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.
