From Manchester United to no game in three years – Player details post Old Trafford struggle

Timothy Fosu-Mensah has detailed his struggles post Manchester United, as he closes in on almost three years without stepping onto a pitch.

Voetbal Primeur cover comments from the defender today. He’s been speaking to ESPN about his struggles after leaving Manchester United in 2021.

The 28-year-old is currently without a club after becoming a free agent in July 2024. He had previously been at Bayer Leverkusen, who he joined from Manchester United in a €1.7m deal in January 2021.

He was a youth product at Old Trafford after joining them in a €380,000 deal from Ajax’s U17 side in 2014.

Manchester United story

Two years later he made his Premier League debut under Louis Van Gaal in February. He also made his European debut in the Europa League under Jose Mourinho later that year.

30 more appearances for Manchester United followed, including a Champions League debut under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2020.

He also spent time on loan at Crystal Palace and Fulham but couldn’t settle at either club, eventually leaving for Leverkusen in 2021. He managed just 30 appearances totalling 942 minutes in Germany, though.

His career at each club was severely impacted by long-term knee and hamstring issues. Those problems mean he has not played a competitive match since April 2023.

10 year anniversary

It’s a sorry state for a man who, exactly a decade ago, was making his professional debut for Manchester United. Now he’s explained what his current situation looks like.

“I’m an added value for plenty of teams,” he said.

“I train a lot with other players. I’m in a specific situation where you have to deal with others in the same situation. They simply understand the situation well.

“I feel good, I’m fit and busy every day. Not a day goes by that I’m not busy. Of course, you ideally want to stay fit for your entire career, but that’s part of it.

“If a player has won the same as me and played at the same level, but he’s never been injured, then it’s logical that they choose him. With God’s will, I’ll return to the pitch.”