Manchester United legend Gary Neville has expressed concern over the club’s summer arrivals, saying the Red Devils look worse when they are on the pitch.
Manchester United made big waves in their first transfer window under the guidance of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS. The Mancunians secured the services of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna (£36 million), Leny Yoro from LOSC Lille (£52 million), Matthijs de Ligt (£38.5 million) and Noussair Mazraoui (£12.8 million) from Bayern Munich, and Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain (£42.2 million). They also got their hands on sought-after teen midfielder Sekou Kone, prizing him away for a nominal £1 million fee from Guidars FC.
Manchester United finished with a net spending of £101.8 million, with most media outlets praising them for pulling off a number of important signings without breaking the bank. Unfortunately for Man Utd, none of their first-team additions have lived up to expectations.
The Old Trafford faithful recently booed Zirkzee while Yoro just returned to action after recovering from his ankle injury. De Ligt and Mazraoui have also only impressed in bits and pieces and Ugarte has not looked convincing in the middle of the park.
Gary Neville Says Manchester United Look Even Worse With New Signings
Manchester United fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Monday, 30th December. After the game, Neville delivered a damning verdict of the hosts’ summer arrivals.
On Sky Sports, he said:
“What am l surprised about is that when in the summer Manchester United signed those three or four players, I didn’t hear anyone say ‘Manchester United have had a terrible transfer market’.
“I am shocked about how poor those players have been in their early months. I have said it before that this club has been a graveyard for players who have come with decent reputations. And it is happening again.”
He added:
“I didn’t hear anyone say in the summer when Yoro, De Ligt, Ugarte, Zirkzee joined that United hadn’t signed half-decent players. The problem is that when you have seen them out here in a red shirt then Manchester United look a worse team. That’s the odd thing.”
Manchester United, who have now lost four of their last five Premier League games, will return to top-flight action with a clash against table-toppers Liverpool on 5th January.
