Deemed surplus to requirements from the get-go since José Mourinho's grand arrival at Old Trafford, Bastian Schweinsteiger has endured a turbulent beginning to the new season.
The 32-year-old German's performances last season were largely admonished - his legs, it seemed, had gone, and when he did feature he was often ineffectual in a stagnant United lineup. He was, however, voted United's Player Of The Month for last November, and seemed to return to near his best for his national side during the Euros this summer.
Nonetheless, he found himself training with United's under-21s as soon as the club's new manager began to 'stamp his mark' on a squad which finished outside the top four for the second time in three seasons last May. It was reported that Mourinho simply didn't like the sound of Schweinsteiger not attending games while ruled out through injury, nor the fact that he essentially ruled himself out of the last eight weeks of the season so he could feature for Germany in France.
Talk of the club 'disrespecting' the decorated midfielder was a load of oul' baloney - it surely couldn't be argued that he did enough last season to merit a place in Mourinho's plans. But while he seems destined for this week's bargain bin, it seems big Basti won't be exiting stage left without putting up a fight for his place in United's squad.
A brief message to the amazing fans about my current situation. @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/Rf3jLKNwK4
— Bastian Schweinsteiger (@BSchweinsteiger) August 24, 2016
Shades of David Beckham's resilience at Real Madrid in January 2007, after he was told by Fabio Capello that he'd never play for the club again. Whether or not Schweinsteiger can win over a manger as headstrong as Mourinho remains to be seen.
It frankly seems more likely that he'll be playing his football outside of Europe from next week, or at the latest, January.
