Benjamin Sesko has turned down Newcastle to join Manchester Unitedplaceholder image
Benjamin Sesko has turned down Newcastle to join Manchester United | Getty Images
Man Utd have still got an enormous draw in the transfer window and are set to win another battle.
Manchester United had just lost at home to Wolves in the Premier League, but Ruben Amorim remained positive. With his side on track for their worst season since they were relegated in 1974 and questions over his suitability for the head coach role, Amorim was confident they would be able to put things right this summer.
"It's Manchester United," he said. "Every player wants to play for Manchester United. If you look at our club in the moment, with all the problems, including changing coach, it looks a little bit of a problem. But we have a clear idea and that's the easiest part to explain for a player."
Matheus Cunha was one of the stars from the Wolves victory at Old Trafford. He didn't need much convincing from Amorim to make the summer switch. Before kick-off, he had been spotted rubbing the sacred turf onto his shin pads for good luck. A couple of months later, he was unveiled as their first signing of the window.
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It was impressive United managed to sign the 26-year-old after such a stellar season with Wolves, but his signature alone was not going to be enough to send a strong statement of intent. The deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo and the proposed transfer of Benjamin Sesko certainly will.
Mbeumo had offers from Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle this summer, but chose to turn down those Champions League clubs in favour of United. They might have been able to grant him the immediate chance to grace the best competition in club football, but he felt there was much more reward on offer if he was to help United return to the top of their perch.
United sources insist Mbeumo made it clear he only ever wanted to join them this summer, and shortly after he arrived, he echoed Cunha when he spoke of his childhood love for the club. Even after their worst season in the club's modern history, United remain the biggest in England. It might not always be that way if they don't fight back against the recent success of Liverpool and Man City, but for now, it is still the case.
As if it needed further confirmation, they will soon have it when Sesko poses at Old Trafford in a United shirt. His choice was a lot more binary this summer. Manchester, or Newcastle. There is only one United in his eyes.
It is not only a testament to the magnitude of United and the global stage they command, but a credit to Amorim and the clear vision he has for the future. He endured a disastrous debut campaign but has come out the other end of it full of self-belief and as confident as he ever was that he is the right man to lead this club going forward.
Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko are not all joining United simply because they want to be part of their next great side; they are all doing so because they believe that they can. Okay, not every player still wants to play for United. But those three do.
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