Until now, I haven’t seen an argument for Cristiano Ronaldo, Di Maria, or Steve Daley, but here are my personal reasons for not choosing them. All four of them have positive stats, but their negative impact has diminished their effectiveness. Varane would be a better choice, but I am not sure what to make of his impact on United’s defense. The truth is, Varane should have been a great player, but his transfer to United has left them worse defensively than they were when he signed for them.
Alexis Sanchez
It would be easy to argue that Sanchez’s move to Manchester United is the worst player transfer in football history. The former Chilean has been a disaster for United, holding them back in recent months and hampering the rebuilding process this summer. However, his troubles are indicative of the wider problems at United. Their director of football lacks vision and cohesion, and they seem more concerned with social media impressions than winning the league.
Manchester United’s infamous move to sign Alexis Sanchez has triggered an outcry of protest. The midfielder was signed to an absurd PS500k a week contract and was soon ripped off from Arsenal’s contract. The resulting announcement video was deemed one of the most embarrassing in football history. The resulting furore led to a ban on Alexis Sanchez from the club, who subsequently signed a loan deal with Inter Milan.
Manchester United’s colossal deal with Alexis Sanchez cost the club PS50 million. Despite scoring just three Premier League goals, the Chilean was eventually loaned out to Inter Milan and lives in Italy. This decision has been met with widespread criticism from Jose Mourinho, who attributed Sanchez’s failure to the poor performance at Manchester United. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s world record fee for Kepa Arrizabalaga made the player’s deal worth £100m.
Eric Djemba-Djemba
It is not very difficult to find an example of the most awful player transfer in football history. The French singer arrived at Manchester United in 2003, hoping to be the replacement for Roy Keane. However, he failed to live up to expectations. Although he played in just twenty Premier League games, he was considered one of the worst signings in United history. Aston Villa then shipped him to Burnley on loan, but he failed to impress there. As a result, the deal was terminated in the summer of 2007.
The story behind the deal is a bit more complex. It started when Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed refused to pay Jean Tigana’s salary. Tigana had been accused of deliberately overpaying Marlet. The club ended up taking the manager to court over the signing. Marlet ended up playing for Fulham for two seasons, scoring eleven goals in 49 starts and being sold to Reading. Despite the ignominious circumstances, the striker is still one of the best players to have ever graced the Premier League.
Di Maria
Manchester United broke the British transfer record to sign Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid in the summer of 2014. He spent just one season with the Red Devils, and had a miserable time under manager Louis Van Gaal. Di Maria had a decent start to the season but he soon became a liability due to injury and subsequently lost his starting place to Ashley Young. Despite the poor start to his United career, Di Maria was a highly valuable asset and will likely be repaid in the future, but his time at Manchester United is over.
While it is difficult to quantify the value of a player, new signings are always exciting. However, the same cannot be said for transfers that don’t work out. Sometimes, a dream purchase turns out to be a nightmare, and the transfer of that player is the worst in football history. Listed below are some of the worst player transfers in the history of the game. There are many more, but this one is by far the worst.
Steve Daley
During his time with Manchester City, Steve Daley has been the subject of many football jokes. One of them was made by Barings Bank billionaire Nick Leeson, a fan of Man City. Daley has been criticised ever since. But what’s his real story? Read on to discover the truth. He is the worst player transfer in football history. Then, find out if he deserves to be the next Pele.
After joining Wolves, Daley played for the North American soccer league side Seattle Sounders for PS300,000. He made the NASL All-Star second team in 1982 and played for San Diego Sockers and Burnley. Daley ended his professional career at Walsall, despite being a millionaire. The midfielder played for several non-league clubs before retiring in 1986. Daley’s transfer to Manchester City broke Trevor Francis’ record of becoming the first player to make a million pounds.
Despite the fee, Daley was a complete flop. He went from being a highly-rated player at Wolves to being the worst player transfer in history. The move to Manchester City was a disaster. It set Man City back 20 years, and even threatened his life. It was an era before agents, psychological support and infrastructure for the transfer of players. Daley is one of the most tragic players in football history.
Maguire
Harry Maguire is a central defender for England. Typically, they make very few mistakes, but the 34-year-old’s career has been littered with comical blunders. While he may not have the best record for mistakes, Manchester United have paid a hefty price for his services and he has been given the armband. Unfortunately, Maguire’s performances haven’t lived up to expectations, and he is far from the best player transfer in football history.
Manchester United paid a world record to bring Maguire to Old Trafford. Despite the record transfer fee, Maguire has struggled to live up to expectations. The player’s inconsistency has led to mass criticism, and even some Manchester United fans have turned against him. A 13-tweet thread mocking the player has gone viral on Twitter, attracting over 800 retweets and over 2.3k ‘likes’ in a few days.
Manchester United have spent over PS80 million to sign Maguire from Leicester City. Normally, players would expect such a high price to perform at the highest level. But Maguire has been below expectations for the last few months, and his performance for Manchester United has deteriorated since he joined the club. Maguire is still one of the most expensive signings in club history, second only to Paul Pogba, who cost ninety-five million pounds.
Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba was supposed to be the final piece of the Manchester United jigsaw. Yet, after being transferred for a world record fee, the Red Devils have yet to win a major trophy. Despite a promising start to the 2021/22 season, the Frenchman has failed to deliver. In 27 appearances, he has scored just one goal and started less than half of the Red Devils’ Premier League games.
Manchester United paid a world record fee for Pogba, so it’s important that he shows loyalty. The fact that he flirts with other clubs and is reportedly unhappy at Old Trafford makes him seem like a player who isn’t in it for the long haul. Despite his lack of commitment, he is largely a victim of former players and managers who have enabled his sense of entitlement.
Pogba was only a Manchester United player for six seasons. After that, he joined Juventus on a free transfer and won four Serie A titles. His return to Manchester United was less successful and the club paid tribute to him on their website. The transfer of Pogba will undoubtedly remain in the history of the sport. And, as he leaves, the French football press will be able to take their criticism in stride.
Paul Pogba’s move to Manchester United
Despite a colossal fee, many people are unsure if the move to Manchester United has actually paid off. With 29 goals and 38 assists in 157 games, the Frenchman has already spent PS200million on wages, bonuses and fees. But is his move to United really the worst player transfer in history? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of Pogba’s move.
Juventus were in the running for the Frenchman’s signature, and remain interested in signing him. But, Manchester City have launched a stunning bid for the midfielder, having met with the Frenchman to express their desire to sign him. However, the deal is still unsigned, as the Premier League giants are not yet able to convince Pogba to sign a contract. The club have verbally assured him that Pogba will remain at Juventus, but that is unlikely to prevent him from moving on.
The move was considered a coup when the Frenchman signed for the Red Devils. Despite this, he was never consistent and failed to impress the fans. Despite this, he was loaned to Sevilla and his future in Manchester looks bleak under new manager Erik ten Hag. While Pogba’s transfer to Manchester United was widely hailed as a coup, it is now clear that the move is a disaster.
Woodgate
In 2004, David Woodgate moved from Newcastle United to Real Madrid for PS17 million. In his first 14 months in Madrid, he failed to make a single league appearance. His only start came against Athletic Bilbao, where he scored an own goal. In September 2004, he was sent off for fouling on Joseba Etxeberria. However, he later made his Real Madrid debut.
Many of the worst player transfers in the history of the game have come from Manchester United. While a player might have been sacked, a better manager and salary might have persuaded Woodgate to move to a new club. Players who are unhappy with their current clubs often leave for other reasons, such as a lower salary or better chances of winning trophies elsewhere. Despite the positives of astute signings, not all transfers are a good idea. The story of Jonathan Woodgate is one such example.
If you haven’t read the latest edition of the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, you’re missing a trick. If you want to know what Real Madrid’s most important priority is this summer, read on. We’ve outlined four areas where Real Madrid need to improve: the defence, the midfield, and the goalkeeping. But who should Real Madrid CF sign in the summer transfer window?
Rafael Leao
The Portuguese international is a target for Real Madrid in the summer transfer window. The 22-year-old has been a standout player for AC Milan this season, scoring 14 goals in 42 Serie A appearances and winning the Serie A title. While Real Madrid are not the only club interested in signing the striker, Manchester City and Inter Milan have also been linked with the Portuguese international. Real Madrid have denied a bid for Leao, but are monitoring the situation closely.
There are a number of players available for free this summer. Kylian Mbappe, for example, has signed a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain until the end of 2025, but the Frenchman has turned down Real Madrid’s advances. In addition to signing Leao, Real Madrid are also interested in Aurelien Tchouameni and Matthijs de Ligt. Meanwhile, Manchester United have added Denzel Dumfries to their wishlist. Ousmane Dembele is also a free agent, so Real Madrid should make the most of this opportunity.
With the summer transfer window fast approaching, there is plenty of buzz surrounding Rafael Leao. Several top clubs are interested in signing the talented young Brazilian. And if Real Madrid are to sign Leao, it would be the most advantageous deal. However, the price tag Milan attaches to Leao will determine if this move will be beneficial for the club or not. AC Milan will have two more years to negotiate with Leao, so they can ask for a large fee.
After the summer transfer window, Real Madrid can begin the search for a top striker. Some rumored names include Sadio Mane, Darwin Nunez, and Robert Lewandowski. Real Madrid are not desperate for a striker at the moment. Rodrygo and Vinicius are comfortable with their strike pairing. If Real Madrid are looking to buy a top forward, Leao could be the right move.
It is likely that Chelsea will also pursue Leao, who has been impressive for Milan. While he’s typically played on the left wing, Leao is equally capable of playing centrally. Leao could replace the injured Romelu Lukaku. Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic have struggled to live up to expectations, while Hakim Ziyech has been in and out of Chelsea’s lineup under Thomas Tuchel.
Raheem Sterling
Real Madrid are reportedly ramping up their pursuit of Manchester City midfielder Raheem Sterling. The Englishman has been linked with a move away from the Citizens, and has previously talked highly of a move to Real Madrid. But Sterling has been under contract with Manchester City until 2023 and could now find himself out of contract. If Real Madrid make a bid for him, they will be able to make a statement. And they are unlikely to miss out on a player like Sterling, who has been a key member of the Manchester City team over the last two campaigns.
The England international turned down a contract extension with Chelsea last year. But Chelsea are still desperate for his services. The defender has been linked with a number of top clubs and is now expected to sign a free transfer deal with Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Leao has had an excellent season with the Rossoneri, and Real Madrid are hoping to sign him.
Real Madrid should also be interested in Sterling’s services. In fact, Sterling has been linked with Real Madrid in recent months. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have been credited with an interest in him. Chelsea and Bayern Munich have also shown interest. The Englishman was born in Jamaica and attended the QPR academy, before signing for Liverpool as a teenager. Real Madrid should try and sign him before the season is over, but his decision may be delayed by England’s participation in the Nation League.
The British player has won several awards. The PFA named him Young Player of the Year and Footballer of the Year. In addition, UEFA has named him as a member of the UEFA EURO 2020 team. Sterling is a highly-regarded player in England, and his success in the Premier League has attracted a number of European clubs. Real Madrid should sign him during the summer transfer window if he wants to increase their squad.
Aurelien Tchouameni
With PSG’s late move, the race to sign Tchouameni has heated up. Real Madrid have not ruled out signing the French defender for around EUR100m, and it looks as though they may have beaten PSG to the prize. However, the Frenchman’s performance at Monaco will ultimately determine whether the price is excessive. With the summer transfer window fast approaching, it will be interesting to see how he fares with the squad.
The France international has attracted numerous Premier League sides, including Liverpool and Manchester United. However, Real Madrid have been in talks with Tchouameni since March, and have managed to seal a deal ahead of the competition. A young player with great potential, Tchouameni has been a regular in the French national team and was part of the starting lineup in last year’s Nations League final. He also played 50 times for Monaco, scoring five goals.
Real Madrid have announced that they have signed French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni on a six-year contract. The midfielder had been a long-term target for Real Madrid, and the club has now accelerated their efforts to secure him, particularly after Kylian Mbappe chose to stay at Paris Saint-Germain. He was part of Monaco’s third-placed Ligue 1 team last season and has already won 11 caps for his country.
After signing Antonio Rudiger, Real Madrid are expected to sign Aurelien Tchouameni. Although Mbappe had already signed a contract with PSG, they had been interested in Tchouameni for a long time, but ultimately decided not to sign him because they were unable to afford the Monaco transfer fee and signing bonus. But Real Madrid have beaten Liverpool in the race to sign Tchouameni.
Although he is not a like-for-like replacement for Casemiro or Toni Kroos, Tchouameni’s strengths and weaknesses make him a worthy addition for Real Madrid CF. He can be an effective centre-back, able to cover space, regain possession, and dictate the offensive flow of a match.
Heung-Min Son
If you’re looking for an attacking midfielder to bolster the Real Madrid attack, Son Heung-Min is a great choice. He has a good strike rate and is a reliable finisher in the Premier League. He’s also a good defender and would help to bolster Real’s midfield. Ajax could ask for EUR70 million for him.
It’s difficult to argue with Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to offer a new contract to Son, who was in the prime of his career. Last season, Son won the Golden Boot, scoring 23 Premier League goals without conceding a penalty. He was instrumental in the Spurs’ top-four finish. Son’s contract at Tottenham runs until June 2025, so the club is unlikely to let him leave without a fight.
Although the Tottenham Hotspur winger’s future is still uncertain, he is in the spotlight because of his outstanding Premier League form. The South Korean international won the Golden Boot in the Premier League and tied for the club’s record in goals with Mohamed Salah. Real Madrid are keen to bolster their attacking options after failing to sign Kylian Mbappe and Isco last summer.
Liverpool were also in the frame for a big move to sign Son. They finished fourth in the Premier League and might have been lured by Champions League football. However, Liverpool are desperate to sign a new attacker and Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are both undergoing serious injury problems. Son would be the ideal option to fill the void in Liverpool’s attacking trident.
