BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker revealed his surprise over the departure of Anthony Elanga from Manchester United
Former professional footballer Gary Lineker expressed his surprise that Manchester United allowed Anthony Elanga to leave the club last summer. The 21-year-old earned his way into the senior team after showing impressive development at the famed United academy.
Elanga’s impressive talent and performances earned him the international call-up for Sweden in 2022. The Sweden international is capable of playing both as a striker and as a winger, showcasing natural versatility.
Standing at 1.78 metres, Elanga uses close touches while dribbling but possesses great pace to move past opponents. The 21-year-old has a dominant right foot and prefers to play on the left side of the attack. He uses off-the-ball movement to exploit spaces around the opposition’s defence or help drag defenders to create space for others.
However, many football experts have pointed out Elanga’s selfish streak at threatening positions where passing is a better option. The 21-year-old needs to work on his decision-making which can come through time, good coaching, and experience.
Speaking to The Rest is Football podcast (h/t Manchester Evening News), Lineker expressed his shock to see Elanga leave United. He said:
“I quite liked him at Manchester United, I thought he had something. I just thought he had something about him. I was surprised they let him go actually.”
Nottingham Forest signed Elanga from United for £15m during the summer transfer window. The 21-year-old has made 13 appearances in all competitions for Forest, contributing two goals and three assists.
United have struggled to score goals this season despite investing a big fee to sign Rasmus Hojlund in the summer. Hojlund has given optimistic performances but has failed to score a single goal in the Premier League.
The Red Devils’ attack department has many individuals who are struggling with consistency and form this season. Marcus Rashford, Antony and Anthony Martial have failed to be productive for United this season, adding to their struggling form.
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We think that the decision to sell Elanga has been the right one for both the player and the club. The 21-year-old has benefitted from playing regular first-team football. On the other hand, the Red Devils need a forward that is capable of instantly producing goals and assist for the senior team.
