Inside Manchester United’s Game-Changing Transfer Move That No One Saw Coming

And perhaps the most damning of all signings was Jadon Sancho: £73m to sign him, five years of inconsistency coupled with a few loan spells away from the club, hundreds of thousands of pounds per week in wages, and then released on a free at the end of it all.

So, how have INEOS turned things around in the past couple of years since taking over? And why does it feel like an image rebrand as well as a footballing one?

United never lacked a posterboy: they just lacked everything else

In years gone by, it’s always seemed like Manchester United’s success was defined by an enigmatic posterboy of a leader – a star individual or two backed up by the ones willing to do the dirty work. Cantona, Beckham, Ronaldo, Rooney. They won more titles than we care to recall for United. But that success doesn’t happen without Neville, O’Shea, Carrick, Park. That was then though, and this is now.

Bruno Fernandes has been one of the best players in the Premier League for years. But without the squad around him, that isn’t reflected in United’s team success. Statistically, Bruno’s output since arriving in 2020 is staggering. Nobody has created more chances in Europe’s top five leagues. But relying on one man to be the primary creator, presser, and emotional anchor created an unhealthy dependency. When Bruno had an off day, Manchester United had an off day.

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