Aheed Abrar
Manchester United paid massive sums for Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Antony because of their desire to play for the club
Manchester United paid over the top sums for Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Antony this summer because the Red Devils were impressed by the trio’s desire to play for the club, according to ESPN (h/t Mirror).
The three players desperately wanted to move to Manchester during the transfer window. Martinez was the first one among them to come through the Old Trafford doors. The Argentine arrived from Ajax for £55 million and reunited with Erik ten Hag.
United were also after Frenkie de Jong all summer. However, the recruitment staff are aware that they wasted a lot of time pursuing a player who had no intention of leaving Barcelona. The Red Devils shifted focus to other targets before the end of the transfer deadline.
In the end, United got a midfielder in the form of Casemiro. And the Manchester-based club were successful in prying away the Brazilian from Real Madrid for £70 million.
Antony was another one who desperately wanted a move to United. And the Red Devils, in the end, agreed to an £85 million fee with the Eredivisie champions. The 22-year-old went on strike at Ajax to force a transfer to Manchester.
In the previous campaign, United went through two managers. First, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had to part ways with the club after the team let him down. And under interim boss Ralf Rangnick, the team still looked weak-willed.
To change the atmosphere around the dressing room, Ten Hag wanted to add players with ‘character and personality’ to the squad.
Other signings United made during the transfer window include the likes of Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia and Martin Dubravka. And the fresh faces have evidently had an impact on the team.
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After losing the first few games of the 2022/23 campaign, Ten Hag involved the new signings more. And since then, we have gone on a four-game win streak in the Premier League. Hopefully, we can continue keeping up our fine form throughout the season.
