He doesn't do it often but Jose Mourinho has apologised to Henrikh Mkhitaryan for hauling him off during a rare start for Manchester United at Derby.
The Armenian playmaker has struggled for regular game time under Mourinho and the indignation of being taken off at half-time during Friday night's FA Cup third round clash at Old Trafford has fueled talk of a January exit, especially as he wasn't playing that badly at the time.
But after the game the Red Devils managers moved to explain his decision to remove the midfielder who has not complete 90 minutes in any of his 11 starts this season, and even brought with it a rare apology from the usually unrepentant manager.
Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018
Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018
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1/49 Alexis Sanchez
After a failed deadline day move to Manchester City in the summer, the Chilean forward has refused to sign a contract with the London-based club, and will have a host of top European sides after him in January or the summer.
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2/49 Mesut Ozil
The German playmaker’s protracted contract negotiations are well documented, and he will have a host of suitors should he fail to resign for the Gunners before the summer.
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3/49 Juan Mata
The United playmaker is yet to renew his contract with the club, however having started 13 games this season, it seems unlikely the Spaniard will be shown the door by Mourinho.
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4/49 Luke Shaw
Following strong criticism from his own manager and pundits, after a series of long-term injuries, the former-Saint looks set to leave Old Trafford after four seasons that has seen him make only 53 appearances for United.
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5/49 Ander Herrera
Manchester United have a one-year option they can invoke in the Spaniard’s contract should they wish to extend his stay at Old Trafford. Nemanja Matic’s arrival has limited the midfielder’s opportunities with the majority of his appearances this season coming from the bench.
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6/49 Jack Wilshere
Having struggled with injuries for years the Arsenal academy graduate has played in Arsenal’s previous four games. Undoubtedly talented, should the midfielder reject a proposed contract extension from the London club he will have plenty of Premier League sides eager to sign him at the end of the season.
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7/49 Emre Can
Heavily linked with a move to Juventus, the former-Bayern Munich midfielder has been frustrated by Jurgen Klopp’s rotation policy in a congested Liverpool midfield, and with the impending arrival of Naby Keita from Leipzig in the summer, sees his opportunities further diminishing.
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8/49 Marouane Fellaini
Struggling for game time in a United midfield consisting of Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera, and Nemanja Matic, the Belgian may be tempted to move in search of first team opportunities.
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9/49 Franck Ribery
The Champions League winner, now 34, has struggled with injury this season, and has understandably looked rusty upon his return to the Bayern starting eleven.
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10/49 Fernandinho
While the midfielder is out of contract next summer, it is believed that Guardiola is keen for the City hierarchy to offer the 32-year-old Brazilian a new contract.
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11/49 Daley Blind
Having made only 13 appearances for Mourinho’s side in all competitions this season, the versatile Dutchman has been linked with a move to Barcelona.
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12/49 Ashley Young
Following his conversion to full-back by manager Jose Mourinho, the 32-year-old has scored twice and provided four assists with his dangerous delivery from out wide. Teams in the Premier League will be keen to secure the former Aston Villa player’s experience next term.
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13/49 Giorgio Chiellini
At 33 the Italian centre-back is still a world-class player, and with less than a year on his contract, will surely be a bargain for whoever secures his services next summer.
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14/49 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Undoubted class, but at 36, whether the Swede represents value for money is another matter, with the striker one of the highest paid players in the Premier League.
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15/49 Fernando Torres
The former Liverpool striker has had to settle for a place on the bench since his return to Atletico Madrid, behind Antoine Griezmann and Kevin Gameiro in the pecking order. A move away surely beckons for the 33-year-old.
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16/49 Aaron Lennon
Former-Spurs flyer Lennon has not been offered a new contract by current club Everton, but will certainly add Premier League know-how to promoted sides looking to avoid relegation next season.
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17/49 Arjen Robben
Bayern’s other veteran winger has also had an injury-stricken season in Bavaria, though has still managed to score three and assist four in all competitions. The Dutchman is certainly still a threat when fully fit.
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18/49 Iker Casillas
Having won the Champions League three times, Casillas is certainly a high-quality goalkeeper. Could the Spanish veteran be a good signing for a top-European club?
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19/49 Santi Cazorla
Blighted by serious injuries to his Achilles and having had surgery nine times in 14 months, the diminutive midfielder will hope to regain his fitness to restart his career.
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20/49 Bernard
The pacey winger has enjoyed a four year spell in Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk, though in not signing a new contract, may have his heart set on playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
AFP/Getty Images
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21/49 Mario Balotelli
The enigmatic Italian striker has reignited his stop-start career in Nice with 33 goals in 49 appearances for the French side.
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22/49 Hatem Ben Arfa
Talent in abundance though lacking work rate, teams interested in the attacker will hope they can see the player find the form he displayed at OGC Nice, scoring 18 goals and assisting 7 in 2015/16.
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23/49 Ezequiel Lavezzi
The stocky Argentine forward has been on fire this season in the Chinese Super League, scoring 20 goals and assisting 19 in 27 games. A return to Europe is surely on the cards for the former-Napoli man.
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24/49 Joel Robles
Displaced from the Everton starting line-up by £30m summer arrival Jordan Pickford, the Spaniard will be eager to guarantee himself more game-time should next year.
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25/49 Juanfran
The Atletico Madrid legend, now 32, is under increasing competition from Croatian full-back Sime Vrsaljko and could be tempted by a move before retirement.
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26/49 Amin Younes
The Ajax forward, currently sidelined with a serious knee injury, had an excellent season in 2016/17 and was rewarded with his first Germany cap by Joachim Lowe in June this year.
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27/49 Andre-Pierre Gignac
The French target-man has enjoyed the most prolific spell of his career with Mexican side Tigres UANL, scoring a goal in every two games in all competitions. Proven in Ligue 1 with Marseille, the striker is capable of succeeding in Europe.
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28/49 Yohan Cabaye
Capable of dictating games at the top-level, the Frenchman could surely be a wildcard for a top side in the Premier League next season.
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29/49 Joao Moutinho
Winner of Ligue 1 with AS Monaco last year, the 31-year-old midfielder is into the final year of his contract.
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30/49 Leon Goretzka
The box-to-box midfielder has had an excellent start to the season, scoring 4 goals from central midfield for Schalke. The German international has been linked with moves to top European sides Barcelona and Juventus.
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31/49 Carlos Vela
The Mexican wideman has found goals hard to come by this season, scoring just once this season for Real Sociedad.
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32/49 Yaya Toure
After years of speculation that Toure would leave Manchester City, the Ivorian’s time at City finally seems to coming to an end.
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33/49 Stefan de Vrij
Liverpool have been linked to the Netherland’s international in recent weeks as Jurgen Klopp seeks to add quality to his defence.
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34/49 Neven Subotic
The Bundesliga winner has made only four appearances this season, often failing to even make the bench for Dortmund.
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35/49 Max Meyer
The 22-year-old playmaker Meyer has been consistently linked with Liverpool, Tottenham and Barcelona and has so far refused any contract offers made by Schalke.
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36/49 Dani Garcia
The Spanish midfielder has been a mainstay for SD Eibar over the past three seasons. Offering a goal-threat from midfield with his long-distance shooting and set-piece ability, Garcia could prove a shrewd acquisition.
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37/49 Achraf Hakimi
The Moroccan full back has deputised well for Dani Carvajal in La Liga this season, and has shown glimpses of his potential at the Bernabeu.
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38/49 Stephan Lichsteiner
Disappointing performances for the Bianconeri this season, and added competition from Mattia de Sciglio have led to rumours that the Swiss defender could be set to leave Turin in January.
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39/49 Diego Reyes
The 25-year-old defender has guided FC Porto to the top of the Primeira Liga, conceding only six goals in the process.
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40/49 Enes Unal
Still only 20, the Turkish forward has seen his career stall since moving to Spain from Manchester City. Should the striker fail to sign a new contract with Villareal, a move back to the Eredivisie could prove fruitful for a striker with vast potential.
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41/49 Rafinha
The experienced Brazilian right-back is entering the last year of his contract with Bayern Munich. Capable of deputising at the top level, and with invaluable experience in the Champions league, the 32-year old could provide excellent cover for an elite European side next season.
Bongarts/Getty Images
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42/49 Ivan Marcano
The Porto centre-back, also capable of playing left-back, has been the subject of interest from Everton following a number of impressive displays for the Iberian club.
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43/49 Joao Miranda
Former Atletico Madrid star Miranda has started all but one league game for Inter Milan this term helping his side keep eight clean sheets so far. Should he fail to renew his contract with the Nerazzuri, he will be a top acquisition for any side.
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44/49 Kepa Arrizabalaga
The 23-year-old goalkeeper is yet to sign a new deal with Athletic Bilbao, and is rumoured to be close to agreeing a move to Real Madrid for €20m.
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45/49 Kwadwo Asamoah
The five-time Serie A winner is capable of playing in a variety of positions and would certainly be a valuable squad player for top sides in Europe.
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46/49 Mark Uth
The 26-year-old striker has been in excellent form for Hoffenheim this season, scoring 12 goals in all competitions.
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47/49 Pedro Leon
Injured since the summer, the experienced right winger would be a gamble with such little game time in the past year. If he can prove his fitness, the winger is capable of creating chances from wide areas, with six assists last season in La Liga.
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48/49 Sergio Canales
The Spanish playmaker is yet to agree a new contract and has proven, when fit, that he is capable of playing at the top level.
AFP/Getty Images
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49/49 Zlatko Junuzovic
The Werder Bremen creative midfielder has assisted 49 in 182 appearances, scoring 20 goals in the process.
Bongarts/Getty Images
"[It was] unfair [to take Mkhitaryan off] and I told him that at half-time," Mourinho said.
"I didn’t like what I did. He didn’t deserve it, he was playing well, he wasn’t playing bad.
"He had a couple of missed passes but he was playing well and giving a good dynamic to the team."
Mourinho replaced Mkhitaryan with Romelu Lukaku who went to on to score United's second goal in a 2-0 win after Jesse Lingard had opened the scoring to continue his purple patch over the new year.
The Portuguese coach added: "My feeling was just that [Marcus] Rashford is not going to score a goal and because of that I’m not going to lose time and I’m going to play Romelu, so then I had to sacrifice a player.
"Mkhi was the one that I sacrificed but it’s something that I don’t normally do but I did at half-time and apologised to him in front of other people because he didn’t deserve it."
It's a different sort of tone from the one Mourinho had on the 28-year-old outcast back in November when he publicly questioned the midfielder's form, saying: "I was not happy with his last performances. I'm not speaking about one or two, I'm speaking about three, four or five."
Mkhitaryan's career at Old Trafford has been typified by a lack of proper playing time, despite some good form in patches, meaning he has been linked with a move away this month. According to Sky Italia he has already turned down the chance to leave for Inter Milan while Borussia Dortmund - the team he left to join Manchester United in 2016 - are also said to be interested.
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- Jose Mourinho
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