![Add A Heading_20240523_041252_0000](https://soccerweb.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Add-A-Heading_20240523_041252_0000-678x381.png)
Rio Ferdinand believes that only three players signed by Manchester United over the past decade have lived up to expectations at Old Trafford.
United, once the most successful team in English football under Sir Alex Ferguson’s 26-season tenure, have struggled significantly in the 11 years since his retirement. During this period, the club has spent a staggering £1.4 billion on transfers, including 14 players costing £50 million or more, and a then-world record £89 million fee for Paul Pogba in 2016.
Many other players arrived with big reputations for lower fees but ultimately failed to deliver what was expected. While there are multiple factors behind United’s struggles, underperforming players have been a significant issue.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand, known for his candid opinions, recently claimed that only Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have met expectations since their signings.
Speaking on The Sports Agents podcast, Ferdinand said, “When you look at the recruitment, I think there’s only three players that I can remember coming in and then going, ‘Okay, they’ve played at a level that you would have expected.’ Bruno [Fernandes], Cristiano [Ronaldo], and Zlatan [Ibrahimovic]. The only three players I thought that you go, ‘Actually I saw consistently what I expected to see from them.’ Everyone else just fell well short. For whatever reason it is, they just haven’t hit a standard you expect them to come in for. There’s no value in them in what you expect. So they have to get to the bottom of that.”
United’s new minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is looking to improve the club’s recruitment by hiring Dan Ashworth as sporting director and Jason Wilcox as technical director. The academy recruitment team will also be strengthened by the arrival of Sam Williams from Ipswich, who will take on the role of chief scout.
Leave a Reply