Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has questioned Manchester United's decision to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo sealed a sensational return to Old Trafford from Juventus last summer. United's interest in re-signing Ronaldo was sparked by Manchester City's interest in him, but the player scored 24 goals last season, ensuring that his return was a success.
Regardless of Ronaldo finishing the season as United's top goalscorer and being named in the PFA Team of the Year, Fowler has suggested his return had the potential to be a disaster. The Liverpool legend also mocked United's transfer record following the news that Darwin Nunez is close to signing for Jurgen Klopp's side. United were interested in signing Nunez this summer.
ALSO READ: Erik ten Hag private telephone conversation has proved Manchester United fans' concern wrong.
United were reluctant to be drawn into a bidding war for Nunez, but ultimately Liverpool remain a more attractive proposition.
"With the record signing of Darwin Nunez looking all but done for Liverpool, what fascinates me is the presence of Manchester United amid the negotiations," Fowler wrote in an opinion column for The Mirror.
"I can guarantee the Anfield people would have been uneasy with that, as it has the potential to push up not only the price but the wages too. No agent worth his salt wouldn’t use it to get a bigger contract, let’s be clear.
"But United being there in the background - for me - highlights just why this could so easily be another masterstroke for Liverpool in the transfer market, and it’s a point that is so often overlooked in the desperation to see new faces, new signings, new excitement.
"I don’t want to be cruel, but United could have written a book on how not to do transfers in recent seasons. Signing players just because you don’t want them to go to a rival? Check and double-check.
Do you agree with Fowler? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
"Cristiano has done his job well enough, but signing him because he could have gone to City? That just had disaster written all over it. And the same with Alexis Sanchez. No, not the same, 10 times worse.
"That deal highlights everything that has been wrong at Old Trafford. How much did it cost? About 500 grand a week in wages, which I saw somewhere cost them about 20 million quid a goal…!
"Much, much worse though, was that it didn’t just break United’s pay structure, it shattered it. That’s how a goalkeeper can end up on £400,000 a week, and a midfielder like Pogba who couldn’t even get in the team half the time on even more."
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season
