Jose Mourinho's time at Manchester United was marked by a flurry of transfer activity, with the Portuguese manager making several high-profile signings during his tenure. While his time at Old Trafford may have been tumultuous, there's no denying the impact that Mourinho's acquisitions had on the team. In this article, we'll take a look back at some of the most notable signings made by Mourinho during his time as manager of Manchester United.
The Early Days: Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Jose Mourinho's first summer at Manchester United saw him bring in two players who would go on to have mixed fortunes at Old Trafford. Defender Eric Bailly arrived from Villarreal for a fee of around £30 million, and immediately impressed with his physicality and no-nonsense defending. Meanwhile, Armenian attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan arrived from Borussia Dortmund, touted as one of the most creative players in Europe.
While Bailly's early performances showed promise, injuries and inconsistency would ultimately prevent him from becoming a regular starter for United. Mkhitaryan, on the other hand, struggled to adapt to the Premier League at first, but eventually found his feet and became an important creative force in Mourinho's team.
Big Money Signings: Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku
Perhaps the two most high-profile signings made by Mourinho during his time at Manchester United were midfielder Paul Pogba and striker Romelu Lukaku. Pogba arrived from Juventus for a world-record fee of £89 million, with Mourinho hoping he would add creativity and drive to United's midfield.
Lukaku, meanwhile, arrived from Everton for a fee of around £75 million, with Mourinho hoping he would provide the team with a much-needed focal point up front. While both players had their moments of brilliance, neither truly lived up to their price tags during their time at Old Trafford.
Stealing a March on Rivals: Nemanja Matic and Alexis Sanchez
In the summer of 2017, Mourinho made what would prove to be two shrewd acquisitions, bringing in midfielder Nemanja Matic from Chelsea and forward Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal. Matic immediately became a key player in the heart of United's midfield, providing defensive stability and allowing Paul Pogba to play in a more advanced role.
Sanchez, on the other hand, struggled to find his place in Mourinho's team, with injuries and poor form limiting his impact. However, his signing was seen as something of a coup at the time, with many rival fans bemoaning United's ability to attract one of the Premier League's most exciting attacking talents.
Future Prospects: Fred and Diogo Dalot
Mourinho's final summer at Manchester United saw him bring in two players who were seen as potential stars of the future. Midfielder Fred arrived from Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee of around £52 million, touted as a dynamic box-to-box player with a keen eye for goal.
Meanwhile, right-back Diogo Dalot arrived from Porto for a fee of around £19 million, seen as a promising young talent with excellent attacking instincts. While both players have shown flashes of their potential during their time at Old Trafford, it remains to be seen whether they will go on to become key players for the club.
Conclusion
While Jose Mourinho's time at Manchester United may have been divisive, there's no denying the impact that his signings had on the team. From big-money acquisitions like Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku to shrewd signings like Nemanja Matic and Eric Bailly, Mourinho left his mark on the United squad during his time at Old Trafford.
While some signings may have been more successful than others, there's no denying that Mourinho's approach to the transfer market helped to shape United's squad during his tenure. As the club looks to the future, fans will no doubt be hoping that the next manager can continue this tradition of making impactful signings that can take the team to the next level.
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