Manchester United, the name is like a flag in the football world, full of glory and legend. But even the brightest of stars, occasionally a few meteors streak across the night sky, leaving a puzzling glow in their wake. The British ** "Daily Star" recently took stock of several confusing transfer operations, let's review together, Manchester United's "wonderful" operations in the transfer market over the years.
The first to bear the brunt was William Prunier, who was a former Bordeaux team-mate who was brought to Old Trafford by Alex Ferguson in the 1995/96 season due to a wave of injuries. The result? He made just two appearances for the Red Devils and was named the sixth-worst player in United history. Thinking about the original reinforcements, maybe even Lord Fu himself didn't expect this ending.
Next up is Gabriel Obertan, who desperately needed to fill the void after selling Cristiano Ronaldo that year. In the end, the young winger was chosen, hoping to find new hope. However, after 27 games, the report card of 1 goal and 4 assists clearly failed to meet the expectations of fans and clubs, and was eventually sold to Newcastle for 3.4 million euros.
There is also Odion Ighalo, who spent the 2020-21 season on loan from the Chinese Super League. Although he is expected to shine in the Premier League, the result of 12 games without scoring is obviously far from the loan fee of 12 million euros. Although contributing five goals in all competitions, it clearly failed to achieve the expected impact.
Let's not forget Valdés, the goalkeeper who left Barcelona and came to Manchester United in search of new opportunities. Unfortunately, becoming a substitute for David De Gea was not a good option and he left the pitch after a year, with just two Premier League appearances to his name.
Finally, the story of Dong Fangzhuo and Sadiq Filito is perhaps even more embarrassing. The former was one of the most puzzling signings of the Ferguson era, largely driven by market considerations, and was impressed despite its short tenure. The latter, the Libyan defender, was recommended by the Manchester United legend but left in obscurity after an 18-month contract.
Over the years, United's transfer operations have been marked by successes and confusing mistakes. But maybe that's one of the charms of football, isn't it? Every signing has a story behind it, and whatever the outcome, they're part of United's history. And for us fans, whether it is admiration or sighing, it is a reflection of the infinite emotion of this team we love so much.