Manchester United have signed some great players down the years, but they also missed out on big names, including Ronaldinho and Erling Haaland.
Ineos knew one area that required improvement when they took charge of football operations at Manchester United was the recruitment team.
The standard of recruitment has been criticised heavily by United fans in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. One change made by Ineos is to prioritise young talent as well as players who are Premier League proven, as seen last summer following the arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
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United can be happy with their business over the summer, especially after being successful in their quest to add more goals to the team. Mbeumo has hit the ground running and Bruno Fernandes remains the most influential player in the team.
There tends to be a saga more often than not when United chase a player and there have been a multiple occasions when a transfer target decides to sign for another club.
James Rodriguez celebrates goal for Colombia
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James Rodriguez came close to Man Utd transfer
United have a long list of previous targets that they never signed.
Some of the targets were well documented over the years. Nicolas Gaitan and Wesley Sneijder were linked with moves to Old Trafford for years, but neither of them would ever sign for the Red Devils.
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Ferguson got excited about signing Ronaldinho before the Brazilian superstar signed for Barcelona, but United cushioned the blow by signing emerging Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting CP just weeks later.
Former World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez, who played for Real Madrid between 2014 and 2020, has now admitted that he was close to signing for United once upon a time.
In a TikTok video with Andri Contreas, James is asked: “Was there any team you were close to joining in the end but didn’t? Anything you can share?”
James replied: “Atletico Madrid, but I think I’d already said that.’
The Colombian star didn’t reveal any more details about United’s interest or when he was close to a move to Old Trafford.
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James Rodriguez is a free agent looking for a new club
James Rodriguez has World Cup aspirations but no club
James is a star in Colombia and hopes to make the World Cup squad.
It is likely to be the 34-year-old’s final World Cup, but he is currently without a club, which could make it a difficult task to earn a call-up this summer.
One way of building interest is by referencing the previous interest expressed by United, even though that ship has well and truly sailed for James.
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