Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has been linked with moves for the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale
As we all know Manchester United are going through a few seasons of massive transition after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
The club spent big this summer in order to improve on last season’s seventh place finish under David Moyes.
The likes of Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Ander Herrera came into the club, while a number of fringe players left, as new boss Louis van Gaal went about attempting to turn the team fortunes around.
Mixed Results
Van Gaal’s primary aim was surely to re-establish United in the top four of the Premier League, before maybe challenging for the Premier League title in future seasons. Van Gaal has enjoyed mixed results, with United currently fourth in the league table.
However, with the amount of money spent in the summer expectations were raised by the media that the Red Devils could win the league title. In truth United are a long way away from being title challengers.
The Red Devils won the Premier League title in Ferguson’s last season in charge, but much of that was achieved by a mediocre squad of players with a few star players thrown in. That triumph also had a lot to do with the ‘Fergie Effect’, who is regarded as one of the best managers ever.
It was always going to be difficult for Ferguson’s successors after the success the legendary Scot enjoyed in his long career as United boss. Moyes found out just how hard it was and was hardly backed in the transfer market.
The United hierarchy have backed Van Gaal with money and it has not been plain sailing for the veteran Dutch boss.
Unrealistic
Van Gaal has been backed in the transfer market and no doubt because of his history and profile will continue to be backed in the transfer market by the United hierarchy. United definitely need major investment to get back to where they want to be.
However, I read a ridiculous article on the site of a major media company in Britain, claiming that the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi could be on Louis van Gaal’s wishlist. Gareth Bale’s name was also on that list of the Dutchman’s prospective targets, which may not even be realistic for United.
There has been talk of Messi being unsettled at Barcelona, after a rift with boss Luis Enrique, but it looks unrealistic that the little Argentinian will ever leave the Catalan club and if he does it will be for an incredible amount of money.
Manchester United have never been a club that spent extraordinary amounts of money, until this summer. The Red Devils had brought in exceptional talents like Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney for big money, but they are not a club like Real Madrid or PSG who will spend a major amount of money on one player, even if he is one of the best in the world.
The idea of Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford is a rather romantic one. The Portuguese star has been incredible for Real Madrid and has just claimed his third Ballon d’Or award. He seems happy and settled in the Spanish capital, despite his recent dismissal against Cordoba.
Ronaldo is now 29 years-old and would have little sell-on value, which the United owners would not appreciate.
Gareth Bale has been receiving a lot of stick from the Real fans of late and people have been questioning whether he belongs with Los Blancos. That has led to reports linking him with a move to United, which the player himself has ruled out.
Realistic
For years Manchester United fans were spoilt by domestic and European success. The last few seasons has brought the majority back down to earth with a bump and now most United fans are more realistic.
Most reasonable United fans have accepted that their team needs to establish themselves back in the top four before they can once again challenge for the Premier League title.
However, a certain section of the media seem to be deluded about which players will arrive at United in the near future and what the teams aims are this season.
Maybe it is that section of the media that needs to be realistic, because from what I have read the United fans know the score and know that Lionel Messi will not be wearing the red of United anytime soon.
Is the media realistic about Manchester United?
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