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The 20-time English champions are one of the most followed football clubs in the world. Sir Alex Ferguson has built a legacy at the Old Trafford and it is going to last for many years to come.
Manchester United faithful have witnessed some legendary players grace the Old Trafford pitch. It is really difficult for any player to say 'No', when United comes calling.
The Red Devils have made some stunning signings over the years, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Romelu Lukaku, David de Gea, Edwin van der Sar, Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Matic, and many more joining the club.
Despite all their success in the transfer market, they have had their fair share of failures, especially after the departure of Ferguson. They have made some costly errors in the transfer window in the last few years.
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Without much ado, let's take a look at the five famously failed Manchester United transfers.
#5 Memphis Depay
Manchester United signed the Netherlands international for a fee of around £25 million in 2015 after a stunning season in the Eredivisie for PSV Eindhoven.
Depay found the back of the net on 25 occasions in 36 appearances for the Dutch club and Manchester United wasted no time in buying one of the most exciting young players.
However, his Old Trafford stint turned out to be a disaster. He has started only 16 Premier League games during his 18 months stay at Old Trafford and scored just 2 goals. A technically gifted attacking player, Depay struggled for consistency in England.
Though he had his moments, he could find his goal-scoring touch. Many felt he was not given enough time to flourish in one of the toughest leagues in the world. He was sold to Lyon in January 2015 for a fee of around £21.7 million.
#4 Bastian Schweinsteiger
Manchester United signed the World Cup and Champions League winner for a fee of around £14.4 million in 2015. He was one of the most successful players in Europen football and expected to bring solidity to Manchester United midfield.
However, things did not go according to plan for the Bayern Munich star. It was also a mistake from Louis van Gaal to sign a player who has clearly passed his prime.
The German international struggled for fitness and form during his stay at the Old Trafford and was sold just 12 months after his arrival.
He made only 13 Premier League starts for United and scored a solitary goal. He was only a shadow of the player who played a huge role in the success of Bayern Munich and German national team.
#3 Henrikh Mkhitaryan
This was Jose Mourinho's first biggest mistake in the transfer market as a Manchester United manager, not because he signed the Armenian, but because of the way he used him.
Mkhitaryan joined Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund during the summer of 2016 for a fee of around £30 million. Mkhitaryan was phenomenal for the German club with 13 goals and 20 assists in his previous Bundesliga season.
He was expected to do the role of a No.10 and bring creativity to United's attack. However, he struggled to adapt to the vigor of Premier League football and Mourinho's style of football did not suit him either as he was often forced to come deep.
He made only 26 Premier League starts in his 18 months stay at the club and was eventually sold to Arsenal in January 2018.
#2 Morgan Schneiderlin
Manchester United bought Morgan Schneiderlin during the summer of 2015 to add steel to the Red Devils' midfield.
A typical box to box midfielder, Schneiderlin was expected to bring energy and dynamism to Manchester United's midfield. He started really well but faded away as the season progressed.
Though he has made 35 appearances in his debut season at the Old Trafford, he was completely deprived of first-team football in his second season.
He was frozen out of the first-team action after the arrival of Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba. He failed to make a single Premier League start under Mourinho until December and was eventually sold to Everton in January.
#1 Angel di Maria
Manchester United paid a British record £59.7 million for the Real Madrid winger in 2014. Di Maria was exceptional for Real Madrid and played a stellar role for the Galacticos in their UEFA Champions League win in 2014.
He was Louis van Gaal's statement signing and was expected to bring pace and flair to United's attack. However, he could not play his best football at Old Trafford and was sold just 12 months after his arrival.
Louis van Gaal moved him around the pitch quite often and never allowed the Argentine to settle. Also, the physical demands of the premier league did not suit his game either. He made only 20 starts for United in the Premier League and was sold at a loss to Paris Saint-Germain in 2015.
