Antony’s transfer was finalized on 1 September 2022, the final day of the transfer window. It was another example of a recurring trend.
While many United supporters wanted the club to finish its summer recruitment early, that outcome was always improbable.
In each of the last six seasons, at least one established first-team player has moved to Old Trafford shortly before the transfer window shut.
A year ago, United did not settle on Senne Lammens as their future first-choice goalkeeper until deadline day, choosing him over Emi Martinez, whom Amorim wanted to recruit from Aston Villa.
In 2024, the club spent £50.8m to bring Manuel Ugarte in from PSG on deadline day. One year earlier, experienced duo Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat arrived on loan.
United paid £81.3m for Antony, who now plays for Real Betis. That remains the second-highest transfer fee in the club’s history, surpassed only by the amount spent on Paul Pogba.
The previous year produced arguably the most significant of these moves. Cristiano Ronaldo’s return in 2021 was intended to be the deadline-day signing that restored the club to the top of the standings, but the plan ended in dramatic failure.
Edinson Cavani also arrived on deadline day in 2020, when the window was extended into October because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The results delivered by those late arrivals may indicate that deadline day is not the ideal moment to recruit players. However, rather than being frustrated by another delayed deal, Manchester United supporters perhaps should have anticipated this outcome as the transfer window entered its final week.
What do you feel about this post?
Like
Love
Happy
Haha
Sad
