20 Most Expensive Players Purchased by Manchester United, Success or Failure?
Manchester United, which is the giant of the Premier League, is known as one of the biggest clubs in the world. The Red Devils also often spend a lot of money to buy star players.
In fact, Manchester United can be said almost every season they always recruit expensive players, including in 2021 yesterday when they signed Jadon Sancho.
Unfortunately, the purchase of expensive players does not always go hand in hand with the increasing achievements of the club. Manchester United has recorded a trophy dry for the last five seasons.
What is the report card for the players who became Manchester United's most expensive purchase? Here's the full review.
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney (c) Corbis Sport
Bought from: Everton
Year: 2004
Price: 27 million pounds
On the list of 20 most expensive purchases of Manchester United entrenched the name of Wayne Rooney. Wazza was recruited from Everton when he was 18 years old in 2004.
Manchester United bought Rooney for an initial fee of £20 million plus an additional £7 million. At that time, this figure was the highest in the world for a player under 20 years of age.
Rooney was a big success at Manchester United. Until now, Wazza is still listed as the Red Devils' all-time top scorer with 253 goals in 13 seasons.
Of these, 208 goals were scored by Wayne Rooney in the Premier League stage. He is also ranked second in the list of Premier League top scorers, only lost to Alan Shearer.
Juan Sebastian Veron
Juan Sebastian Veron (c) PA
Bought from: Lazio
Year: 2001
Price: 28.1 million pounds
In the summer of 2001, Manchester United made a breakthrough by bringing in Juan Sebastian Veron from Lazio for a fee of 28.1 million pounds. This figure at that time became the most expensive transfer in England.
The figure is arguably very large for the size of the time. If calculated based on inflation, this value could be equivalent to 38 million pounds at this time.
Unfortunately, Veron is arguably Manchester United's failed purchase. Had started to tune in the second season, Veron had to lie down due to a severe injury. Veron was then released to Chelsea at a price of 'only' 15 million pounds.
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand (c) AFP
Bought from: Leeds United
Year: 2002
Price: 29.3 million pounds
Recruited in 2002 ago, the transfer of Rio Ferdinand at that time was the most expensive in England. With the current exchange rate, Ferdinand's transfer value could reach approximately 100 million pounds.
Manchester United's decision to bring Rio Ferdinand from Leeds proved very telling. Ferdinand grew into one of the best defenders of England, even Europe.
Ferdinand was very comfortable at Manchester United and lasted up to 11 seasons. During that period, he successfully presented a series of prestigious trophies.
Luke Shaw
Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw (c) AP Photo
Bought from: Southampton
Year 2014
Price: 30 million pounds
The £30 million Manchester United paid Southampton to sign Luke Shaw in 2014 made the 19-year-old left-back the world's most expensive teenager.
Shaw's appearance at Manchester United is arguably up and down. Shaw successfully presented the Europa League and Community Shield trophies.
Shaw also briefly entered the PFA Premier League's best team in the 2020/21 season, and became Manchester United's best player in the 2018/19 season.
Eric Bailly
Eric Bailly's expression at the Manchester United vs Manchester City match in week 11 of the Premier League 2021/2022 (c) AP Photo
Purchased from: Villarreal
Year: 2016
Price: 30 million pounds
Bailly failed to develop in the Manchester United squad. This 2021/22 season, the 28-year-old defender has only played seven times in all competitions.
Manchester United also intends to sell Bailly in the transfer window this summer. However, so far there is still no serious club looking to sign the Ivory Coast international defender
that.
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov (c) AFP
Bought from: Tottenham
Year: 2008
Price: 30.75 million pounds
Before being recruited by Manchester United, Berbatov had shown sharpness with Tottenham by scoring 46 goals in two seasons. Naturally, if the Red Devils are willing to pay a high price to hook Berbatov.
Berbatov also contributed significantly during the four seasons in uniform for Manchester United. He recorded 56 goals scored in 149 matches in all competitions.
Berbatov also presented a series of prestigious titles, ranging from two Premier League trophies to one each a League Cup and Club World Cup.
Donny van de Beek
Donny van de Beek after scoring a goal in the match against Watford in Week 12 of the Premier League 2021/2022 (c) AP Photo
Purchased from: Ajax
Year: 2020
Price: 35 million pounds
Van de Beek was signed by Manchester United from Ajax in the summer of 2020 for a transfer fee of £35 million. High expectations were pinned on the Dutch midfielder.
Unfortunately, Van de Beek's career with United did not go so smoothly. After being marginalized in the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era, the fate of the 25-year-old player also did not get the trust of Ralf Rangnick.
In the second half of the 2021/22 season, Manchester United loaned Van de Beek to Everton. Now, he is ready to prove his quality under the new manager, Erik ten Hag who is also his former coach at Ajax.
Raphael Varane
Manchester United defender Raphael Varane. (c) AP Photo
Bought from: Real Madrid
Year: 2021
Price: 34 million pounds
Varane was recruited by Manchester United from Real Madrid last summer for an estimated transfer fee of 40 million euros.
Varane immediately became the main choice at Manchester United's back line, both when it was still handled by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Rangnick.
Despite getting a lot of praise, but also not a few who think that Varane has not shown his best performance at Manchester United's back line.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (c) ManUtd
Bought from: Borussia Dortmund
Year: 2016
Price: 35 million pounds
Henrikh Mkhitaryan joined Manchester United in 2016. He was bought from Borussia Dortmund for 42 million euros.
However, Mkhitaryan's performance at Old Trafford was not very satisfactory. Thus, he only lasted for two seasons before being sold to Arsenal in 2018.
Juan Mata
Juan Mata celebrates after contributing a goal for Manchester United against Wolverhampton in the Premier League's last weekend match, Sunday (23/5/2021). (c) AP Photo
Bought from: Chelsea
Year 2014
Price: 37.1 million pounds
During his time at Manchester United, Juan Mata has made 285 appearances. He has scored 51 goals for Manchester United.
While at Old Trafford, unfortunately he could not help MU win the title. He only collected four trophies while playing for the Red Devils.
The first title he won with MU was the FA Cup title in the 2015-16 season. Then the following season, Mata helped Manchester United win the EFL Cup, Community Shield and Europa League.
Nemanja Matic
Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic in action in week 20 of the Premier League (c) AP Photo
Bought from: Chelsea
Year: 2017
Price: 40 million pounds
Last April, Matic announced that he would leave Manchester United at the end of this season, along with his contract expiring.
During his five seasons for Manchester United, Matic played 189 times in all competitions, scoring four goals.
Now he has officially joined Serie A club AS Roma as well as reunited with his former boss at Chelsea and Manchester United, Jose Mourinho.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Phil Foden in the Manchester United vs Manchester City match in Week 11 of the Premier League 2021/2022 (c) AP Photo
Purchased from: Crystal Palace
Year: 2019
Price: 45 million pounds
Since being recruited from Crystal Palace in 2019, Wan-Bissaka's contribution to Manchester United has been mediocre.
Later rumors said Manchester United had established communication with several top European clubs to release Wan-Bissaka.
Of the clubs contacted, there is one club that is reportedly in serious discussion with United. However, until now no one has made an offer for Wan-Bissaka.
Fred
Manchester United midfielder Fred. (c) AP Photo
Purchased from: Shakhtar Donetsk
Year: 2018
Price: 47 million pounds
Fred was recruited by Manchester United from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2018. High expectations were pinned by the Red Devils fans against the Brazilian midfielder.
Unfortunately, Fred is often the target of criticism from fans. However, it is not uncommon for him to play well in the Manches midfield