Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images
Manchester United are changing this season under Michael Carrick, and that would have left Elliot Anderson as the odd man out.
Much was made about Man Utd’s (lack of) ambition when they refused to bid against Man City for Elliot Anderson.
He eventually broke the British record in a move worth £116m, while Man Utd bought Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans combined for £31m less.
After watching Michael Carrick’s side for the last three pre-season games, it’s clear why Anderson was not right for him.
Head team coach Michael Carrick of Manchester United sits in the dugout ahead of the pre-season friendly match between Rosenborg and Manchester United at Lerkendal Stadion on July 24, 2026 in Trondheim, Norway.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Elliot Anderson got exposed at the World Cup
Anderson was the first name on the teamsheet for Thomas Tuchel at the World Cup, but it wasn’t really a coming-of-age tournament for him.
If anything, playing in a team that was handed the majority possession exposed him in a way that playing for an underdog Nottingham Forest side never did.
His lack of difference-making skills with the ball came to the fore, and along with Declan Rice, England’s midfield looked too slow and safe.
Not giving a chance to Kobbie Mainoo instead is another debate entirely, but it was clear at the World Cup that Anderson’s skill set wouldn’t translate well to an elite team.
The skills that would translate are his positioning, his ground coverage, his hustle to win it back, and his ability to keep the ball circulating.
Unfortunately, an elite midfielder needs to be more than just a safe circulator, or needs to be paired with one to be playable.
Anderson is not that, and why United didn’t go all-in for Anderson is now clear after seeing how Carrick is evolving this team.
Michael Carrick has left Anderson behind
Carrick is evolving United in a way that was crucial to lift the ceiling of this team, having guided them to Europe last season by raising the floor.
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Out goes the mid-block out of possession and transitions with the ball, and they’ve been replaced by front-footed counter-press and playing out from the back.
That change has been driven by an injection of more technical players in the team, be it Andrey Santos partnering Mason Mount in a deeper role, Shea Lacey as the attacking midfielder, or Ayden Heaven at the back.
There has been a concentrated effort to add more quality on the ball, even if it comes at the cost of athleticism and physicality.
The idea is to let the ball do the running instead of the players, a principle upon which Spain’s World Cup success was built.
That system doesn’t have a place for a player like Anderson, who is more an athlete than a technician, and has a skill set that doesn’t warrant that price tag.