Manchester United has officially confirmed the departure of three experienced players: Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans, and Christian Eriksen. Their exit marks the end of their respective tenures at the club following United’s final match of the season on Sunday, May 25, against Aston Villa, which United won 2-0 at Old Trafford. Eriksen notably scored the second goal from a penalty kick in this farewell game.
Victor Lindelof: The Dependable Defender’s Journey
Victor Lindelof leaves Manchester United after serving the club for eight seasons.
A Significant Contribution
Lindelof, who joined from Benfica in the summer of 2017, made the most appearances among the departing trio. He represented Manchester United 284 times across all competitions. During his time at Old Trafford, the Swedish international secured two major trophies: the Emirates FA Cup and the League Cup. He lifted both of these prestigious honors in the preceding two campaigns.
Key Moments and Final Appearance
The Sweden captain played a crucial role in United’s FA Cup final success against Manchester City last year, coming off the bench. Throughout his United career, Lindelof also contributed offensively, scoring four goals for the club. All of these goals were netted at Old Trafford, with his last being a winning strike against Luton Town last season. Lindelof made his final start for Manchester United on Sunday, bidding farewell to the Theatre of Dreams after eight dedicated seasons in Manchester.
Jonny Evans: A Decade of Service Across Two Spells
Jonny Evans has a rich history with Manchester United, spanning more than a decade across two distinct periods at the club.
Academy Graduate to Premier League Champion
Evans began his journey at United as an Academy graduate. He made his first-team debut against Coventry City in the autumn of 2007, following a loan spell at Royal Antwerp. Over the next seven seasons, Evans became a regular fixture in United’s defensive line. He notably formed a formidable, title-winning partnership with Rio Ferdinand.
This central defensive pairing was instrumental in United securing their most recent Premier League title in the 2012/13 campaign. During that specific season, Evans also impressively scored four goals from his defensive position. He spent just one more season at Old Trafford before his initial departure.
Emotional Return and Continued Impact
Evans made an emotional return to the club in the summer of 2023, adding a new chapter to his United story. Across both spells, he scored a total of eight goals for the club at Old Trafford. His most recent goal came away to Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup last December. His final appearance on Sunday saw him come on for Ayden Heaven.
He rolled back the years with some robust challenges. In the dying seconds of the match, he was only denied a headed goal by a brilliant save from Aston Villa’s goalkeeper, Robin Olsen.
Trophy Haul and International Recognition
As a captain for his country, Northern Ireland, Evans accumulated 241 appearances in Manchester United’s red shirt. His first spell with the club was highly successful, yielding three Premier League titles, one Champions League, one Club World Cup, and one League Cup. During his recent stint, he added another medal to his collection, coming off the bench in last year’s FA Cup final.
Christian Eriksen: Class and Creativity in Midfield
Christian Eriksen’s time at Old Trafford may have been shorter, but his impact was strongly felt in M16.
Significant Contributions and Key Goals
Eriksen’s spell at Manchester United lasted three years, during which he made 107 appearances for the club. The Danish midfielder brought a touch of class and creativity to the midfield. He scored a total of eight goals for United. Four of these goals came in the opening months of the current campaign. This included two crucial goals in Europa League group phase matches against FC Twente and Fenerbahce.
Trophy Success and Memorable Farewell
Eriksen was a regular starter during his first term at Old Trafford. He earned a League Cup winners’ medal that season, despite unfortunately missing the final due to injury. He then added an FA Cup to his collection in the following campaign. In his final game on Sunday, Bruno Fernandes generously allowed Eriksen to take the penalty kick against Aston Villa. This created a special moment, as his teammates celebrated his successful effort past substitute goalkeeper Robin Olsen.
A Fond Farewell from Manchester United
Manchester United expressed its gratitude to all three departing players. The club publicly thanked Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans, and Christian Eriksen for their significant contributions during their time at Old Trafford. The club also extended its best wishes for their future endeavors. Each player received a warm and appreciative ovation from the Old Trafford crowd on Sunday, a fitting tribute to their service to the club.
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