Manchester United have had mixed success in the transfer market in recent years – but how did they fare in the years just before the Glazer takeover?
The Glazer family have been heavily criticised by United supporters ever since immediately saddling the club with £540million worth of debt in 2005.
We’ve looked at the last 11 signings United made before the takeover was completed to see how they fared at the club.
Wayne Rooney
There was a lot of pressure on Rooney’s shoulders when he joined United from Everton in 2004, but the striker certainly managed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford.
He became the club’s all-time top goalscorer with 253 goals and has an honours list that includes five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Champions League, three League Cups and the Europa League.
Yeah, he was probably worth the money.
⏲️◀️ Teenager Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick on his Manchester United debut #OnThisDay in 2004 ⚽️⚽️⚽️#UCL #FlashbackFriday @ManUtd @WayneRooney pic.twitter.com/7dnib93eZk
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 28, 2018
Gabriel Heinze
Heinze joined United from PSG in 2004 and enjoyed an impressive debut campaign, winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award.
But after falling behind Patrice Evra in the pecking order, he tried to join Liverpool and was eventually sold to Real Madrid in 2007.
He also managed to get on the wrong side of Roy Keane during his time at the club and was knocked unconscious by the former United captain.
“We lost a game and I went in the dressing room first and Roy Keane was second. I liked to go first after the game; I didn’t want to speak to anyone as we lost,” Heinze told Pura Quimica in 2017.
“I didn’t understand English, just the bad words. I heard my name and ‘f*ck off’ by Roy Keane, the best player.
“I knew that was bad so I stood up to him, this idol of Manchester, this great guy who everyone loved, and replied, ‘F**k off, you.’ I don’t remember what happened next.”
Alan Smith
Smith came up through the academy at Leeds United and controversially crossed the Pennines to join Manchester United in 2004.
He had his moments, but the England international struggled with injuries at Old Trafford and would suffer a horrific broken leg in an FA Cup clash against Liverpool in 2006.
His United career never quite got back on track after that, and he ended up at Newcastle United in 2007.
Gerard Pique
Pique moved to United…
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