Ronaldo ‘happy to be back home’ at Man Utd
Manchester United have done some shrewd business this summer with three marquee signings to help their title chances, but the sale of Dan James to Leeds also broke an unwanted trend at Old Trafford.The Red Devils are one of the richest football clubs in the world and have consistently flexed their muscle in the transfer window.
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From £25 View Deal Sign up now Brought to you by More than £125million was spent on Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo for the new season.
It’s the second most expensive transfer window for United since the summer of 2017 despite the likes of Ed Woodward claiming the coronavirus pandemic had restricted funds at the club.
But the Glazers have regularly backed their managers in the transfer market and there is seemingly no consideration on whether they could make money back from most of their signings.
Ronaldo is the most high-profile – and most profitable – signing in United’s history.
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Dan Jame joins an exclusive club at Manchester United (Image: PA) After signing for £17.1m in 2003, the Portuguese superstar was then sold to Real Madrid for £84.6m in 2009.
The £67.5m profit United made was the biggest in their history by some margin, but they clearly haven’t looked to follow that same route in recent years.
James’ departure to Leeds was just the fifth player United made a profit on in the transfer market since they sold Ronaldo 12 years ago.
James was tipped for a bright future when United stumped up £16m to sign him from Swansea two years ago, but Leeds were desperate to get their man this summer in paying £25m.
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Man Utd fans make Fernandes plea as Ronaldo misses penalty Few United fans will remember Alexander Buttner, bought for £3.9m in 2012 as cover at left-back.
He sold two years later for a small profit, joining Dynamo Moscow in a deal worth £5.6m.
There was also fan-favourite Javier Hernandez, bought for just £6.5m back in 2010.
Despite his minutes and influence at United dropping in his final years at the club, Hernandez was sold for roughly £9m by Louis van Gaal in 2015.
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Alexander Buttner was sold for a small profit (Image: PA) READ MORE
Ronaldo may have found perfect Man Utd partner despite Stoke defeat Daley Blind was another surprise deal which saw United make a decent profit on the £13.8m used to sign him with Ajax paying £18.1m to bring him back in 2018.
And then there’s Chris Smalling, signed for £7m back in 2010 where he went on to become a regular at Old Trafford, making over 200 appearances and winning two Premier League titles.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer didn’t regard the English defender as part of his plans though, particularly with Roma willing to spend £18.1m to sign him permanently in 2020.
Targeting players who have a strong sell-on value hasn’t been in United’s transfer DNA for quite some time now with the club focused on signings who can help win them silverware now.
And as one of the richest clubs in the world, United appear willing to throw caution to the wind in order to take them back to the top of English football.
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