Since Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement as the manager of Manchester United in May 2013, the club have had three managerial changes and have also spent over a figure of £400million on players. However, it has not been enough to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford.
With the recent news of Bastian Schweinsteiger joining MLS club Chicago Fire, he now becomes the fifth of Louis Van Gaal’s signing to be sold by Jose Mourinho in the space of nine months. Most of the signings have arguably been questionable whilst the rest have been an instant impact for the Red Devils.
Here are the 18 first-team players that have signed for the club since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, the list does not included the individuals that were brought in on a loan spell or were assigned for the youth academy.
It’s time to have a look through the ratings, and also remember that the players have been rated on their contribution towards the team as well as how long they have been at the club for.
David Moyes’ signings
Marouane Fellaini – 7 out of 10
At the time he arrived at Old Trafford, Marouane Fellaini was not a popular signing and was regarded as an individual that does not fit into the club’s style of play. The Belgian international might be seen as a frustrating player to watch but he has now become an important squad member.
Juan Mata – 9 out of 10
The transfer of Juan Mata from Chelsea to Manchester United was mentioned by the media as a panic buy, however, he has come up with the goods when the side needed him the most whether it’s through an assist or a goal. It seemed like he was going to be sold once Mourinho was announced as the club’s manager, but it’s been quite the opposite and he has been one of the few players to do well this campaign.
Louis Van Gaal’s signings
Luke Shaw – 6 out of 10
It took a few months for Luke Shaw to settle in during his first season at the club, before he finally got into his stride. However, he suffered an unfortunate leg break injury in September 2015 and is yet to fully recover from it. He has played in a few games here are there in recent months but Mourinho is reportedly losing patience with the left-back and could offload him during the summer transfer window.
Ander Herrera – 8 out of 10
Despite not being a regular starter under Van Gaal, Ander Herrera is now a key player in the starting line-up and is providing the perfect balance for the team in the middle of the pitch. The Spaniard has been a fantastic acquisition and has also become a much-loved character within the Red Devils’ fan-base.
Marcos Rojo – 6 out of 10
Being a miss and hit with his performances, sometimes you just don’t know which Marcos Rojo turns up and is ready to get going with the fixture. Forming an impressive partnership with Phil Jones at the heart of defence, the unlikely duo has certainly been one of the side’s main positives this season. Making improvements and progress defensively, Rojo looks to be returning as a perfect and positive-minded player he once was.
Victor Valdes – 2 out of 10
Playing second fiddle to David De Gea for the number one spot in goal, there was not much going well for Victor Valdes on and off the field as he had a falling out with Louis Van Gaal. Following the argument, the Spaniard was punished by being forced to spend his time training with the reserves instead of the first-team, and was only chosen in the starting XI when De Gea picked up a minor injury in the late stages of the 2014-15 campaign. After a short loan spell at Standard Liege, he decided to sign for Middlesbrough as a free agent last summer.
Angel Di Maria – 4 out of 10
Although he had an outstanding start to life in Manchester, Angel Di Maria was facing constant injury problems as well as a dispute with manager Louis Van Gaal. His contribution of three goals and ten assists did play a factor towards the side finishing in the top four, however, he still decided to move away from Old Trafford a year after he joined the club.
Daley Blind – 7 out of 10
With his main strength being his versatility, Daley Blind has been a superb signing for the Red Devils as he played wonderfully at centre-back for the whole of last season. Given that most of his performances are more or less brilliant, the Dutchman does his job effectively when he is utilised by the manager.
Memphis Depay – 3 out of 10
Following a few impressive games early in the campaign, Memphis Depay looked like he was going to continue his fine form from his days at PSV Eindhoven. On the other hand, it was easier said than done as he struggled to perform consistently and adapt to the intensity of the Premier League, and then was dropped to the Manchester United bench for the rest of the period. Also, he couldn’t revive his career under Mourinho and was sold to Lyon two months ago.
Matteo Darmian – 5 out of 10
Regarded as one of the best wing-backs in Serie A, the signing of Matteo Darmian was quite hyped up as he had a good run of games for Italy during the 2014 World Cup. However, he massively lost his confidence and touch as an individual, from failing to mark an attacker within his half to being a pessimistic player whilst in possession on the other side of the pitch.
Morgan Schneiderlin – 4 out of 10
He was not given a regular opportunity to prove himself to the fans and most importantly to the manager, but Morgan Schneiderlin was not good enough to be play as a lone defensive-midfielder within the United starting line-up. Signing from Southampton for a fee of £25million, he looked nowhere near the player he once was for his previous club. Completing just over 30 league appearances for the side, the Frenchman went on to signing for Everton during the January transfer window.
Bastian Schweinsteiger – 5 out of 10
His best displays were in the early games of the campaign where he use to dictate the play and control the tempo, but it’s no secret that Bastian Schweinsteiger is past his best as the niggling injuries started to return from his time at Bayern Munich. Although he was a popular figure and a leader within the dressing room, both Van Gaal and Mourinho preferred to use the younger and vibrant players ahead of the German international.
Sergio Romero – 7 out of 10
When needed in the cup competitions, Sergio Romero has come up with reliable performances and has kept eight clean sheets in his last 11 appearances in all competitions. On top of that, he came to Old Trafford on a free transfer and has been doing his job quietly since then.
Anthony Martial – 8 out of 10
In his first season at Old Trafford, Anthony Martial made an instant impact to life in Manchester whilst the media were criticising the club for spending £50million on an unknown player who is only 19-year-old. The Frenchman has had some troubles here and there this season under Mourinho, but he looks ready to get going once again after the international break is over and could become a vital player for the Red Devils for many years to come.
Jose Mourinho’s signings
Eric Bailly – 8 out of 10
Although he was signed as a player for the future, Eric Bailly received a first-team chance straightaway and never looked back since then. Following the knee injury he had suffered in October as well as going away on international duty for Ivory Coast, Bailly’s development was hindered which led to the partnership of Rojo and Jones at centre-back. After coming back, he has continued the fantastic performances that he is showing and he could actually spend the rest of his career at Manchester United.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 9 out of 10
He can be a frustrating player when it comes to missing clear-cut chances in front of goal, however, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has exceeded all expectations this season and has produced a lot of memorable moments throughout the campaign. As well as signing on a free transfer, the Swede has proved to be a short-term fit for the club as he bagged the vital goal(s) in the Community Shield and in the EFL Cup final.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 8 out of 10
Despite having to wait for quite some time before he was given a chance to play as a regular starter, Henrikh Mkhitaryan has turned his fortunes around at Old Trafford and is proving to be the side’s key player in away games this campaign. If he did not have that tough period at the start of the season, he would have arguably gone down as one of the Premier League signings of the season.
Paul Pogba – 8 out of 10
Becoming the most expensive player in the world last summer, Paul Pogba will always be talked about whether he has a good game or not. Starting to show that he is a vital individual towards the side’s build-up play and in every chance created, Pogba has become a dominant force on the pitch and looks to be at his best when Mourinho plays him in an advance role within the 4-3-3 system. If he decides to stay at Manchester United in the long run, there’s no doubt that he’ll have a successful and exciting second spell at the club.
