Gary Neville names Manchester United's worst post-Ferguson signing

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has identified Brazilian winger Antony as the club's worst signing since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, placing him ahead of Angel Di Maria.

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Weighing Di Maria against Antony

Speaking to The Athletic, with comments also cited by Metro, Neville evaluated the club's high-profile transfer missteps over the past 13 years following Ferguson's departure.

The former England international initially highlighted Di Maria who arrived from Real Madrid in 2014 for nearly £60 million before departing for Paris Saint Germain after just one season featuring four goals in 32 matches.

"Di Maria was a bad signing and I was so excited about him, by the way... I thought it was a great signing. He can go box to box, he's quick, he's talented but he clearly didn't adapt, he didn't settle. All those reasons. It was a bad signing" Neville said.

However, when factoring in the sheer financial investment and subsequent return on the pitch, Neville concluded that Antony represented an even more damaging piece of business.

The Brazilian winger, signed from Ajax for an initial £82 million, has registered 12 goals in 96 appearances.

"When you look at the huge outlay, there’s Antony... That’s not a criticism of the player, it’s a reflection of United’s position, paying that amount for him after panicking" Neville explained.

Neville concluded his assessment directly:

"I say Antony and Di Maria. I have to go with Antony"

Fellaini defended over transfer cost

While discussing post-Ferguson additions, Neville firmly rejected the suggestion that Marouane Fellaini belonged in the conversation for the club's worst acquisition.

"I have no problem with Fellaini... He shouldn’t have signed for the club, but he’s not the worst signing. He did his best, and he cost between £25 million and £30 million which isn’t a massive amount" Neville stated.

A decade of recruitment missteps

Neville’s verdict encapsulates the fundamental recruitment flaws that have defined Old Trafford since 2013. While Di Maria's spell was an undeniable sporting failure, Manchester United managed to recoup a substantial portion of his transfer fee when offloading him to PSG only 12 months later.

In contrast, the £82 million commitment to Antony represents late-window panic buying at an inflated valuation, saddling the club with heavy financial commitments while yielding minimal attacking productivity.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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