Manchester United is taking a disciplined approach to the transfer market, ensuring that the club does not overpay for new players, according to CEO Omar Berrada.
\"We were able to do it [the summer window] in a financially sustainable way,\" Berrada explained. \"We were quite disciplined about the valuations we were giving to the players who were going to come in. We stuck to those valuations. I think [sporting director] Dan [Ashworth] and the team did a fantastic job in the negotiations process.\"
Both Berrada and Ashworth joined United earlier this year, bringing valuable experience from Manchester City.
He emphasized the importance of avoiding costly mistakes, stating, \"If you make a mistake and overspend or get a player who can cost you too much, it can set you back. Which is why you need to be able to take those decisions and make the right ones consistently over time to be in a position to win consistently.\"
United has faced criticism for overinvesting in transfers in recent seasons, spending over 243.28 million euros in 2022-23 and over 202.3 million euros in 2023-24, yet failing to secure top positions in the Premier League.
\"You have to be quite brave and make decisions that maybe you don't want to make,\" Ashworth added. \"You can't have a bloated squad, and you're also dealing with players that ultimately want to play football. So you want to make sure that the squad is lean, but you have enough depth.\"
During the current summer transfer window, United spent 214.5 million euros to acquire five players while aiming to streamline their squad. They sold Jadon Sancho to Chelsea on loan and are considering letting go of Casemiro, who comes with a hefty contract.
Despite these strategic moves, United currently sits in 14th place in the Premier League after losing two of their first three games this season.
Reference(s):
Manchester United won't overpay for transfers, says club CEO
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