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Cape Town - Despite their initial good work, Manchester United were made to look like transfer window rookies on several occasions.
Manchester United transfers rated: 3/10
Three reasons for that awful rating:
1) The David de Gea saga - why accept a bid on the final day when you had the whole summer to sell him and buy a replacement?
2) Unrealistic targets - Sergio Ramos, Thomas Muller and Neymar. There was no way any of them were going to leave their clubs.
3) Over-spending on Anthony Martial - Red Devils fans will be hoping he can somehow justify his jaw-dropping fee of £36 million - and that's without add-ons.
Transfer summary:
In: Memphis Depay (PSV, £25m), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich, £15m), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton, £24m), Matteo Darmian (£12.7m), Sergio Romero (free), Anthony Martial (Monaco, £36m)
Out: Tom Cleverley (Everton, free), Ben Amos (released), Tom Thorpe (released), Nani (Fenerbahce, £4.25m), Robin van Persie (Fenerbahce, £4.7m), Angel Di Maria (PSG, £44.3m), Javier Hernandez (Bayer Leverkusen, £7m) Adnan Januzaj (Borussia Dortmund, loan), Jonny Evans (West Brom, undisclosed), Tyler Blackett (Celtic, loan), Anders Lindegaard (West Brom, undisclosed), Will Keane (Preston, loan), Reece James (Wigan, undisclosed), Saido Janko (Celtic, undisclosed), Rafael, (Lyon, £2.5m)
Best bit of business: For the first time in a long time, the Red Devils have a strong and well-stocked midfield.
Worst bit of business: Allowing Robin van Persie to leave (leaving Rooney to guide Martial and Wilson alone) ranks second only to the awful deadline day saga involving De Gea.
*Manchester United fans, please direct all your complaints about this rating or Manchester United in general to Sport24's Twitter account: @sport24news
