Dwight Yorke says Manchester United must do this to sign 'top players' like Rodrygo
Manchester United need to get back into the Champions League in order to sign "top players" like Real Madrid's Rodrygo, according to Dwight Yorke.
The Red Devils are preparing for the Europa League final on Wednesday against fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, with the winner earning a spot in the league phase of the 2025-26 Champions League.
It's a potential lifeline for both finalists, who are 16th and 17th in the standings, respectively, with just one match left to play.
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Winning a major European trophy and getting into the Champions League could be just what United need to attract Rodrygo to the club, as Yorke explained that the ability to play top-level football is a big consideration for players when making a move.
"When it comes to attracting a player like Rodrygo, Manchester United have a problem," Yorke told SambaSlots. "Despite the size of the club, they have to be in the Champions League.
"Everyone knows the name but players want to play at the highest level. The club is not in a good place and unless they turn it around it’s hard to sign top players."
Yorke, who won a treble with the Red Devils in the late '90s, is dumbfounded by the current state of his former club. The retired striker believes United have lost the aura that made them virtually unbeatable at the turn of the century.
"Looking at the Premier League table, it’s really bad for Manchester United," he said. "It’s all fine saying you’ll come back stronger, but you’ll always wonder how it got to that position, as a manager even without your own players, you have to find ways to beat the teams that are in the bottom half of the table.
"Teams used to go to Old Trafford believing they had a 1% chance of winning, now they are coming with a 60% chance and expecting to win. That sums up how bad things are at the moment. It’s ridiculous."
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