Manchester United Breaks Ed Woodward’s Rule with Bayern Munich Signings
Manchester United have been busy in the transfer market this summer, with four major acquisitions so far. However, their latest signings from Bayern Munich have broken a rule imposed by former chief executive Ed Woodward. In this article, we’ll dive into the details of United’s latest signings and what it means for the club.
United’s Summer Signings
Erik ten Hag’s side have strengthened their attack with the signing of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, who scored the winning goal on his United debut in last night’s Premier League opening 1-0 victory against Fulham at Old Trafford. The defence has also been reinforced with the signing of promising youngster Leny Yoro from Lille, although the defender will be out of action for the next three months following surgery on a foot injury.
In addition, United completed a double signing from Bayern Munich earlier this week, acquiring Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. Both players made their competitive United debuts in the victory against Fulham, with Mazraoui starting at right-back and De Ligt coming off the bench to play at centre-half.
Breaking Ed Woodward’s Rule
It’s not the first time United have brought in players from Bayern Munich. In the summer of 2007, Owen Hargreaves made the move from the Bundesliga to the Premier League, and in 2015, Bastian Schweinsteiger made the same switch. However, both moves ultimately did not pay off in the long-term for United, with Hargreaves suffering chronic injury problems at Old Trafford and Schweinsteiger leaving in 2017 after falling out of favour under then-boss Jose Mourinho.
According to ESPN football reporter Rob Dawson, Woodward vetoed a potential signing of Jerome Boateng from Bayern Munich in 2018 due to bad experiences from signing players from the German giants in the past. Dawson recalled that Woodward essentially said, "We’re never going to sign players from Bayern again" due to the club’s past mistakes.
What Does This Mean for United?
The signings of De Ligt and Mazraoui may have broken Woodward’s rule, but it’s clear that United are willing to take a risk to strengthen their squad. Both players have impressed in their debut performances, and it’s likely that they will play a key role in United’s upcoming matches.
However, the success of these signings will ultimately depend on how well they adapt to the Premier League and United’s playing style. If they can hit the ground running, it could be a major boost for the club’s title ambitions. But if they struggle to adjust, it could be a costly mistake.
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