Manchester United have enjoyed a pretty successful summer to date, but Rene Meulensteen is yet to be impressed.
So far this summer, four major arrivals have joined the ranks at Old Trafford, ticking off every weakness – bar one – that the squad had at the back end of last season.
Manchester United have brought in two central defenders, along with a striker and a full-back. Only a midfielder is missing from making this a perfect summer for the Red Devils.
Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui were both confirmed on Tuesday, but their arrivals have been controversial, to say the least.
Paul Scholes most notably has questioned the signing of De Ligt this summer, although, in much of his criticisms, he was wrong. But now former Sir Alex Ferguson assistant Rene Meulensteen has also shared doubts.
Meulensteen questions why Manchester United are signing so many Ajax players
Ever since Erik ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford, there has been a recurring trend which has seen his former players following him to Manchester.
It is now five former Ajax players that Ten Hag has signed at United. Lisandro Martinez, Antony, Andre Onana and now Mazraoui and De Ligt as well.
Now, Meulensteen has slammed this recruitment as being ‘extremely weird’ by United, during an interview with ESPN in the Netherlands.
“Ten Hag saying that all the Ajax signings is not just his idea only? If this is true, then that makes it even more extremely weird.
“The only reason this happens is because of him, because he worked with these players and he wants a certain game plan at Manchester United which he still hasn’t been able to execute.”
Continuing, Meulensteen then went on to raise questions over the acquisition of the latest two United recruits from Bayern Munich this summer.
“De Ligt & Mazraoui? Two boys who raise question marks for me. I have always been a Matthijs de Ligt fan but at Bayern Munich & Juventus, he wasn’t the undisputed number 1.
“Mazraoi did well in the Dutch Eredivisie, at Bayern Munich not much. They now arrive in a league they never played in and the Premier League is nothing like any other league.”
De Ligt and Mazraoui must start this season well
While many are expecting both De Ligt and Mazraoui to be brilliant for United, they simply must prove themselves straight away at Old Trafford.
Given the reaction of pundits and former players to the signings, it would not be surprising to see them get turned on quickly should things not go right – similar to how Onana was last season.
On the other hand, if both play and impress against Fulham, they probably silence any doubters – at least for the time being.
One thing worth remembering is that they are both huge upgrades on who they are effectively replacing. De Ligt over Victor Lindelof and then Mazraoui – on the ball – over Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
