Man Utd could be about to sign another Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria and Paul Pogba
There are numerous reports suggesting that Manchester United is considering Neymar as a possible acquisition due to the uncertainty surrounding his future at Paris Saint-Germain.
If the Brazilian forward were to join the Premier League, it would undoubtedly be a significant and impactful signing.
Additionally, Neymar would join a list of high-profile players, including Angel Di Maria, Paul Pogba, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have previously joined Manchester United and are regarded as top-class players.
Neymar, who has faced recurring injuries in recent seasons, might depart from PSG during the upcoming summer transfer window. The 31-year-old forward is considered surplus to requirements at the club. Manchester United has emerged as a potential destination for Neymar, although the extent of their interest has been downplayed.
Erik ten Hag, the United manager, has not ruled out the possibility of signing Neymar, indicating that the door remains open for negotiations. Given PSG’s willingness to part ways with the player this summer, it is plausible that United may pursue the Brazilian international.
If the move does materialize, Neymar would become the latest high-profile signing for Manchester United. The club has frequently pursued marquee signings, following the Galactico approach since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
In the subsequent year following a challenging period under David Moyes, Manchester United made a significant acquisition by bringing in Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid.
The talented Argentine midfielder was secured for a substantial fee of approximately £60 million, and his early performances were promising, highlighted by a notable chip goal against Leicester.
However, Di Maria’s form declined following a traumatic incident of attempted burglary at his family residence. Additionally, disagreements with manager Louis van Gaal led to a fallout, ultimately resulting in Di Maria’s departure from Manchester United after just one year in the Premier League, as he moved on to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
During the same transfer window when Di Maria joined, Manchester United also secured the loan signing of Radamel Falcao, which was seen as a significant coup at the time.
The Colombian striker was widely regarded as one of the best forwards in global football, having impressed during his stints with Porto, Atletico Madrid, and Monaco.
However, at the time of Falcao’s signing, he had significantly declined as a player compared to his previous form. During his loan spell at Manchester United, the once highly regarded forward struggled and managed to score only four goals. Nowadays, Falcao is still actively playing and currently represents Rayo Vallecano.
In 2015, Manchester United once again pursued a high-profile signing, this time securing the services of Bastian Schweinsteiger. The German midfielder had achieved great success with Bayern Munich, winning major trophies and even clinching the World Cup with the German national team. However, Schweinsteiger was past his prime when he arrived at United, and after just 18 months, he was ruthlessly let go by manager Jose Mourinho.
It is worth noting that some of Jose Mourinho’s most successful teams in the past, such as Porto and Inter Milan, did not heavily rely on superstar presence, suggesting that a team’s success can be achieved without a singular standout player.
Despite the previous experiences, Jose Mourinho remained undeterred and in 2016, Manchester United broke the world record transfer fee by signing Paul Pogba for £89 million. Pogba initially impressed, contributing to United’s victories in the EFL Cup and Europa League during Mourinho’s first season in charge.
However, those accomplishments proved to be the pinnacle of Pogba’s success at the club, as he struggled to meet the lofty expectations placed upon him. Last summer, Pogba departed Manchester United and returned to Juventus.
In 2021, Manchester United pulled off a significant coup by bringing back their former player and the biggest Galactico of them all, Cristiano Ronaldo. After spending 12 years away from the club, Ronaldo’s return was particularly noteworthy as it prevented him from joining rival Manchester City in the process.
Although Cristiano Ronaldo had a respectable performance last season, scoring 24 goals in various competitions, his arrival at Manchester United was primarily intended to aid the club in winning trophies. However, despite his return, the team’s overall progress seemed to decline rather than improve.
Looking ahead to the present, it is understandable that Neymar would be an enticing prospect for Manchester United. The Brazilian forward possesses immense talent and, at his best, is considered one of the top players in the world.
However, considering the club’s experiences over the past decade, it might be prudent for Manchester United to reflect on and learn from the lessons of their previous pursuits of high-profile signings.
Man Utd could be about to sign another Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria and Paul Pogba
