The final nail in the coffin of Bastian Schweinsteiger's Manchester United career has seemingly been hit, with the midfielder left out of the Red Devils' Europa Leage squad.
The former Germany captain, who retired from international football this week after 121 caps, failed to secure a move away from Old Trafford after being publicly ostracised by United manager Jose Mourinho since taking over earlier in the summer.
The World Cup winner was banished to train with the u-23 side while a move away from the club failed to materialise in the transfer window after the Portuguese coach said it would be 'very difficult' for him to play for the club again.
18-year-old defenders Axel Tuanzebe and Timothy Fosu-Mensah were preferred instead.
Image: Schweinsteiger in action for Manchester United. Martin Rickett / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Some thought that there may have been redemption on the cards for the 32-year-old after he was included in their 25 man Premier League squad, but that was down to league rules rather than the manager's choice.
Only 21 non-"club trained" players - those who have spent three years at the club between the ages of 15 and 21 - can be named in squads for the European competition.
However, United can only count Wayne Rooney and Jesse Lingard as club trained players, meaning that they could only name 23 players in their squad, while Fosu-Mensah, Tuanzebe, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford are included as u-21 players.
United begin their Europa League campaign with a trip to Dutch side Feyenoord on Spetember 15th, which will be followed by games against Turkey's Feyenoord and Ukrainian club Zorya.
Manchester United's Europa League squad for the 2016/2017 group stage: David de Gea, Sergio Romero, Sam Johnstone, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian, Axel Tuanzebe, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Michael Carrick, Daley Blind, Ashley Young, Ander Herrera, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marouane Fellaini, Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford.
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