MU hero points out 'obvious' error as club accused of major transfer failure

Manchester United have been accused of wasting hundreds of millions of pounds on sub-standard players and vanity signings that have plunged the fallen giants into their biggest crisis for half a century. United ended last season in 15th place, their worst-ever Premier League finish, and missed out on European football for only the second time in 35 years after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham.

The Red Devils have spent more than £1.5billion on players in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, yet have failed to compete for the Premier League title in that time and lost their way as a major force in world football.

Money has been wasted on flops like Angel Di Maria, Alexis Sanchez, Morgan Schneiderlin, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukau, Fred, Donny van de Beek, Jadon Sancho and Antony, none of whom delivered on their exorbitant fees or wages.

United legend Teddy Sheringham, part of the historic Treble-winning side of 1999, accused his former club of losing the values that made the club great – particularly when it comes to the recruitment of players.

“I think United have been valuing the wrong things in players for a long time now,” said Sheringham. “Sir Alex Ferguson, he always identified those deeper qualities in players. Whenever a player with a big upside was available, United and Fergie were in for them.

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“I think of the likes of Gary Pallister, Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and more. They were great players before United and they wanted to sign for United because they knew what the manager could do to make them into top, top players.

“That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. More and more players recognise that their careers will do better if they go somewhere else.

“If you get great players at an early age, and move them up to the very top of their game, it sets an example that other players want to follow. There’s not enough leaders at Manchester United at the moment. And that’s exactly where they’re failing.”

Sheringham cited Scott McTominay to support his claim, the title-winning Napoli midfielder having just been crowned Serie A player of the season just a year after United sold him to the Italian club.

“I thought these qualities were obvious for United and for Scotland. Every time he pulled on the Scotland shirt, you could tell he was a leader - and United fans loved him. He has that British mentality where he knows and understands what it means to play for United, to represent his country and all that.

“The issue with what United did, for me, is that you’ve got to read the signs. They should have rated his leadership qualities, and all the things he brought to the table.

“Okay, I understand that to go and be the player of the year in Italy last season is phenomenal. But the signs were there that he was capable of that. It’s exactly what United have been missing at the moment. He leads by example, and that’s how football clubs get better and stronger.”