Bebe has left on loan, after a less than impressive season with The Red Devils. Sir Alex Ferguson surprised the world of football when he signed the forward, despite admitting he had never seen the Portuguese striker play and bought him on instinct when he found out Real Madrid were vying for Bebe’s signature as well. Fergie’s instincts clearly failed him this time around, but for a manager who has achieved so much in the world of football it is surprising how many times the Scot does make a bad decision in the transfer market.
David Bellion
In an era where the French were giving the beautiful game strikers such as Nicola Anelka and Thierry Henry, Ferguson tried his luck with David Bellion. The French forward was signed by Fergie after Sunderland’s relegation for £2 million (compensation), in amongst rumours that SAF had tapped up the former Cannes striker. The Red Devil’s faithful must have been excited by Bellion’s signing if Fergie had gone to all that (illegal) trouble to sign him, but sadly after a handful of goals, mainly in friendlies and League Cup games, the striker left Old Trafford and somehow forged a relatively successful career in France.
Juan Sebastian Veron
Included in such lists because of his extortionate transfer fee, but for me personally I always enjoyed watching the Argentine play (and even on FIFA 11 he still has a lot to offer). However the pace of the Premier League clearly didn’t suit the former Lazio star and Fergie clearly didn’t get £28.1 million worth of quality on the pitch.
Zoran Tosic
“Zoran Tosic gains permit to threaten Ryan Gigg’s place at Manchester United”- an actual title in The Times after the winger moved from Serbian giants Partizan. Not sure how much threat you can make to the Welshman after no more than five competitive appearances for The Red Devils, unless it involves extra-marital misdemeanours and super injunctions.
Massimo Taibi
Replacing Peter Schmeichel borders on impossible, but I think I could have done a better job than the Italian. Obviously ‘that goal’ against Southampton sticks in the mind, but the now nicknamed ‘Blind Venetian’ made more high profile errors against Chelsea and Liverpool; he rather unsurprisingly lasted just one season at Manchester United.
Liam Miller
With all due respect, I’m not sure why Fergie thought good performances for Celtic and Danish club AGF Aarhus mean you can cut it at one of the world’s biggest clubs. The midfielder made nine league appearances in two seasons and I’m surprised the Republic of Ireland international even made that many.
Eric Djemba-Djemba
Signed as the new Roy Keane…sorry I dropped my pen in shock, as I saw the Cameroonian play and that comparison just baffles me.
Kleberson
Brought in alongside Cristiano Ronaldo; how different their careers have turned out. After an impressive World Cup for Brazil, he was seen as a replacement for the equally poor Veron, but two years later and with only twenty appearances, Kleberson left to join Besiktas with his time at Old Trafford even worse than Veron’s (somehow).
Diego Forlan
It is hard to believe that the former Manchester United striker has gone on to become one of the best forwards in the beautiful game, after managing only 17 goals in 95 games during his time in Manchester.
Ralph Milne
Honestly, he is a real footballer. Fergie admits himself that Milne was his worst signing ever, “I only paid £170,000 for him but I still get condemned for it.”
Jordi Cruyff
It’s official, footballing talent is not genetic and that was a real shame for Jordi, whose father is one of the greatest players ever, Johan Cruyff. The attacking midfielder’s time at Old Trafford was a frustrating one, with injuries and his inability to oust Ryan Giggs; the fact that the arrival of Quinton Fortune virtually ended Cruyff’s chances of another contract says it all.
Daniel Tregoning Blazer 