Benjamin Sesko is already battling more than his form and fitness at Manchester United

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Manchester United’s most expensive summer signing is trying to integrate into the team, and there is a lot he just cannot control.

After a six-year pursuit, Manchester United won the race to sign Benjamin Sesko at a fee of an initial £66 million.

Arriving days before the season began, Sesko is yet to start a Premier League game. He is still working on his fitness after missing part of pre-season at RB Leipzig as the fight for his future raged on.

In addition to this, Sesko is still acclimatising on and off the pitch. He has to learn Ruben Amorim’s system, the traits of his teammates, and how to maximise his strengths.

It is a lot for Sesko to adapt to in any situation, let alone at one of the most highly-pressurised clubs in world football.

And there is more too. Sesko is fighting against a concept. An argument that he should have never been signed in the first place.

Manchester United needed a midfielder too

Manchester United’s transfer window was a good one, that had one glaring deficiency. The team needed to sign a midfielder.

This oversight meant United are left with only Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo competing for four positions, and there is no obvious best partnership.

And with Manchester United already spending a combined £120 million on forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, there are already whispers that the £66 million put towards Benjamin Sesko could have been better invested elsewhere.

Pundit Robbie Earle accused Ruben Amorim of building his team ‘in reverse’ by signing strikers instead of fixing the midfield.

Former striker Louis Saha believes Sesko does not have a fair chance of success at United because the midfield has not been fixed, speaking to The Athletic.

One fan even wrote on X: “If we’d signed a midfielder instead of Sesko our starting XI would genuinely be up there with the best in the league, and that’s not even an exaggeration.”

But it is important to note that there should be no criticism of Benjamin Sesko in all of this.

If Manchester United had signed a midfielder, there would be plenty of observers criticising United for not managing to sign a centre-forward.

Sesko has a lot to deal with at Manchester United as he adjusts. And it is unfair that he has all of this additional pressure and focus, where he simply can’t win.

The Slovenian could do his job and score two goals in a game, but if United concede twice and draw 2-2, the lack of a midfielder will be pointed to.

And if he fails to score regularly, then the frustration and finger-pointing at the wrong transfer strategy will only grow louder.

But it isn’t fair to blame Sesko for United’s lack of midfield options.

Benjamin Sesko is a long-term investment

The best tip for Benjamin Sesko is to shut out all of the noise and focus only on what he can control, putting the ball in the back of the net.

Manchester United will address the midfield position in the future. Casemiro’s contract expires next summer, while clubs in the Saudi Pro League are expected to return for Bruno Fernandes.

And if United’s midfield is as bad as the media make out, midfield will be the top priority next summer, and perhaps even in January.

It is not always possible to do everything in one transfer window, and the striker position simply had to be addressed.

Sesko was a long-term target of United, who the club believe will pay off in years to come.

The sooner he gets on the scoresheet, the quicker his value to the squad will become apparent.