While they may get lamented by supporters of rival clubs here in the Football Transfer Tavern, our resident Manchester United fans can’t help daydreaming every so often.
But daydreaming about what we hear you cry?
Well, despite other fans claiming Red Devils supporters are delusional to even think the likes of Gareth Bale or Neymar would be interested in a move to Old Trafford at this stage of their careers, we were delivered something of a revelation from Sky Sports earlier today that confirmed Barcelona’s Brazilian superstar was approached by United earlier this summer, although nothing concrete materialised in terms of a bid.
With the player himself admitting United were interested in furthering the conversation this summer, one thing you cannot level at United is the fact they aren’t ambitious at least!
Ending up with Anthony Martial of course as their big striking signing, it has been a case of so far, so good for the 19-year-old who has struck four goals in his first four games for the Red Devils and when you put this feat in comparison to Radamel Falcao, the Colombian flop scored four goals in a whole 29 appearances!
But regarding United’s interest in Neymar and Gareth Bale as has dominated the headlines in summer transfer windows of old, some punters by the bar reckon at least one of those players could end up at Old Trafford before the end of their career with Ed Woodward having proved that no fee is too big for the Red Devils to splash.
With Neymar admitting that Louis van Gaal’s men made an approach this summer, we can’t help but think what might’ve been had Barcelona not been, well, Barcelona while inserting both he and Bale into a metaphoric ultimate United eleven!
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Click on the image below to reveal the ultimate Manchester United XI including Neymar and Gareth Bale.
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David De Gea
Manchester United’s key man in goal is back between the sticks again after Sergio Romero kept net in the early weeks of the season amidst Real Madrid closing in on a late signature for the Spanish international.
But with the Red Devils digging their heels, so much so that De Gea missed the deadline to sign for Madrid, he now remains a Manchester United player and even signed a new four-year deal thereafter although some critics claim he’ll still move to the Bernabeu next summer.
Unfazed by the whole debacle, De Gea has immediately rediscovered his best form despite the whole transfer palava and United fans can’t get enough of the shot-stopping abilities of their beloved number one.
Matteo Darmian
Earlier in the summer, Louis van Gaal claimed that reformed right back Antonio Valencia will be his first choice in the position this season but so far, new signing from Torino, Matteo Darmian has been the go-to guy at full back.
A current starter for Italy in the position at present, Darmian was a standout player against England during their group stage battle at last summer’s World Cup.
Steady, if not spectacular in the opening few game weeks of the season so far, Darmian is a pacey customer who can get up and down the right flank while not forgetting his defensive duties and also able to play as an emergency centre half, he will ultimately prove a useful addition to van Gaal’s squad you feel.
Chris Smalling
Chris Smalling has many critics and we’re not talking about his fancy dress but rather some of the error-prone defensive performances we’ve become used to from him over the last couple of seasons.
However, following his stupid red card away at Manchester City last term, he really started to mature while producing more consistent performances towards the tail end of the campaign.
Now being United’s third captain behind both Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick, Smalling has embraced the armband well when called upon and it finally seems as if the former Fulham man is getting better when it matters.
United fans will hope his performances remain as consistent throughout the duration of the rest of the campaign.
Daley Blind
With United missing out on the signatures of both Sergio Ramos and Nicolas Otamendi in the summer, Daley Blind has been Chris Smalling’s central defensive partner in the early weeks of the season so far.
Doing a relatively decent job on the whole for somebody who was more readily deployed in defensive midfield last term, Blind is also capable of playing at left back and still might need to this term following the long-term injury suffered by Luke Shaw.
Marcos Rojo will prove his biggest competition at centre back, alongside Phil Jones of course but Blind hasn’t done too much wrong so far although some United fans still feel he is rather lightweight for the position while harping back to the glory days with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand holding the fort so effectively.
Luke Shaw
It’s an incredible shame for Luke Shaw that he suffered that awful broken leg injury away to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League lately because he was starting to fulfil the promise that was showcased in his time at his previous club Southampton.
Brought to Old Trafford for big money last summer of course, Shaw endured an unspectacular first season at Old Trafford but this time around, he really looked as if he’d buckled down while producing his best performances up the left flank while again being selected by Roy Hodgson at international level for England.
For the time being, Marcos Rojo has filled in at left back as Shaw’s replacement and the Argentine fulfils this role admirably for Argentina but make no mistake, if everybody in the United squad was fit, you’d find few United supporters who wouldn’t have Shaw in their best starting eleven.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Having spent his entire career in the Bundesliga up until this season, Schweinsteiger will still need more time to adjust to the pace and physicality of the English top flight but given his performances so far, we don’t think it’ll take the German much longer to find his very best performances.
One of the most high profile signings this summer, Schweinsteiger will bring quality and leadership abilities to Louis van Gaal’s midfield and we’ve already seen that the World Cup winner likes gesticulating to his team-mates where exactly to pass the ball next and this is a trait our Red Devils supporters by the bar love.
Morgan Schneiderlin
Signed on the same day as Schweinsteiger of course, the capture of Morgan Schneiderlin as well has really revamped the options available to Louis van Gaal in central midfield.
With Marouane Fellaini, Daley Blind and Ander Herrera capable of filling this midfield slots to boot, United suddenly have one of the strongest midfield’s in the division.
United will of course be battling on four fronts again this season and with the campaign long and arduous, expect van Gaal to rotate amongst the aforementioned names but when everybody is fit, we think a deep lying duo of Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin is the Dutchman’s best bet.
Gareth Bale
We all know that Gareth Bale suffered a torrent of abuse from the infamous Real Madrid boo boys last term in what was ultimately a forgettable season for the world’s most expectant club with Carlo Ancelotti going trophyless.
That said, the Welsh international was often unfairly made a scapegoat and sometimes fairly given the sky high standards that the Madrid crowd expect of their superstars.
Nevertheless, Bale is quite rightly still one of the best players in world football and you only have to look at his esteemed work with the Welsh international side how the player is almost single-handedly hauling his home nation into next summer’s European Championships with some virtuoso performances.
Seemingly forever linked with a switch to United as an heir to Ryan Giggs’ throne on the wing, the Daily Star claimed back at the end of August that the Red Devils had a £73.1 million offer rejected by Los Blancos this summer.
Still the world’s most expensive player ever at £85.3 million, you never really though Madrid were going to accept less than they originally paid for him were you?
Wayne Rooney
Having seen off both Robin van Persie, Javier Hernandez and Radamel Falcao in the summer, captain Wayne Rooney underlined his importance as Manchester United’s number one striker.
That said, in the early weeks of the season so far, Rooney has largely flattered to deceive in front of goal and its credit to the likes of Anthony Martial that he has been able to come in while providing the goods to make up for Rooney’s striking shortfall.
With Louis van Gaal having previously claimed that he will utilise Rooney as a centre forward this term, we now think that the England international will spend much of the rest of the season back in the number 10 role given Martial’s instant impact up top and that’s no bad thing with Rooney being able to dictate the pace of the game better there.
Neymar
Is there any player in world football that handles issues of responsibility and pressure better than Neymar?
The golden boy of Brazilian football right now, Neymar has had to follow the lead from the likes of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho and to be fair to the boy, he is succeeding and then some!
Single-handedly hauling Brazil through the World Cup last summer before ultimately coming up against a brick wall in Germany and that 7-1 humiliation, Neymar also currently boasts a La Liga goalscoring record of 34 goals in 63 games.
Quite simply one of the top five players in world football right now but still below the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo class of footballers, Neymar is still young enough to usurp those two geniuses and if we’re quite honest, we can’t see him moving to Old Trafford any time soon given the quite incredible football club he plays for at the minute.
Anthony Martial
Could Anthony Martial’s start to life at Old Trafford have gone any better?
The £36 million arrival from Monaco has struck four goals in his first four appearances for Louis van Gaal’s men and what’s more, he’s frightened opposition defenders to death when on the ball with his cavalier playing style.
A pacey dribbler with the ball at his feet, Martial is also incredibly clinical and we saw evidence of this yet again this week as the now French international coolly slotted a third past Ipswich Town in a comfortable 3-0 victory in the Capital One Cup.
Seemingly running on adrenaline right now, we wouldn’t want to be Sunderland’s defenders who will have to go up against him in the Premier League fixture at Old Trafford tomorrow afternoon!
