Manchester United’s inactivity in the January 2022 was incredibly frustrating at the time and looks worse and worse as the year progresses.
In the moment, a refusal to sanction any spending killed off any momentum interim boss Ralf Rangnick was looking to build. It also showed a lack of ambition, when the team were in a top four race and had a Champions League last 16 clash to prepare for.
United’s season faded, predictably, and the Rangnick era will be remembered depressingly – but the real blame lies with the club, for refusing to back him.
Rangnick is on record recommending a few players to United, and the cheapest of which was Julian Alvarez. No deal was struck.
How much Julian Alvarez cost
At the end of the transfer window, a deal was struck between Manchester City and River Plate to sign Alvarez. They paid just £14.1 million.
This was a bargain for a striker who was already an Argentina international, and who was top scorer in the league. His record in his homeland was superior to Lautaro Martinez’s at Racing.
Players of his calibre don’t come on the market very often, especially for the price he was available for.
Even though Alvarez was allowed to finish the season on loan, joining in the summer, this was a deal which still should have been appealing to United, despite it not helping Rangnick in the short-term.
It would have lifted the fanbase and shown some direction, given cause for optimism, especially when approaching a year later, Manchester United are still hunting for a striker, having released highly-paid veterans Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Fabrizio Romano told Caught Offside in September: “The 2023 January transfer window will be an important one for the club’s project. But for it to be a success they need to learn from the mistakes of last year.
“The mistake was clear: Ralf Rangnick, who was at that time interim manager and preparing to become a consultant to work with the board and with Erik ten Hag, was furious with Man United because they didn’t want to sign any players last January.
“They had some opportunities, but they didn’t want to sign a striker, specifically. Julian Alvarez was of one of those players – he was offered to United and other clubs.
“He had a release clause, and was a player Rangnick had on his list at Lokomotiv Moscow. In the end, Man United decided not to proceed. And now Man City have this really good striker, for the present and the future.”
Alvarez stars in World Cup semi-final
Last night Alvarez scored twice in the World Cup semi-final for Argentina, his third and fourth goals at the tournament. Frustratingly, it looks like City have hit the jackpot.
There could be worse to come for United if Alvarez becomes the hero in the final. At just 22, the young striker has years ahead of him at City, where he could directly haunt the Red Devils in head to head meetings over the next decade.
United have made some misjudgements in recent transfer windows. Passing on Moises Caicedo a year earlier was one of these. Skipping on Cody Gakpo this past summer could be similarly expensive.
The club can’t sign everybody – but last January they chose to sign nobody. For just £14.1 million, the club’s striker issues could have been solved. It will likely cost a lot more than this to find the right player.
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