Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has hailed the summer departure of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho as the 'best transfer' possible for the club, insisting the atmosphere at Old Trafford has been transformed under new manager Ruben Amorim.
A Poisonous Dressing Room Cleansed
According to Saha, the exits of two of the club's highest-profile players were a masterstroke that has made the dressing room less poisonous. Rashford secured a loan move to Barcelona, which includes an option to become permanent next summer. Meanwhile, Sancho joined Aston Villa on loan and is set to leave United on a free transfer when the season concludes.
Saha explained the profound impact of their absence, stating, "The squad is much more harmonious. It's the best transfer you can make." He elaborated on the corrosive effect of having multiple talented players not fully committed, a situation he believes was dragging the entire team down.
The New-Look United Attack
Amorim acted decisively to replace the departed stars, bringing in a new attacking trio of Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha. Saha praised these acquisitions, highlighting their work ethic and team-first mentality.
"These three work hard, they're willing to defend, they don't think they're bigger than the team," Saha said. "With a negative attitude, a team is in big trouble. I think that was the main goal for United in the transfer market. Players who thought about themselves above the team, they needed to go."
The former French international contrasted the current environment with the difficult period before the clear-out, noting that it becomes really hard for the manager to turn that situation around when three or four players are not pulling their weight.
A Return to the United Ethos
Saha drew parallels with his own time at the club, recalling the importance of dedicated squad players like Gary and Phil Neville, John O'Shea, and Wes Brown. He emphasised that a successful team requires the majority of its players to be willing to sacrifice for the collective cause.
"You need at least three quarters of your team to be dedicated, willing to sacrifice, and talented too," he asserted. "You can afford a few flair players who might not always have that attitude, but it has to be a small minority."
The result of Amorim's bold restructuring, according to Saha, is a more balanced squad that is now playing at a higher level, proving that sometimes the best business a club can do is to remove disruptive influences.
