Five Out, Amrabat In – Man United announce their 25-man Champions League squad ahead of the group stage but £40m flop is Left out

Manchester United has unveiled their 25-player lineup for the upcoming Champions League group stage matches, and one notable absence is the £40 million acquisition, Donny van de Beek, who failed to live up to expectations.

The competition is set to kick off later this month, with Manchester United sharing the stage with football powerhouses like Bayern Munich, Copenhagen, and Galatasaray.

The summer signings, including Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana, Sergio Reguilon, Sofyan Amrabat, and Altay Bayindir, have all secured their spots in the squad alongside the core of the first-team players.

In a surprising move, Mason Mount finds himself on the association-trained list, alongside Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Jadon Sancho, despite uncertainties surrounding Sancho’s future.

Jonny Evans, who rejoined the club as a backup center-back after an eight-year absence, is listed under the club-trained category.

However, there’s no room for Donny van de Beek in the squad. The 26-year-old Dutchman, signed from Ajax in 2020, has yet to make a matchday appearance this season, and his time at Old Trafford seems to be coming to an end.

Reports suggest that a potential transfer to Lorient fell through due to issues with his attitude, as Van de Beek reportedly refused to engage in talks with the club earlier in the transfer window.

Nevertheless, Manchester United is actively working to offload him, and Galatasaray has shown interest in acquiring his services, with negotiations currently in progress.

Galatasaray has a longer transfer window, extending until September 15, providing them with additional time to secure the deal compared to England’s deadline.

Van de Beek’s stint at Manchester United has been marred by a series of injuries, an unsuccessful loan spell at Everton, and a lack of impressive performances under various managers, including Erik ten Hag, who previously worked with him at Ajax.

Furthermore, Manchester United will submit a B List of players ahead of each Champions League fixture, featuring talents like Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.