I can’t believe Manchester United let this academy graduate leave on a free transfer.

I am astounded that Manchester United allowed this academy graduate to depart without compensation.At some juncture, Premier League clubs and their academies’ graduates must acknowledge that it is in the best interests of all parties involved to pursue separate paths.

In June of last year, Manchester United and Di’Shon Bernard came to an accord that terminated the six-year tenure of the defender at Old Trafford. He became a member of the club in 2017 at the tender age of 16, having progressed through the development system at Chelsea.

Having appeared in only one senior match for United during his tenure, Bernard was loaned to Portsmouth for the latter half of last season, allowing him to experience League Two, the Championship, and League One. Despite his initial success at Hull in 2021/22, it was his brief tenure at Fratton Park that marked a significant turning point in his development.Despite making a mere ten appearances for Pompey, his center-back and right-back performances were both noteworthy. Although the League One club expressed interest in securing his definitive transfer, United manager John Mousinho stated that the decision regarding his future rested with United.Mousinho stated regarding Bernard’s future a month prior to the confirmation of his departure from United: “Irrespective of his current location, these are extremely, extremely thrilling times for him. His loan experience has been fruitful, and while he may not agree due to limited playing time, his performance in the last four matches is a tremendous testament to his development. The future is promising for him.””While I am yet to speak with Di’Shon this week regarding his desire to remain, I am hopeful that he is cognizant of the expectations we have of him and that our preferred style of play complements him.”

Sheffield Wednesday acquired him a little over a month after United released him, opting not to activate the one-year extension that was included in his contract. The Owls were making preparations to return to the Championship following a turbulent League One play-off campaign the previous season. It was widely believed that his contract with the club was for one year.

Already in the second half of his current contract, Wednesday supporters are demanding that the club’s leadership commit him to a long-term agreement. Since the October appointment of youthful manager Danny Rohl, the 23-year-old has produced a string of outstanding performances over the past few weeks.Establishing himself as a crucial component in Rohl’s strategies, Bernard is delivering the type of play that one would anticipate from a Carrington-educated defender. Owing to his astute game analysis, he is seldom caught off guard and frequently deflects crosses with ease.Wednesday advances the ball frequently by breaking into midfield and driving out from the defense, demonstrating that he is also at ease in possession. Moreover, he appears at ease playing center-back for the Championship club in any formation, including four-at-the-back and three-at-the-back configurations.

Wednesday made twelve acquisitions during the previous summer, with the former United youth arguably having performed the best of the bunch. A considerable number of Owls supporters are baffled as to how the club acquired him without charging a transfer fee.

Despite the fact that Bernard, who is only 23 years old, still has much to learn and develop, he is rapidly ascending the career hierarchy. His permanent residence has proven to be advantageous subsequent to his loan stints at Portsmouth, Hull, and Salford City.It goes without saying that

Bernard was never going to be a first-team regular at Old Trafford; however, this does cast doubt on United’s decision to release him without compensation. In recent years, United’s management of player departures has been subject to extensive scrutiny, primarily due to their practice of permitting developing talents to depart for negligible or no transfer fee.Wednesday’s hopes of avoiding an immediate return to League One have been significantly bolstered by Bernard’s performances this season, particularly in recent weeks. United might have been better off activating the one-year extension in his contract and attempting to sell him for a fee, as opposed to letting him go for nothing. Following the success of his loan stint at Portsmouth, his stock had increased, indicating that he would have attracted suitors.

However, it is detrimental to the health of any club to amass a collection of players by awarding contract after contract in the hopes of receiving an enticing offer. In the end, Bernard has discovered a place to name home, where he excels and plays frequently. He was, at the very least, well instructed by United.