Manchester United's Europa League victory over Rangers on Thursday evening hosted the debate over Alejandro Garnacho's future.
Ruben Amorim started the Argentine against the Glasgow side, despite interest from Napoli and Chelsea during the current transfer window. Garnacho didn't get on the scoresheet but he was a lively presence during the Nervy win at Old Trafford.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made the entire side available for sale at the right price and Garnacho is one of them to attract interest. While some understand the motivation behind the cash-in, with funds needed for January reinforcements, others believe a first-team star who made his United debut as a teenager should be banned.
Ratcliffe is keen to change the perception that United are poor sellers, and an exit for Garnacho would be a gamble on that front. However, it has not always been a bad judgment as far as the Red Devils are concerned.
If Garnacho leaves and thrives elsewhere, as we have seen with Scott McTominay at Napoli this season, it would be another addition to the 'bad sell' column. However, the upside is potentially in excess of £50 million for a player who will never be worth more than that.
There have been many recent falls into two categories – big money departures who have prospered at their next club (Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Ronaldo) or big hits on players who cost United significantly more (Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Angel Di Maria). However, there have been some good calls amid bad, and mirror football has picked out some of those exceptions.
When James scored on his Premier League debut for United, there was hope he could go a long way at Old Trafford. He finished with nine goals and nine assists in his two seasons, not the worst return for a young player still finding his feet, but a £25m offer from Leeds was hard to turn down.
The Welsh International had just one year in the Leeds first team before being sent on a year-long loan – incidentally, a season in which his parent club were relegated. He has produced better returns in the Championship, but there is little to suggest United have made a mistake of any kind.
Schneiderlin set United back a not-to-be-considerable sum when Louis van Gaal brought him in from Southampton in 2014. He had been linked for a number of years, but the arrival of Jose Mourinho meant his old Trafford spell would be a short one.
Luckily for United, Everton were waiting with a £20 million bid. A small financial hit on the signing at £25 million, but still a welcome fee for a player deemed surplus to requirements.
After a difficult few years at Goodison Park, the France international had further spells in France, Australia, Turkey and Cyprus. He retired in August having seen his career at the highest level in the years since his United Exit.
Schneiderlin would go on to say that he joined United at the wrong time, and the same might be true of Veron. The Argentina star was a marquee player under Sir Alex Ferguson but did not pitch into the lineup as hoped – despite the occasional flash of brilliance.
Big spenders Chelsea offered United £15 million in the first summer of the Roman Abramovich era, and it was impossible to turn down. That spell at Stamford Bridge was even more of a disappointment, with injuries limiting him to just seven league games, and United left grateful not to be paid his vital wages.
United haven't recouped a huge fee for Silvestre, but sometimes it's about more than that. The Frenchman was a steady servant for a decade at Old Trafford but was well past his peak when he moved to Arsenal.
He was the first player to move between United and Arsenal in either direction in the Premier League era, and a tough few seasons might not have left some Arsenal fans too upset if he became the latter. Of course, the Gunners lost a few years later in another move involving the clubs, as Robin Van Persie made his move north.
Kanchelskis left United off the back of a flying season, and even a healthy fee from Everton didn't stop some of the questions being asked. Little did we know at the time, but the move came amid Ferguson's belief in those coming through the ranks.
The Russian international hit double figures in his first season at Goodison Park, and the Toffees made a profit when offloading him to Fiorentina after 18 months. However, United left a certain David Beckham waiting in the (literal) wings, and who knows how his career might have turned out if his path to regular first-team action remained blocked.
Comments