It is fair to say Manchester United have dropped some transfer clangers in recent years.
Fergie’s ‘biggest mistake’ of all time, in the history of all football, ever, was allowing Paul Pogba to join Juventus on a free transfer.
Yes, that was bad. But what about paying £28million for Juan Veron?
Or £9million for Bebe?
Or paying more than 99p for Eric Djemba-Djemba?
If you think Di Maria and Falcao have been bad this season, take a look at the worst Manchester United XI of all time we have compiled here.
Who do you think makes the cut?
Only one thing is certain, and that is that this side would be managed by David Moyes…
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Click on Old Trafford to reveal the Worst Manchester United XI of all time
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Massimo Taibi
The search to replace Peter Schmeichel was not an easy one, and things would get a lot worse before they got better, with the £3.5million signing of Massimo Taibi in September 1999.
The Italian goalkeeper went from one disaster to the next, and was quickly shipped out of the club following the immortal goalkeeping gaffe in a 3-3 draw with Southampton, when he somehow managed to let a speculative shot from Matt Le Tissier travelling at about two miles an hour go through his body.
Michael Clegg
Who?
We aren’t entirely sure either here in the Football Transfer Tavern.
But apparently, Michael Clegg was a part of the Manchester United squad from 1995 until 2002, a time in which they established themselves as the major force in English football.
Yet Clegg managed just nine appearances in seven years at Old Trafford, until eventually moving on to Oldham Athletic in the old division three.
David May
An average defender in a title winning side, David May gave everyone hope that the dream of becoming a professional football could indeed become reality.
May was fortunate enough to come into the Manchester United side at around the same time the class of 92 were reaching the peak of their powers, and it certainly helped his medal collection – think of him as an old school Jonny Evans.
Perhaps the thing May is most remembered for during his time at Old Trafford, is the way in which he somehow managed to be in the best position possible for every photo after United’s heroic and historic Champions League win over Bayern Munich in 1999.
Ronnie Wallwork
Ronnie Wallwork has a Premier League winners medal.
Just take a second for that to sink in.
Another product of the United youth system, Wallwork was capable of playing in defense or as a holding midfielder.
In seven years at Old Trafford, Wallwork managed just 28 appearances before joining West Brom on a free transfer in 2002.
He has since served time in prison for offenses relating to stolen cars.
Luke Chadwick
Google ugly footballers and you will find Chadwick comes up first on well pretty much every list.
One of the most unfortunate looking footballers of all-time, Chadwick would have had to play like Messi and Ronaldo combined in order to bag any endorsement deals during his time at the club.
However, Chadwick does get the ‘honour’ of filling in at right wing back in this Manchester United ultimate worst XI.
Kleberson
United fans were excited to see a World Cup winner join their ranks in the summer of 2003, but sadly were left wondering how on earth Brazilian midfielder Kleberson left Japan in 2002 with a winners medal around his neck.
Another one who looked completely lost at Old Trafford, Kleberson managed 20 league appearances over two seasons before being sold to Besiktas in 2005.
Liam Miller
Signed from Celtic on a free transfer in 2004, Liam Miller was billed as ‘the new Roy Keane.’
It was clear after his Premier League debut against Chelsea (a 1-0 defeat in Jose Mourinho’s first game in charge) that Miller was way out of his depth.
He only made eight more league appearances in the next two years before being moved on.
Eric Djemba-Djemba
So bad they named him twice; Djemba-Djemba was signed as the long-term successor to Roy Keane in the heart of the United midfield in 2003.
The physical central midfielder only managed 20 league appearances in two years at Old Trafford as Sir Alex was desperate to find a captain figure to transform his United team.
Eventually, the Red Devils cut their losses (£2million) and sold the Cameroon international to Aston Villa where he was equally unsuccessful.
Wilfried Zaha
The most recent Manchester United player to make the cut, Wilfried Zaha was a major disappointment, and waste of £15million.
The England under-21 star didn’t manage a single Premier League star during his time at Old Trafford, but starts at left wing back for the worst United XI. His biggest contribution as a United player was to undermine poor old David Moyes even further, with rumours suggesting Zaha had a fling with ‘the Chosen One’s’ daughter.
He was shipped back to Palace on a permanent deal during the last transfer window.
David Bellion
Everyone was slightly confused when United forked out £3 million for a man who had managed one league goal in 20 appearances back in 2003.
Many assumed Sir Alex had seen something the rest of us hadn’t.
But that never proved to be the case, as Bellion managed just four goals for United before being moved on in 2005.
Bebe
Sir Alex Ferguson worryingly admitted that he never saw Bebe play before he splashed £7.5 million on him in 2010.
Seven appearances and three years later, United are looking to get rid of the Portuguese youngster who has failed to impress at Old Trafford.
A poor attitude and injury problems tainted his time at Old Trafford.
He made the switch to Benfica after several loan spells, where he has managed just one league appearance before being shipped out on loan once again.
