Where Man Utd and Man City stars of famous 6-1 derby are now from retiring with heart issues to rejoining Red Devils

SIR ALEX FERGUSON called it Manchester United’s “worst ever day” while it was the afternoon the noisy neighbours officially arrived on the big stage.

And no matter whether you are red or blue, the Manchester derby on October 23, 2011 will forever be etched on the memory.

Three years earlier, City had become the world’s wealthiest club after the Abu Dhabi United Group, an investment company for the Abu Dhabi royal family, took over.

They instantly began forking out huge sums on players but at this point only had an FA Cup trophy to show for all of their spending.

Meanwhile, United were still dominating and collecting Premier League titles on a regular basis – but everything seemed to change on this day for Roberto Mancini’s men.

City romped to a 6-1 victory at Old Trafford, inflicting a joint-worst defeat on Ferguson at United, in a huge pendulum swing that led to them going on to win the Premier League for the first time.

Many remember the game for Mario Balotelli’s “why always me?” shirt – but what happened to the stars on display from that afternoon? 

Well, as you would imagine with the match being 13 years ago, some stars have now retired.

However, incredibly, two players from the United line-up may soon be reuniting in the famous red shirt in the not too distant future.

David de Gea was the goalkeeper that day and he remained between the sticks for the club right the way through until the end of last season.

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The 32-year-old is still unemployed after failing to agree a new reduced deal with the Red Devils last summer.

Despite him winning the Golden Glove last term, United released the Spanish international on his wedding day in June and he is yet to find a new club.

SunSport exclusively revealed that the club were considering a move to re-sign their former stopper – and De Gea has even dropped another huge hint that he could be returning on a free transfer.

And that could see him end up lining-up behind Jonny Evans at centre-half just – like in the 2011 Manchester derby.

The 35-year-old Northern Ireland star made a surprise comeback to Old Trafford on a free this summer and has enjoyed plenty of action under Erik ten Hag this term.

He originally left Old Trafford for West Brom in 2015, where he spent three years before going on to win the FA Cup at Leicester before his exit after relegation last season.

Chris Smalling, who is now at Roma after joining them from United in 2019, was the right-back against City while Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, who are both now retired and enjoying success as TV pundits, made up the rest of the defence.

United’s wingers that infamous afternoon were Portuguese international Nani and Ashley Young, who are still playing at 36 for Turkish club Adana Demirspor and at 38 for Everton respectively.

Darren Fletcher, who is now the technical director of Manchester United, got the consolation goal for the Red Devils that day and he was joined in midfield by Brazilian Anderson, who is now assistant manager of Nani’s club Adana Demirspor.

Wayne Rooney, who recently took charge of Birmingham City following a mediocre spell as boss of MLS side DC United and went on to become United’s all-time top scorer, partnered Danny Welbeck, who is still playing in the Prem for Brighton at 32, in attack.

Many still find it unbelievable that such a star-studded side could be dismantled so easily, especially on home turf, but City had plenty of talent themselves.

Former England goalie Joe Hart, who is now Celtic’s No1, was behind a defence that contained now much-loved pundit Micah Richards, current Burnley manager Vincent Kompany, another pundit Joleon Lescott as well as France’s new U21 team assistant boss Gael Clichy.

James Milner, who is now a team-mate of Welbeck at Brighton at the age of 38, was on one wing while the iconic David Silva, who scored one and produced a sensational assist for one of substitute Edin Dzeko’s two goals at Old Trafford, was on the other.

The Spaniard retired during the summer after helping Real Sociedad to qualify for the Champions League last season at the age of 37.

The midfield duo were Gareth Barry, who went on to make the most-appearances in Premier League before hanging up his boots in 2020, and the legendary Yaya Toure, who is now No2 at Belgian club Standard Liege.

One man who certainly is not retired is Balotelli – the scorer of a brace on that memorable day.

The Italian, now 33, is with both Nani and Anderson from the opposition in this derby at Adana after he rejoined them this summer.

He has represented 11 clubs so far in his much-travelled and controversial career.

And City’s other goalscorer that day was none other than the Argentine superstar himself Sergio Aguero.

He went on to become the all-time leading scorer for the Cityzens before he left to sign for Barcelona in 2021 after a decade at the Etihad.

But, heartbreakingly, he broke down in tears as he announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 33 due to a heart condition just months later after collapsing in a game for the Catalans.

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