Manchester United’s Lost Decade: The Story of Transfer Failures
In the decade following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, Manchester United embarked on an extravagant spending spree, amassing a staggering £1.32 billion in transfer expenses. However, despite these colossal investments, the club found itself nowhere near clinching the Premier League title.
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For many, the root of the problem lay squarely in the club's transfer dealings. Critics argued that they were either spending too little or too much, too impulsively or too cautiously. But even more concerning was the glaring absence of a coherent and consistent recruitment strategy. With this backdrop, we delve into the story of these tumultuous ten years of transfer mismanagement.
Personality defined Manchester United during the Ferguson era. He was a singular voice, and his departure left the club vulnerable to the influence of whichever coach was at the helm. Combined with frequent changes in coaching staff and their varying philosophies, this often led to abrupt shifts in the team's playing style, resulting in wasted talent and underperformance. A prime example of this was the 2013-14 season, which marked David Moyes's brief tenure as manager. During this period, Manchester United added only Marouane Fellaini to the squad that had previously clinched the Premier League title. Despite pursuing players like Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alcantara that summer, the club ultimately signed Fellaini from Moyes's former club, Everton. In January, Juan Mata was brought in from Chelsea, but Moyes was sacked in April 2014.
The 2014-15 season ushered in a new era under Louis van Gaal, bringing with it a swift change in direction. Players like Ander Herrera and Daley Blind fit Van Gaal's preference for disciplined, tactically aware midfielders. Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo were signed for a combined £57.5 million, and a club-record deal was secured for Angel Di Maria. Another wave of signings followed in the subsequent year, with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Matteo Darmian, Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin, and goalkeeper Sergio Romero joining the ranks. Anthony Martial was also acquired for £60 million from Monaco. While Van Gaal did win the FA Cup, criticism mounted regarding the team's lack of entertainment. Consequently, he was replaced by Jose Mourinho at the end of the season.
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Mourinho left a more distinctive mark on Manchester United's transfer strategy, bringing in Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The club also broke the world transfer record to re-sign Paul Pogba for £105 million and secured the services of Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer. Ahead of the 2017-18 season, Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, and Victor Lindelof were added, collectively costing £163 million. In January, Alexis Sanchez arrived in exchange for Henrikh Mkhitaryan. United achieved their highest league finish since Ferguson's retirement, securing second place.
Subsequent signings included Fred for £59 million and Diogo Dalot for £22 million, but Mourinho's tenure was short-lived as he was replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the end of 2018. Solskjaer lacked a clear player profile, but his preference for counter-attacking football influenced United's transfer decisions. In the following year, Daniel James joined from Swansea for £17.8 million, Aaron Wan-Bissaka arrived from Crystal Palace for £55 million, and Harry Maguire was signed for £87 million from Leicester City. Sporting Lisbon's Bruno Fernandes joined for £67 million in January 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted United to reduce their spending, with Donny van de Beek, Amad Diallo, Alex Telles, and Edinson Cavani being notable acquisitions.
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The summer of 2021 saw the arrival of Jadon Sancho for £85 million, Raphael Varane for £40 million, and Cristiano Ronaldo's return to the club. John Murtough assumed the role of football director in March, suggesting a shift away from coach-driven signings. Despite securing Sancho, United had faced criticism for their perceived indecisiveness in previous transfer windows. Solskjaer's last season at the club saw him replaced by interim manager Ralph Ragnnick, who was later succeeded by Eric Ten Haag. This ushered in another round of coach-centric spending, including the signings of Christian Eriksen, Lautaro Martinez, and Antony. After a shocking loss to Brentford, veteran defensive midfielder Casemiro was acquired for £70.6 million.
As we arrive at the present day, Manchester United still struggles to keep pace with the Premier League's top teams, such as Manchester City, Liverpool, and even Arsenal, despite investing over a billion pounds in transfers. The issue lies not solely in the amount spent or the quality of players acquired but in the club's tendency to cater to the short-term needs of its coaches rather than developing a cohesive, long-term strategy. This has often resulted in a squad that fails to align with any specific playing style or identity.