Man Utd wasted two-thirds of £840m spent post-Fergie

Manchester United have spent £840.15million on 29 players since Sir Alex Ferguson, and look where it’s got them. How much of that money has been well spent? About a third, we reckon…

2013

Marouane Fellaini – £27.5m
Tried hard, which is more than can be said for some of his more naturally talented team-mates, but the Belgian become the poster boy for United’s decline, despite earning the trust of three managers – MISS

2014

Juan Mata – £37.1m
As you would expect, Lovely Juan has offered stellar service for five years, even if he has struggled to nail down a place in United’s attack since Louis van Gaal was axed – HIT

Ander Herrera – £29m
The only player not named David de Gea to win the club’s Player of the Season award between 2014 and 2019. You can’t blame him for taking PSG’s mega-money in the same way United can’t be blamed for not matching the offer – HIT

Luke Shaw – £30m
Also won United’s Player of the Season award after he was chosen as the shiniest turd in the sewer that was last season. But United expected much more from the left-back when he arrived five years ago. Injuries have been a factor but so too has his attitude. Currently United’s first-choice left-back so, with reservation, we say… – HIT

Angel Di Maria – £59.7m
Awful. Just awful – MISS

Marcos Rojo – £16m
Can’t be relied upon to stay fit and when he is, can’t be trusted not to do something daft – MISS

Daley Blind – £13.8m
Jack of all trades, master of none. Still, for the money, he was a useful presence, especially when United’s specialist centre-backs were deemed not fit for purpose – HIT

Radamel Falcao – £5.35m loan fee
A shadow of the prolific striker who tore up La Liga. A pity – MISS

2015

Victor Valdes – free
Gave Louis van Gaal more grief than he was worth as a back-up keeper who made one start – MISS

Memphis Depay – £25m
The world’s greatest player in his own head proved himself as a very gentle and tender boyfriend during his time at Old Trafford but a hugely frustrating winger. Possibly needed a step between PSV and United – MISS

Matteo Darmian – £12.7m
Had a wonderful first month then just hung around for four years – MISS

Morgan Schneiderlin – £25m
One half of the Sch-midfield sch-it-fest. Woodward did well to get most of United’s money back from Everton – MISS

Bastian Schweinsteiger – £6.5m
The Germany midfielder was finished, as Bayern well knew – MISS

Sergio Romero – free
One of the best back-ups around – HIT

Anthony Martial – £44.7m
Could be world class but neither carrot nor stick has worked so far in provoking him to achieve that potential – MISS

2016

Eric Bailly – £30m
See Rojo, Marcos – MISS

Zlatan Ibrahimovic – free
Came, saw, conquered, got injured, shuffled off to MLS. The best United centre-forward since Robin van Persie – HIT

Henrikh Mkhitaryan – £26.3m
Benefited from Jose’s tough love but appeared to lack the conviction to become a consistent presence in United’s XI. Same at Arsenal – MISS

Paul Pogba – £89m
Sheesh. World class on his day but too often a liability off it. He doesn’t want to be at United, despite the club bending over backwards for him – MISS

2017

Victor Lindelof – £30m
Took a year to settle but after several attempts, United appear to have bought a reliable centre-back – HIT

Romelu Lukaku – £75m
One of Jose’s few trusted lieutenants but not fancied by Solskjaer from the start. Selling him wasn’t a mistake, not replacing him most certainly was – MISS

Nemanja Matic – £40m
Another of Jose’s ‘blue-chip’ players but appears to have aged five years in last 12 months – MISS

2018

Alexis Sanchez – straight swap for Mkhitaryan
See Di Maria, Angel – MISS

Diogo Dalot – £19m
Mourinho reckoned Dalot to be the best young right-back int he world when he signed but Solskjaer felt the need to spend £50million on his replacement a year after the Portugal defender arrived – MISS

Fred – £52m
Can’t get a game despite the complete dearth of midfield options available to Solskjaer – MISS

Lee Grant – £1.5m
Serves his purpose so… – HIT

2019

Daniel James – £15m
The feeling among scouts watching James at Swansea was that if he could sort his finishing then there was a bargain to be had. Three goals so far this season suggests he’s getting there – HIT

Aaron Wan-Bissaka – £50m
Already undroppable, despite having plenty of room for improvement going forward – HIT

Harry Maguire – £80m
Future United captain – HIT

TOTAL: £840.15m

HITS: £286.45m – 34%

MISSES: £553.7m – 66%