David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag have all been backed one way or another, financially, with their signings being a mixed bag on and off the pitch. However, for every Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, there have some calamitous additions.
Some transfers were expected to fail from the outset, but the real frustration has been when players simply failed to live up to their billing having succeeded elsewhere. Here are five huge names who flopped.
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Angel Di Maria: A magnificent player for club and country – just not United. The winger failed to settle in the UK and spoke about his time in not the most glowing terms. Di Maria cost 59million and totted-up only four goals and 12 assists from 32 appearances.
Memphis Depay: Depay underlined his reputation before and after 18 difficult months at Old Trafford. Spells at PSV and Lyon, not to mention his eye-catching return for the Dutch national team, showed his abilities. A marquee signing under Van Gaal, with 25million handed over for his signature, the big move perhaps came too soon.
Paul Pogba: Pogba was by no means a bad player for United during his second spell. However, in returning to the place where it all began as an Academy graduate, so much was expected. Sensational for Juventus – and in helping France win the World Cup five years ago – the 90million fee was, put simply, not justified.
Alexis Sanchez: An absolute certainty to be included. Sanchez was mesmerising during his time with Arsenal and United were, rightly, elated to sign him from the Gunners for 30million under Mourinho. But it was a disaster from day one with five goals in 45 matches.
Bastian Schweinsteiger: One of the finest midfielders of his generation. But Schweinsteiger was a shadow of himself at Old Trafford. The 6.5million outlay was nothing substantial in the grand scheme, but the German struggled before heading to the MLS.
The honourable mentions
