrera, it took the former Dortmund man some time to break into the Manchester United starting XI, but he has really shown his class since his game time increased.

Carlos Tevez

Carlos Tevez alongside Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs

The most controversial choice in this XI, I’ve no doubt, is Carlos Tevez. Now reportedly the world’s best paid player, Tevez previously spent two seasons at Old Trafford, during which time he scored 34 goals in 99 games, winning the Premier League twice, the Champions League once and three further trophies.

The tenacious Argentine formed an incredible attacking trio alongside Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, but is now 33, and some might argue Juan Mata or Wayne Rooney would be better options in this XI. I’d disagree, Tevez is still superb. He was magnificent at both Juventus and Boca Juniors and will no doubt score goals for fun in China.

Cristiano Ronaldo

One could legitimately claim that Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest player to ever pull on the red of Manchester United, and some would argue he is the finest player to ever play the game. The Portuguese winger arrived at Manchester United a slim but tricky winger and left vying with Lionel Messi for the crown of being the best player in the world.

Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 outings for Manchester United, but has smashed that record, scoring 390 goals in 381 games for Real Madrid. In total, Ronaldo has won 19 club trophies, one major international trophy and four Ballon d’Ors.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has continued his winning streak at Manchester United

Sorry Chicharito… up front it simply has to be Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Manchester United fans only wish will be that they had signed the talismanic Swede earlier in his career. Aged 35, Ibrahimovic has proved any doubters wrong once more this season, scoring 26 goals from 40 games in all competitions so far this season, and we’re only in March!