Cristiano Ronaldo top sale
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Manchester United’s problems across the last decade have been endless but their transfer business has been abysmal. After dominating English football under Sir Alex Ferguson, United have failed to win the Premier League title since the Scotsman retired in 2013 and their plight has been well-documented. United’s reckless spending on players without a clear and logical strategy has been a significant factor in their downfall.
Time after time, United have overpaid for players and handed them eye-watering salaries, which has made it near impossible to get them off the books. Since Ferguson retired, only Chelsea (€2.87b) and Manchester City (€2.31b) have spent more than United (€2.14b) but the Old Trafford club has the highest net spend in the world at €1.54b. After a disastrous season, Ruben Amorim will be aiming to revamp his squad this summer but his transfer budget will be partly dependent on selling players. United’s record at selling players is dreadful and we’ve analysed how it compares to other European clubs.
Manchester United’s selling record analysed
Since INEOS acquired sporting control with a 27.7% stake in Man United in February 2024, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has repeatedly stressed the importance of improving their transfer strategy. While the focus naturally centres around new arrivals, United must also target developing players within the club and selling them for profit. As the graphic below illustrates, United rank just ninth for transfer income across the previous ten seasons from English clubs.
United have recouped €545m from sales but that’s significantly lower than their fiercest rivals, Man City (€922m) and Liverpool (€690m) – never mind Chelsea at €1.44b. United have struggled badly to shift unwanted players recently and often have to settle for subsidised loan deals or cut-price fees due to buying clubs being unable to afford wages. United rank 32nd in the world for transfer income across the previous ten seasons, miles behind other top European clubs. Cristiano Ronaldo’s €94m move to Real Madrid in 2009 remains United’s record sale and David Beckham’s move to Madrid in 2003 still ranks fourth. The Old Trafford club have only sold six players for fees in excess of €30m and it’s an area where United must improve considerably in their quest to return to former glories.
Can Manchester United raise funds through sales this summer
The importance of generating revenue through player trading has increased significantly in recent seasons due to the implementation of stricter financial regulations. Raising funds through sales, especially of academy graduates, allows more maneuverability in regards to PSR. United have been restricted by financial constraints in recent windows but they’ve already signed Matheus Cunha for €74m this summer and have bid around €70m for Bryan Mbeumo. But it’s understood that any other deals will be contingent on offloading unwanted stars like Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho, amongst others. United manager to get substantial fees for Scott McTominay and Mason Greenwood last summer but the upcoming months will provide guidance on whether the new regime can maximise the value of players.