Ex Liverpool striker Michael Owen has criticised Manchester United's transfer business in recent years, claiming the club has signed players who 'look like they've never played football before'.
Owen — who made 52 appearances for United, registering 17 goals and three assists — slammed the players United have brought to Old Trafford over the past 10 years, suggesting the club has fallen behind Liverpool when it comes to recruiting stars.
The 42-year-old was working as a pundit for BT Sport for Liverpool's Champions League clash against Ajax on Tuesday night, with the ex-striker making a sly dig at United in the build-up to the tie. Owen was discussing the Merseyside club's heavy defeat to Napoli last week and claimed that Jurgen Klopp has recruited 'world beaters', before going on to criticise United's transfer dealings.
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"It’s very rare that five players play well and five players stink the place out, you normally play well as a team and poorly as a team — it effects everybody," said Owen. "When there’s no pressing from the front, all of a sudden the defence looks vulnerable then they make mistakes, it’s a chain reaction.
"Liverpool over the years, no matter who they’ve signed, have been world beaters, then teams like Manchester United over the last 10 years no matter who they’ve signed look like they’ve never played football before it’s changed now.
"But what I’m trying to say is it’s very easy to bring a player into the team or for all the players to play well at the same time it is a team game. We’ve seen that with Liverpool, they either play well or flounder like they did the other night."
United have been criticised for a number of their signings in recent years, with the club having spent €1.54billion in the past decade, while earning €470 million — taking their net spend to more than €1billion, according to data from the CIES Football Observatory.
However, Owen's comments come after United have made a promising start to the new season, with nearly all of Erik ten Hag's new signings making an impressive start to the campaign.
United ended the summer with six new senior arrivals to their squad following the deadline deals for Ajax winger Antony and Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. They followed defenders Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez, as well as midfield duo Christian Eriksen and Casemiro.
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