Despite spending £1.4billion over the past 10 years, Manchester United, again, tasted defeat in the knockout stages of the Champions League on Tuesday night.
After snatching a 1-1 draw in the away leg of their Round of 16 tie against Atletico Madrid, Red Devils headed to Old Trafford with high hopes. However, Ralf Rangnick’s side were incredibly disappointing and beaten 1-0 by the La Liga outfit thanks to a 41st-minute header from Brazilian wing-back Renan Lodi, who found himself unmarked at the back post after a neat passing move by Atletico.
Understandably, questions will be raised of the performance and how, despite the plethora of talented players in the squad, they were outclassed by Diego Simeone’s side. The attitudes and mentality of star players are likely to be doubted by fans and pundits alike.
This is especially true as it has been revealed that United’s gross transfer spend is £1.4bn over the past 10 years, yet they have only won two knockout ties in the Champions League since 2011. United have never shied away from big price tags, but the recruitment of the club should be reviewed.
The Red Devils have paid significantly over the odds for players who have failed to deliver in the Premier League. They forked out of £50million on Anthony Martial in the 2015/16 season, £76m on Romelu Lukaku two years later and their spending in 2019 is now laughable.
United spent £80m on Harry Maguire, who has continued to be criticised since arriving at Old Trafford, especially since taking the captain’s armband. They also spent £50m on right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace, who has often been an unused substitute under Rangnick.
Ahead of this season, it looked as if the club had turned a corner and their recruitment had improved. The arrival of Jadon Sancho was a long-term investment into their attack, whilst Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo added a sprinkling of star quality and experience to the team.
It will take more than another good transfer window or two for United to re-establish themselves as title contenders. When their new manager arrives in the summer, the club must invest in their vision and transfer targets rather than expecting results immediately.
Former Red Devils defender Rio Ferdinand told BT Sport that it doesn’t matter if the club manages to acquire some of the best stars in the world as they still won’t be able to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea. The ex-England international said: “If United bring in Mbappe and Haaland this summer, it doesn’t matter, United aren’t going to win the league. It doesn’t matter who you bring in, it needs to be from the top down.
"Once you get the right manager and get the right person in place, then it's a minimum of two or three years before you start challenging for trophies. By the way, Liverpool and City have set a high bar now. The consistency at which they play. It shows that no matter what talent you bring together, you need a manager that can harness that and put it all together."
