When Manchester United’s recruitment department was running the rule over potential signings this summer, they did more than just log on to data providers and watch matches to sit how they would fit in.
It might have been obvious that Casemiro was the defensive midfielder the team had been crying out for, that Christian Eriksen would bring some quality to midfield, and that Tyrell Malacia could compete with Luke Shaw at left-back.
But the study of potential recruits went further than that. Background checks on the character of a player are nothing new in football, but it was prioritised in the last transfer window more than ever before at United.
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It’s certainly a route the club have to look at. The pressure of playing for Manchester United and walking out at Old Trafford is comparable with maybe only two other clubs in the world.
It’s even more relevant at a time when the club are going through a difficult spell. The trophy drought hit five years last season and it’s not only nine years since a Premier League title, but in that time they’ve not even challenged.
That brings even more pressure and scrutiny on new signings. The expectations and the hopes are higher on each new recruit, so if United are lavishing large sums on players, they need to know they can handle that.
And it’s not just relevant when it comes to performing on the pitch. A dressing room of 25 players at elite clubs these days is essentially dealing with 25 small businesses, all with their own entourages, their own egos and demands.
Getting those players to gel is absolutely essential for a manager, who needs buy-in from the whole dressing room. Morale sank at United last season mostly due to the dreadful results, but it was also a dressing room that lost any sense of unity and purpose.
That isn’t the case now and Ten Hag has regularly brought up the importance of team spirit this season. It’s why he felt he had no choice but to push for the end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Old Trafford career after his Piers Morgan interview.
It also makes signing the right characters as well as the right players even more important. There was a big emphasis placed on it this summer as a result.
Ten Hag could vouch for the personality of Lisandro Martinez and Antony himself, but on other deals - including some that didn’t come off - United had to do more research. That involved speaking to people in the game who had worked with those players and even journalists who cover specific regions. An in-depth check on social media was also used.
Those checks appear to have worked so far. Malacia’s character has been on show at times this season, a trait he was praised for by Gary Neville when he came on at half-time at Brentford with United 4-0 down.
Martinez’s character has added some aggression to the team and Casemiro has already emerged as a leader on and off the pitch. The example of the Brazilian reinforcing his desire to join the club despite that defeat at Brentford is an illustration of that.
On the other hand, there were occasions United walked away from some potential signings this summer because they felt their primary motivator was money, rather than the prestige of representing the club.
That is no longer enough at United, who under Ten Hag are placing a greater value on character and personality. It looks to be working so far.
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