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Marouane Fellaini knew Man Utd career was over after key Ole Gunnar Solskjaer decision
Marouane Fellaini spent nearly six years at Manchester United before joining Shandong Luneng.
Marouane Fellaini accepted that his time at Manchester United was up when he was not even picked by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the FA Cup against Reading.
The Belgian became Jose Mourinho’s go-to-guy towards the end of the his tenure, scoring a late winner in the Champions League against Young Boys that temporarily saved his job.
But when Solskjaer returned to Old Trafford as caretaker boss following Mourinho’s sacking, Fellaini’s opportunities became limited.
That saw him sign for Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng on February 1, ending a five-and-a-half year spell at the club.
Fellaini has now admitted that he knew his days were numbered in the weeks prior to his exit.
“The players who left are players of experience,” he told the Daily Mirror.
“So the coach decided he didn't need them that’s the choice of the coach. You cant judge the things of the coach.
“He decided he don’t need [Alexis] Sanchez or [Romelu] Lukaku. That’s his problem.
“No he [Solskjaer] didn’t have a conversation if I will play or not.
“I was thinking I would start in the FA Cup but I didn’t because he put young players in.
“After that, in my mind I knew I would not be part of his team and I accept that, that’s his choice. No problem.”
Manchester United failed to replace Fellaini or Ander Herrera as the opted against signing a midfielder this summer.
It’s an area where United are struggling and although Fellaini wasn’t universally popular, he won trophies at the club.
“They [United] are like they said, in transition, they want to build a team, but for a good team, you need time and to make the right decisions. You need the right players,” Fellaini added.
“It’s always nice to receive a comment [from Gary Neville] like that. I did my time there, I won things, OK we didn’t win the league but we finished second.”