Manchester United are paying the price financially for Ruben Amorim’s decisions in 2025.
There is no doubt that Manchester United’s transfer business in summer 2025 was very good. Senne Lammens, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha all joined, and all were successes.
United focused on rejuvenating the attacking positions, and belatedly, goalkeeper.
Midfield was not a priority for United, and the cost of this is coming into focus now.
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Ruben Amorim got it wrong
Manchester United chose not to focus on signing a midfielder last summer. Ruben Amorim was part of the big reason why.
The former Manchester United head coach decided that his answer in midfield was to re-categorise Bruno Fernandes as a central midfielder.
This gave Amorim the extra midfielder he required, pushing Kobbie Mainoo further down the depth chart in the process.
What it meant was that United were not in the market for a midfielder last summer, allowing deals to pass them by.
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Mateus Fernandes miss
One of the most notable was Mateus Fernandes.
Mateus Fernandes was known to Ruben Amorim from his time at Sporting.
But Manchester United did not get involved as West Ham spent £40 million to sign him from Southampton.
Now 12 months on, United are battling to sign Mateus Fernandes, with West Ham demanding £80 million.
It was a costly oversight for United at the time not to sign a midfielder, and one that is literally becoming more costly in 2026.
If Ruben Amorim had not re-assigned Bruno Fernandes to play as a central midfielder, then Manchester United’s need in midfield would have been more glaring.
He would have been able to argue that the trio of Casemiro, Mainoo and Ugarte was not enough in terms of depth, and a fourth player was required.
Amorim filled the fourth player spot with Bruno Fernandes. It didn’t work.
Now with Casemiro departed, United are trying to find a replacement or two. Wouldn’t it have been better if the player was here already?
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