More than a billion pounds sterling, here is the sum disbursed by Manchester United in player transfers since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. A colossal amount for a rich team, but which has not always made the right choices. Asked about the subject during the week, Ralf Rangnick tried to analyze the many failures of the Red Devils on the transfer window while other behemoths like Manchester City and Liverpool had their noses hollowed out.
“It’s about having a clear transfer strategy and signing players who fit into that system. That’s what City and Liverpool have been doing for the last five or six years. If I look at their transfer policy and their success, they haven’t had a lot of players that people would say maybe wasn’t the right signing. This is where Manchester United still have to go.”.
At least seven departures this summer
He then added: “In order to close the gap with these two clubs, I wouldn’t say we have to do the same because we have our own identity as a club. It has always been attractive, attacking, entertaining football. But from there you have to make sure that the recruiting is good”. Man Utd will however have to be much better this summer as several arrivals are expected.
Indeed, the residents of Old Trafford are preparing a major cleaning this summer and it will be necessary to replace the elements that have left. the Manchester Evening News explains this Wednesday that at least seven players could leave. But they could be so much more. First of all, there are those whose future is practically sealed, like Edinson Cavani, at the end of his contract. A situation in which are also Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata.
The thorny cases CR7 and Rashford
The future of players on loan, such as Anthony Martial (Sevilla) or Donny van de Beek (Everton), should also be played out. This will depend in particular on their loan and the desires of the new coach. In addition to the case of Mason Greenwood, suspended following accusations of violence and rape of which he is the subject, the Cristiano Ronaldo file agitates the club behind the scenes. Returning through the front door, the Portuguese is going through a more complicated period, he who scored only one goal in 2022 and who is at the heart of the debates after his injury and his absence from the stands during the Manchester derby on Sunday.
Under contract until 2023, Marcus Rashford, cited at PSG to replace Mbappé, has desires elsewhere. Less efficient this season, Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire also question, as do Dean Henderson, Nemanja Matic and Eric Bailly. If not everyone will be kicked out, seven to ten players could leave. the MEN adds, however, that in the event of departures, three midfielders, a substitute goalkeeper and a striker should at least be recruited. Strengthening the defense, with a central and a right side, would not be excluded. MU would count on the address book of Ralf Rangnick, interim coach, who will occupy a consulting role for two years from this summer.
