United’s Five Worst Defender Signings Of The Decade

David Tully

4 years ago

Categories: Galleries, Manchester United News

Tags: Alex Buttner, Manchester United, Phil Jones

Manchester United have made some terrible signings over the past ten years, and while there has been a slight improvement recently, you can’t hide from the fact that the club’s poor recruitment (particularly in the post-Ferguson era) has played a key role in the team’s decline.

The Red Devils have probably recruited better in defensive areas than at the opposite end of the pitch over the last decade.

Some have fared better than others, with the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire looking like good buys, but there have still been some errors in judgement as well.

Press the “next page” as we go through the top five worst defenders to have signed for United since 2010.

Phil Jones

The England international is a player widely mocked by both United and rival supporters alike. He is prone to mistakes and he is better known for the gifs depicting his bizarre facial expressions when trying to win the ball.

Jones was signed when Sir Alex Ferguson was still manager, and he has somehow remained at Old Trafford for eight and a half years despite his injury problems and poor form.

Matteo Darmian

Not necessarily a terrible performer for United, but it was clear very early on following his £13m move from Torino that he wasn’t up to the standard required.

In his four years at the club, Darmian made just 92 appearances, scoring only once and contributing four assists before he was allowed to return to Italy.

Alex Buttner

Another Ferguson recruit, and while the Dutchman may not have cost very much, he was very much a left field signing that didn’t pay off.

Buttner lasted just two years at United before being shipped off to Dinamo Moscow. They still made a profit on the left-back, though. He’s currently playing for New England Revolution in the United States.

Marcos Rojo

The Argentine spent most of his five and a half years at Old Trafford on the treatment table, and while he wasn’t necessarily a bad defender, he managed to pick up 28 bookings during his 122 appearances, showing his lack of discipline.

After shelling out €20m on the player after the World Cup in 2014, Rojo has now returned to Argentina for a loan spell with Estudiantes. The club are highly unlikely to get much in a way of a transfer fee for the 29-year-old when he finally departs on a permanent basis.

Daley Blind

Brought in by Louis van Gaal, the Dutchman never really found his position at United. Being able to play at centre-back, left-back and in midfield meant he was more of a utility man.

His lack of pace in the Premier League was also certainly an issue and it was not a surprise when he was sold back to Ajax after Jose Mourinho’s arrival.