Manchester United and Atlético Madrid have shared several famous players, from David de Gea and Diego Forlán to Radamel Falcao and Memphis Depay. Eight men have made senior appearances for both clubs.
The two teams meet at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in the Champions League on 13 October 2026. Before that game, here is the complete list of players who represented both sides at first-team level.
1. David de Gea
- Atlético Madrid: 2009–2011 (Apps: 84 | Clean sheets: 23)
- Manchester United: 2011–2023 (Apps: 545 | Clean sheets: 190)
David de Gea is comfortably the most important player on this list from a Manchester United perspective.
A product of Atlético’s academy, De Gea made his senior debut at 18 and quickly displaced Sergio Asenjo as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. He helped Atlético win the 2009/10 Europa League and saved a penalty during their UEFA Super Cup victory over Inter Milan.
Sir Alex Ferguson selected De Gea to succeed Edwin van der Sar in 2011. His first season in England was uneven, particularly when dealing with crosses and the physical demands of the Premier League, but United’s patience was rewarded.
De Gea spent 12 seasons at Old Trafford, won the 2012/13 Premier League title and became the first non-British or Irish player to make 500 appearances for the club. He also set a Manchester United record with 190 clean sheets.
Although his distribution became a frequent subject of debate late in his United career, De Gea was repeatedly the team’s most reliable player during a difficult post-Ferguson period.
2. Diego Forlán
- Manchester United: 2002–2004 (Apps: 98 | Goals: 17)
- Atlético Madrid: 2007–2011 (Apps: 198 | Goals: 96)
Diego Forlán needed eight months to score his first competitive goal for Manchester United, but he eventually became a cult favourite at Old Trafford.
His overall return of 17 goals in 98 appearances was modest. However, supporters still remember his two goals at Anfield in 2002, as well as important strikes against Chelsea and Rangers.
Forlán won the Premier League and FA Cup with United before leaving for Villarreal in 2004. His career in Spain revealed a completely different forward.
After winning the European Golden Shoe at Villarreal, he joined Atlético Madrid and formed one of La Liga’s most dangerous partnerships with Sergio Agüero. Forlán scored 32 league goals in the 2008/09 season and won another European Golden Shoe.
His defining Atlético performance came in the 2010 Europa League final. Forlán scored both goals as Atlético defeated Fulham 2-1, including the extra-time winner. He left Madrid as one of the club’s leading modern-era forwards rather than the inconsistent finisher many United supporters had remembered.
3. Radamel Falcao
- Atlético Madrid: 2011–2013 (Apps: 91 | Goals: 70)
- Manchester United: 2014–2015, loan (Apps: 29 | Goals: 4)
Radamel Falcao’s two spells could hardly have been more different.
At Atlético, Falcao was one of the best centre-forwards in world football. He scored 70 times in only 91 appearances and led the club to the 2011/12 Europa League, scoring twice in the final against Athletic Club.
He then produced an extraordinary first-half hat-trick against Chelsea in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup. Falcao combined intelligent movement, power in the air and ruthless finishing inside the penalty area.
Manchester United signed him on loan from Monaco in September 2014, but the move came shortly after a serious knee injury. Falcao never recovered his Atlético sharpness and scored only four times under Louis van Gaal.
United declined the option to sign him permanently. His brief stay is now remembered as one of the Premier League’s most disappointing high-profile loans.
4. Memphis Depay
- Manchester United: 2015–2017 (Apps: 53 | Goals: 7)
- Atlético Madrid: 2023–2024 (Apps: 40 | Goals: 13)
Memphis Depay arrived at Manchester United after leading the Eredivisie scoring charts with PSV. He received the No.7 shirt and was expected to become one of the central figures in Louis van Gaal’s rebuild.
There were occasional reminders of his talent, particularly in European matches, but Memphis struggled for consistency in the Premier League. He left for Lyon after seven goals in 53 appearances.
By the time he joined Atlético from Barcelona in January 2023, Memphis was a more experienced and adaptable forward. He was rarely an automatic starter under Diego Simeone, but his record of 13 goals in 40 appearances was respectable for a rotation player.
His most memorable Atlético goal came against Inter Milan in the Champions League round of 16, helping the Spanish club force extra time before advancing on penalties.
5. Matheus Cunha
- Atlético Madrid: 2021–2023 (Apps: 54 | Goals: 7)
- Manchester United: 2025–present
Matheus Cunha never fully established himself at Atlético Madrid. He worked hard and offered a different style from the club’s other forwards, but competition for places limited his opportunities.
His move to Wolverhampton Wanderers transformed his reputation in England. Cunha became the team’s main attacking threat, carrying the ball through midfield and contributing goals rather than operating only as a conventional striker.
Manchester United signed him in 2025 after that Premier League breakthrough. His ability to play as a No.10, a second striker or from the left gives United more tactical flexibility than Atlético were able to extract from him.
Cunha is the only current Manchester United player on this list.
6. Quinton Fortune
- Atlético Madrid: 1996–1999 (Apps: 10 | Goals: 0)
- Manchester United: 1999–2006 (Apps: 126 | Goals: 11)
Quinton Fortune spent time with Atlético’s reserve team and made a small number of senior appearances before Manchester United signed him in 1999.
He never became a guaranteed starter at Old Trafford, but his versatility made him useful to Sir Alex Ferguson. Fortune could play in central midfield, on the left wing or at full-back and remained at United for seven seasons.
His career coincided with a squad full of established internationals, so 126 appearances represented a significant contribution even without a regular position.
7. Sergio Reguilón
- Atlético Madrid: 2022–2023, loan (Apps: 12 | Goals: 0)
- Manchester United: 2023–2024, loan (Apps: 12 | Goals: 0)
Sergio Reguilón spent one season on loan at Atlético and the first half of the following campaign with Manchester United.
Injuries limited his opportunities in Madrid, while United recruited him as emergency cover after losing Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia. Reguilón brought energy on the left but returned to Tottenham after making 12 appearances.
He is the only player to record exactly 12 senior appearances for each club.
8. Ricardo López
- Atlético Madrid: 1993–1998 (Apps: 1 | Goals: 0)
- Manchester United: 2002–2005 (Apps: 5 | Goals: 0)
Ricardo López is the name most supporters are unlikely to remember.
The Spanish goalkeeper developed at Atlético but made only one first-team appearance before building his career elsewhere. United signed him from Valladolid in 2002 as an experienced backup to Fabien Barthez.
His Premier League debut was unforgettable for unusual reasons. Ricardo conceded a penalty with his first involvement against Blackburn Rovers, then immediately saved David Dunn’s spot-kick.
That brief appearance remains the best-known moment of an otherwise quiet spell at Old Trafford.
FAQ: Players Who Played for Manchester United and Atletico Madrid
Q: When is Atlético Madrid vs Manchester United?
Atlético Madrid host Manchester United on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 local time in Madrid and 20:00 BST in the United Kingdom.
The match will be played at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Q: What competition is Atlético Madrid vs Manchester United in?
The game is part of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase and takes place on Matchday 2.
Manchester United began their campaign with a 4-0 victory over Sabah, while Atlético lost their opening match against Liverpool.
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