Bastian Schweinsteiger was never anything other than an absolutely consummate professional during his 21 month spell with Manchester United and once again proved as much with his goodbye message to the club and their fans, yesterday.
The World Cup and Champions League winning midfielder confirmed yesterday that he was departing Old Trafford to join MLS outfit Chicago Fire, bringing to an end a difficult spell in the Premier League, where the 32-year-old had struggled with injury and a problematic relationship with manager Jose Mourinho.
WATCH: Schweinsteiger's goodbye message to Manchester United
Credit: Bastian Schweinsteiger
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The former Bayern Munich star turned out just 35 times for United in just over one and a half seasons with the Red Devils, scoring two goals.
Schweinsteiger returned from Euro 2016 with Germany expecting to rejuvenate his career after an injury plagued first campaign. Mourinho, who had replaced Louis Van Gaal over the Summer, had other ideas, however.
The former Germany captain was marginalised by the Portuguese coach, being banished to train with the reserves, but consistently showed his support for the club in interviews and on social media, also refusing to criticise Mourinho for the way he'd been handled, this season.
Eventually, to a hero's welcome from the Old Trafford faithful, Schweinsteiger made his long awaited return to the United first team as a substitute during a 4-1 EFL Cup quarter-final victory over West Ham United in November. Schweinsteiger followed this up with his second goal for the club a couple of months later in an FA Cup victory over Wigan Athletic.
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Now, in the wake of Schweinsteiger's departure from Old Trafford, United have paid tribute to the German midfielder's time at the club with perhaps the most underwhelming tribute video professional football has ever seen:
Credit: Manchester United
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Granted, the 32-year-old's time as a United player wasn't exactly memorable, but neither of his two goals in a Red Devils shirt have been included (against Leicester City and Wigan), nor has his divine defence splitting assist for Ander Herrera during a 4-0 romp of Club Brugge in a Champions League qualifier. Although maybe it's perhaps for the best that no mention is made of his elbow on Winston Reid during last season's 0-0 home draw with West Ham which saw Schweinsteiger banned for three matches.
But could United's social media team not have gathered quotes from more players than Jesse Lingard? By all accounts Schweinsteiger was incredibly well respected at United, surely it wouldn't have been difficult to grab a few quotes from the likes of Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick?
Either way, we look forward to what 'Deutscher fussball-meister' can bring to the exceptionally named Chicago Fire, this season.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Football, Manchester United, Bastian Schweinsteiger