Is that headline a bit misleading? From the Guardian, that is?
They headline that 'he's made up his mind on his future', then the story goes into a narrative that he's 'to go away and make up his mind on his future'? That is a bit of sinister bait and switch headline you rarely see from the Guardian.
Anyhow, from his own point of view I think he has to weigh up the reduced playing time at United and logically whether it would make sense for him to stay in a selfish sense. If he got his head down, worked his bols off and made it back into a position as a starter then the payoff/reward would be exponentially higher at United. Exposure to the best competitions, the higher caliber silverware and the potential of organically pushing his way back through another club recruiting process into the first team offers a far better reward. Which as far as the Euro at the end of the year would put him in a much better position to make the team and sign off on a high at the tournament.
I kind of read this as a "do I stay and have a burl at the United gig of rediscovering and roll the dice on being frozen out completely and left behind? Or go and secure first team football elsewhere at the expense of dropping out of the bigger spotlight (abroad)". Kind of a big roll of the dice for him if he does make the speculated move to Everton, considering the reduced role this season produced his best contribution to the team in reduced minutes for the last three years, I don't think that is going to translate very well to going to Everton and trying to be the main man at a lower achieving club. I'm not sure if the roll of the dice will bring the same reward on that front.
However if he chooses to leave the country completely, even for the money then it suits himself and suits everyone involved with him leaving the club. I think essentially that would close the door on his England Euro sign-off dream. Getting completley out od
As much as it is the logical option that the majority on here don't want to accept. Staying around, getting his head down and possibly organically pushing back into the first team through form/attrition would be the safest option for him from his own point of view. This is a bit of a doosey decision for him to make, in truth. If he falls right off after leaving the club and misses that Euro berth if he goes out of his international career with a whimper that will be disappointing for him when he would be more than entitled to stay around until his contract expires after the Euro tournament. (With a +1 I think he has as well?)
Interesting times for him, wouldn't want to be in his shoes having to make this decision. I hope he picks the right choice for him and it works out for him and his family. He's been an amazing servant for the club and even the attempt at trying to beat up the fact that he'd make a huge fuss from the fans point of view when he quite clearly hasn't has been a bit distasteful, model professional throughout.
his face will be all over the Welcome To Manchester signs, but he'll only make one appearance for them before retiring.