The new era of Manchester United started with big promises and optimism. So how did it end so disastrously, with Marouane Fellaini as the only arrival and the reigning champions of England becoming a laughing stock as they spiralled into a nose dive that would take nearly a decade to pull up from?
Yes, Sir Alex Ferguson had gone, but his hand-picked successor had ascended the throne and fans were ready, upon the legendary manager's request, to back him to the hilt. All that was needed was a big summer of signings to replenish an ageing squad which Sir Alex Ferguson had worked wonders with to somehow clinch a 20th league title. United had taken their bruises but they were still the top dogs. What could possibly go wrong?
Big names, as you'd expect of the champions, were immediately linked and if only a quarter of them arrived it would be a remarkable transfer window. Gareth Bale, Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara, Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil, Cristiano Ronaldo and many more. They weren't just rumours, either. Ed Woodward, the new man in charge of transfers following the departure of David Gill, put his neck on the chopping block with his bold optimism. He claimed 'there was no cut-off price' in United's transfer pursuits of 'stellar' players.
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New manager David Moyes matched his bravado. When asked about the possibility of Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford in his first press conference he refused to rule it out. Though he didn't talk directly about the player, he said: "This club is always interested in the best players." Ronaldo was never leaving Madrid yet the club did not move to dampen expectations.
It had been made clear Wayne Rooney wasn't going anywhere and while on a pre-season tour of Australia, Moyes confirmed the club's interest in Barcelona star Fabregas. "I'm in contact with the executive vice chairman who has been dealing with it just now," Moyes said in Sydney. "I'll hopefully know a little more in the next day or so." Woodward had returned to England to conduct ‘major transfer business’ believed to be ensuring Rooney's future and signing the Spanish playmaker. Even well into July things still looked promising.
But then it all blew up in their faces.
United saw three bids for Fabregas turned down, the former Arsenal man himself then held a press conference to confirm he would not be leaving Barcelona. "My dream has always been to play at Barca and nothing has changed. I'm very, very happy here and I never thought about leaving," he said. "I never had any doubt. It has cost me a lot to return to Barca and now I want to triumph here. Things have been invented. It's also not true that I have asked for a contract renewal.
"I didn't have to clear up anything, because for me it was clear I wanted to stay. I told the club I'd talk when it was my turn. I've always felt valued by the club. Everyone told me they count on me, I never got any sign that made me think otherwise."
It was just the beginning. Bale joined Ronaldo in Madrid. Ozil, who United had passed up on the opportunity to sign, joined Arsenal. Moyes wasn't convinced by Thiago so he swanned off for a great time at Bayern Munich instead.
United, now scrambling to get much-needed midfield reinforcements through the door, turned to Ander Herrera. The combative midfielder would eventually arrive at Old Trafford a year later, of course, but in the summer of 2013, he was the subject of yet more humiliation for United and especially Woodward, who would start his reign in charge of footballing matters as incompetently as it would go on.
United agreed personal terms with Herrera but then, despite there being 'no cut-off price', the club baulked at the Basque's £30.5million buy-out clause. With Athletic Club being left with little time to find a replacement, exasperated further by their Basque-only player policy, they refused to budge on the price.
It was an embarrassment that caused faces to redden further when it was reported in Spain that three imposters posing as United representatives had entered LFP administration offices in Madrid to try and seal the deal.
It was a clear sign Woodward and his negotiators had little clue what they were doing. It was now deadline day and United had made zero additions to a squad that already faced significant upheaval upon the retirement of their legendary manager.
Panicking and desperate, United made dumbfounding bids wherever they could. An attempt was made for Roma's loyal stalwart Daniele De Rossi but there was little chance he was going to leave Rome. A bid for Khedira was rejected.
Eventually, it all went full circle as United ended with the signing they could have gotten done and dusted months ago. Fellaini. Moyes has his sights set on bringing the lanky, versatile midfielder with him from Everton from the moment he took charge.
The big Belgian had a release clause in his contract, which Moyes would have been privy to, worth £23.5million but it expired on July 31. United made enquiries but didn't follow through on signing Moyes' top target. Instead of triggering the clause and signing Fellaini in time to take part in pre-season, they dilly-dallied, got him late on deadline day and paid an extra £4million for the privilege.
Even the way United went about signing Fellaini was bewildering. They repeatedly tried to force through a joint deal to sign Leighton Baines as well despite Everton's reluctance to sell the left-back. United eventually abandoned that approach on the morning of deadline day but still made a separate offer for Baines which, at just £15million, was at the same value as the £40million joint deal that had already been rejected out of hand.
Moyes wanted a left-back to replace the ageing Patrice Evra but the stupifying way in which United left their negotiations to the last moment meant clubs were reluctant to sell as they couldn't get their own replacements in. Everton may have let Baines leave if their £20million asking price was met with plenty of time to spare.
United started what would be the most pivotal summer in their modern history with the intention of sending a message: that even in a difficult period as Ferguson waved goodbye, they were still the champions, the biggest club in the world and they were not going anywhere. Instead, all they did was show they were a wreck of an outfit not worth doing business with unless they were getting bled dry for inferior players and no longer a superpower worth fearing.
To this day United are yet to fully recover from the disaster and reclaim a title and it's only now, with Woodward gone and Erik ten Hag in charge, are they finally heading in the right direction again.
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