As the BBC’s Mandeep Sanghera says, “The only way players usually leave Manchester United is if they have upset manager Sir Alex Ferguson or you are deemed surplus to requirements,” but Celtic, Barcelona and Sweden legend Henrik Larsson decided to leave Old Trafford after a short loan spell that lasted a little under three months. Given his striker situation (he currently has just two fit strikers), Ferguson all but begged Larsson to stay. His club, Helsingborg, also gave him special dispensation to remain at United until the end of the season. And why not-the Red Devils are on course for their first Premier League title since 2003, and they’re also still alive in the FA Cup and European Champions League. In the end, Larsson says he just wanted to return home, which is the reason he signed with Helsingborg and not some bigger club in the first place.
As Sanghera points out, the clamor for him to stay began as soon as he bagged his first goal on his debut-a 2-1 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup. Since then, he’s added two more goals in 11 appearances, including the winner against Lille in the Champions League last week. For Ferguson, the worst of it is that Ole Solskjaer and Louis Saha will likely be sidelined until the end of the month. All that’s left is Wayne Rooney, whose form has been spotty this season, and Alan Smith, who’s only just returned from a broken ankle.