As beginnings go, this was a very good start for Manchester United under Ineos.
The Premier League giants went into their first summer without the Glazers pulling the strings with two main ambitions.
One, make that so-called Manchester United ‘tax’ – where the Red Devils would frequently overpay for their top targets – a thing of the past. And, two, get better at selling players no longer in the club’s plans.
In both departments, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new, revamped set-up can pat themselves on the back and toast a job very well done.
This was the first summer in which the 13-time champions managed to bring in over £80 million via player sales, as ESPN point out, with Napoli newbie Scott McTominay among those leaving for considerable sums.
What’s more, Leny Yoro was the only one of their summer signings for which Man United met his club’s initial asking price. United succeeded in negotiating lower fees for Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte, while Joshua Zirkzee was a release clause capture.
Goodbye, Manchester United tax. Hello, a new era of sensible trading and greater bang for the Red Devils’ buck.
Manchester United walked away from Jarrad Branthwaite
United turned to Yoro and De Ligt after walking away from discussions over the man who began the summer as the club’s first-choice central defensive target.
Two bids were rejected by Everton – the last standing at around £50 million, per Sky Sports – with The Toffees refusing to budge on their £75 million valuation.
In the pre-Ineos days, United may have crumbled. A repeat of the Antony and Harry Maguire situations.
But there is a reason why some have dubbed Old Trafford’s new chief executive – Omar Berrada – as ‘the No man’.
Down the road at Manchester City, Berrada was often the one who would bring an end to their pursuit of players he felt had been overpriced by the selling club. The man who says ‘no’.
A prime example; He revealed to the Manchester Evening News back in 2020 that City pulled out and let their bitter rivals win the race for Maguire after being put off by his £80 million valuation.
“When you make investments of that type, when you get it wrong, it has a significant impact over many years,” Berrada said, explaining how United have ended up saddled with so many overpaid, underperforming players in recent times.
“So ,we needed to get it right at the right valuation at the right time. But, more importantly, for the right player.”
Omar Berrada said no when Everton demanded £75m
Something similar happened when Everton set out their stall regarding Branthwaite at the start of the summer.
ESPN adds that Berrada was insistent that United stand firm on how much they were willing to pay. They might have gone up to £60 million for Branthwaite – the maximum they felt he was worth – but there was never any chance that Everton would get the fee they wanted.
The Toffees felt, after Man City splashed out £77 million for Josko Gvardiol on Berrada’s watch, United should have to pay the same for another highly-talented young centre-back.
But Berrada reportedly decided that – while Gvardiol had already proven his talents at the highest level in both the Champions League and at the 2022 World Cup – Branthwaite had not yet reached the stage in his own career where a £75 million transfer fee could be jusitifed.
Erik ten Hag’s side would eventually get both De Ligt and Yoro for a combined £90 million. Whether either player develops into a finer centre-half than Branthwaite is set to become remains to be seen.
But with Berrada bringing his formidable financial sense to Old Trafford, Manchester United appear to have finally learned the value in, well, value.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
