Rooney Names the Three Heavy Signings That Backfired on Manchester United
12 November 2025
Background: The Era of Big Names
Wayne Rooney, Manchester United legend, says the club is still recovering from costly signings made before Sir Jim Ratcliffe's involvement. Names like Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Paul Pogba were big bets that harmed the team's balance rather than its cohesion.
In a Sky podcast, Rooney described those pre-summer acquisitions as star-driven moves funded by hefty price tags, rather than a plan to build a balanced, lasting squad.
He notes that while the players were talented, the strategy prioritized glamour over an integrated unit, leaving the club with big names and limited cohesion.
Rooney adds that time will be needed to recover from those decisions.
A Turning Point: Ratcliffe, Amorim, and a New Path
Rooney sees clear signs of progress under manager Ruben Amorim, and he highlights that the club has faced long periods of pressure over the last decade.
After some positive results, confidence is returning to the squad, and even the manager seems to benefit from a more cohesive setup.
Two years ago, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS acquired a 25% stake in the club, signaling a shift from purely marketing-driven decisions toward a professional, sustainable sporting model.
Before Ratcliffe, football operations were largely overseen by Ed Woodward; commercial achievements flourished, but on-pitch performance lagged behind, with frequent managerial changes and ill-suited signings.
Ratcliffe’s approach focuses on analytics, talent discovery, and performance management to place United on a path back to genuine European competitiveness, aiming for long-term stability.
Early signs of improvement include deeper squads and sharper tactics as Amorim’s plan took hold, with new players contributing to goals and balance.
Amorim’s leadership has steadied the dressing room, creating a sense of a real project rather than a reaction to trouble, and fans are starting to buy into the vision.
Today United sit higher in the table, with renewed morale and a focus on a top-four finish to return to the Champions League and reclaim their historical status.
Punchline 1: If this rebuild were a sniper shot, it would miss the bullseye, yet the club keeps claiming it was right on target.
Punchline 2: And if patience were a weapon, United would be the deadliest marksman in the league—on loan to next season's trophy.
