Patience is required with new signings and it’s crucial to understand that as Ineos continue to rebuild the Manchester United squad.
The 2024/25 season as a whole has been deeply disappointing for Manchester United, with the team sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table, set to miss out on Champions League football again.
Ineos decided to sack Erik ten Hag for poor results before appointing Ruben Amorim as United’s head coach in November.
The Portuguese coach did not enjoy a ‘new manager bounce’ but results have improved as United built momentum to launch a charge at the Europa League after reaching the quarter-finals.
Rather impressively, seven players have been since the summer, and they’ve all shown us why they were headhunted by Ineos chiefs.
Five players were signed in the summer and two more arrived in January, taking Ineos’ recruitment drive to seven players over the past year.
Ineos recruitment proves success at Manchester United
While these players have a lot to prove in a United shirt, we have seen enough signs to suggest that all of the recruits have impressed this season.
Inevitably, some deals won’t go to plan, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be happy to see the majority of buys have been successes, especially with the way the club was previously run with Ed Woodward or Richard Arnold acting as Glazer puppets.
Matthijs de Ligt is a crucial part of Amorim’s back three, holding the defence together during an injury crisis since Lisandro Martinez was ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Netherlands international is only 25 but he’s always been wise beyond his years as a centre-back. It bodes well that he has a long future at Old Trafford ahead of him.
De Ligt’s importance on the team can be seen by the number of appearances (39) he has made this season, scoring two goals in the league.
His former Bayern Munich team-mate Noussair Mazraoui has arguably been the pick of the bunch. The Morocco international cost less than £13 million but his versatility across defence has saved United at times.
Defensive duo Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro show that Ineos are building for the future but signing the best young centre-backs around. They look assured in the heart of defence like fellow recruit Patrick Dorgu at left wing-back.
In midfield, Manuel Ugarte has been a roaring success, giving the manager another defensive midfield option in the squad. United are less reliant on Casemiro, who could leave the club in the summer.
Joshua Zirkzee has been the slowest to adapt but the Netherlands international is finally showing by Ten Hag wanted him at Old Trafford, even though the Dutch manager was unable to get the best out of him.
Joshua Zirkzee importance growing at Manchester United
There was a time this season when Zirkzee would get jeered by United fans.
Now, the United faithful sign Zirkzee’s name with admiration at home and away games.
Zirkzee has found a starting role in Amorim’s side as one of the number 10s and his influence is growing on the time.
| Games | Goals | Assists |
| 44 | 6 | 2 |
Amorim will still urge the 23-year-old to score more goals, but there is no denying that he has been a much better player in recent weeks, making positive contributions in United’s 4-1 win over Real Sociedad.
Zirkzee has missed out on a place in the latest Netherlands squad, which means he has two weeks off to recharge his batteries before a busy end to the season.
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