Ruben Amorim allowed three Manchester United first-team players to depart the club on loan during the January transfer window.
Manchester United have had a very difficult season so far this term, with Ruben Amorim struggling to find consistency in his team.
The Reds have experienced unfortunate injury problems as well, which has further highlighted the poor depth within the squad.
Following on from Joshua Zirkzee’s injury earlier this month, United are now left with Rasmus Højlund and Alejandro Garnacho as the only senior forward players.
This has led to some criticism about the decision to allow first-team players to leave on loan without replacements in the January window.
Tyrell Malacia joined PSV Eindhoven but was replaced by the signing of Patrick Dorgu. However, Antony and Marcus Rashford both departed to Real Betis and Aston Villa without any attackers coming in.
Amorim reveals true feelings on United loan exits
Some would suggest that United’s goalscoring problems wouldn’t be as serious this season if Amorim kept those attacking options.
However, the opposite argument is that they have both impressed on loan and upped their values ahead of the summer transfer window.
Amorim believes that while this decision “hurt the squad” this season, it is going to be beneficial for the club in the long-term.
“In January, we lost [players] and you are talking about Rashford and Antony, we lost these players. And we didn’t bring new ones,” he told reporters this week.
“It was a risk but I think there are things here that are more important than to score 10 more goals this season. We are trying to do something more important.
“We can hurt the squad now but, in the future, it is going to help the club, so I think we are in that path.”
United sales will define summer transfer window
Amorim is essentially saying that neither of those players are in his plans for next season at the moment.
Antony was in terrible form while Rashford was not playing in the team – there is no arguing that their time away from Old Trafford has helped them regain confidence and value.
United originally wanted £40 million for Rashford but his performances at Villa Park suggest they could receive slightly more from that deal if Unai Emery’s side do not activate their buy option.
Meanwhile, Antony almost felt like an unsellable asset at the club but his form in Spain has made a potential sale between £30-40 million a more realistic situation.
United are looking to make major changes this summer and selling well will define how the window ends up going – should United sell Antony and Rashford each above the £30 million-mark, they would both enter the club’s top five sales financially.
The reason why United have failed to sell players well in previous years is due to their form leaving clubs elsewhere with doubts and Amorim clearly feels that it was important to allow these unwanted players the best chance to impress interested buyers even if it would hurt his team in the short-term.
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