Synopsis
Even if Ralf Rangnick was not a good interim manager, he set up Man United for future success.
Players who went on to succeed at other clubs, such as Erling Haaland, Luis Diaz, and Julian Alvarez, were suggested.
When players like Morata, Vlahovic, and Nkunku shine elsewhere, United is haunted by the missed opportunities they missed.
Despite his best efforts to position Manchester United for greater success, few fans will not have positive memories of Ralf Rangnick’s tenure as manager. Originally connected to the Bayern Munich position earlier this year, the 66-year-old German, who is currently leading the Austrian national side, was temporarily hired as the Red Devils’ manager in November 2021 but ultimately failed to establish his value.
Soon after the Dutchman arrived, he upped and left, even though he was set to stay on as a consultant to help Erik ten Hag in his first season in England. Rangnick oversaw all hiring decisions at RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg but was unable to establish his dominance in Manchester. Rangnick has the lowest points-per-game ratio of any manager who has tried to turn things around since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
During his brief association, he did, however, suggest a number of names to the club, none of which were adopted. In his closing weeks at the club, Rangnick said the team needed “open-heart surgery.” He made it plain that big adjustments were needed, and it’s clear that the same problems now exist at Old Trafford.
I'll never forget how they ridiculed this man. pic.twitter.com/aqMijxir4D
— Frank🧠🇵🇹 (fan) (@AmorimEra_) December 8, 2024
The Daily Mail claims that Rangnick considered a number of names as possible additions, including Erling Haaland and Josko Gvardiol of Manchester City. However, the list doesn’t stop there. Some are still waiting to be signed, while others have made other high-profile moves. Let’s examine their current activities.
1Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea signed Argentine midfielder for £106.8m
Enzo Fernandez joined the west Londoners for a then-record-breaking £106.8 million before his Chelsea teammate Moises Caicedo broke the mark. Before moving to England, the 23-year-old played a small number of games for Benfica, and while at Stamford Bridge, he has displayed glimmers of his elite abilities.
Even though Lionel Messi rightfully took centre stage during and after the tournament in Qatar, Fernandez played a significant role in Lionel Scaloni’s 2022 World Cup-winning team. However, even before that, it was said that United was closely monitoring the midfield player while he was at River Plate. It is believed, nevertheless, that the team waited for Erik ten Hag, the new manager, to approve the deal before signing him. The bright side is that his arrival might have hampered Kobbie Mainoo’s growth, which could have had disastrous consequences considering the player he has now become.
2 Josko Gvardiol, a Manchester City Premier League champion
2Josko Gvardiol
A Premier League champion at Manchester City
The Premier League team that made a strategic wager on the highly regarded defender was Manchester City, Manchester United’s local rivals. Josko Gvardiol, who was still quite young, was praised for his performance for Croatia in the 2022 World Cup, which led to his big-money move.
During his time in Germany, the 22-year-old played 87 games for his former team, RB Leipzig, and was a dominant asset. He had a rough beginning to life in England, but now that Pep Guardiola is coaching him, he is playing at a higher level than ever. United may live to regret having a left-back of this calibre go begging, especially considering their problems with Tyrell Malacia’s fitness and Luke Shaw’s.
3Julian Alvarez
The forward became Manchester City’s club-record sale
Even though he was Erling Haaland’s backup throughout his time at Manchester City, Alvarez is rightfully considered one of the top young attackers in the world. While playing for River Plate in his native Argentina, he attracted the attention of several elite clubs. He carried over much of that form to the Etihad after contributing 85 goals in 122 games.
However, Alvarez might have been playing for Manchester’s red team instead if United had followed Rangnick’s advise. According to reports, Rangnick was incensed when the club was unable to get the Argentine to sign before he joined City. He completed an £81 million move to Atletico Madrid after scoring 36 goals in 103 games for the Sky Blues. As of this writing, he has scored two goals in eight La Liga games there.
4Luis Diaz
Star player at Liverpool
The majority of Luis Diaz’s tenure at Liverpool has been good, despite some inconsistencies. However, the livewire forward is absolutely electrifying when he is at his best. With five goal contributions in six games, including a double during the Merseysiders’ 3-0 triumph at Old Trafford in September 2024, he also knows a thing or two about haunting the Red Devils.
Rangnick had his eye on the explosive Colombian international, who was one of FC Porto’s main drivers prior to being Jurgen Klopp’s big-name winter acquisition in 2022. He scored 41 goals and recorded 19 assists for the Portuguese powerhouses. Liverpool has surely benefited from United’s defeat.
5Erling Haaland
Breaking records for fun with Man City
For the Old Trafford supporters, this will be the most painful of all the lost chances. Since joining Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund, Erling Haaland has been nothing short of remarkable. With the end of the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era, United legend Wayne Rooney even called him the finest football player in the world.
In addition to having ties to Old Trafford that run even deeper than Rangnick’s frantic appeal, the goal machine is poised to become the fastest player to hit 100 Premier League goals. Long before he took over in 2018, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed that the former United manager had instructed the team to sign the dominant forward.
6Konrad Laimer
Now at Bayern Munich
Konrad Laimer was being considered since it was evident at the end of the 2021–22 season that Old Trafford was in dire need of midfield reinforcements. Rangnick initially suggested the Austrian to the club’s executives, and Manchester United might have avoided money and trouble by choosing to sign him back. At that time, the versatile midfielder had also attracted the interest of Bayern Munich, for whom he finally signed.
Laimer is a good rotational option at Bayern and would probably fit in nicely at Old Trafford, just like his old teammate Marcel Sabitzer did while he was on loan. Given how important the midfield player is to the Austrian national team, Rangnick did at least get the opportunity to coach him.
7Alvaro Morata
Spanish striker captain his country to Euro 2024 success
Having played for Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, and Chelsea, 32-year-old Alvaro Morata is something of a footballing nomad, but he hasn’t yet established himself as one of Europe’s top strikers. Throughout his career, the Spaniard has scored goals wherever he has played, but his lack of skill in some of the most important games has kept him from becoming known as a forward of the highest calibre.
In 2017, the Spaniard was first linked to a move to the Theatre of Dreams, but United ultimately decided to sign Romelu Lukaku. The pushing forward secured a return to Italy, this time to multi-time Champions League champions AC Milan, after leading Spain to European triumph in the years after Ragnick’s proposal.
8Christopher Nkunku
Now at Chelsea
Christopher Nkunku, a former star of RB Leipzig, is now a Chelsea player and might have been Manchester United’s first acquisition of the Ten Hag era. After leading Leipzig to a top-four finish in consecutive seasons between 2021 and 2023 and amassing a respectable 70 goals during his tenure, the remarkable Frenchman had other prestigious clubs competing for his signature.
The forward has struggled with injuries since joining Stamford Bridge, but he has a knack for making an impression when he does play. As he battles teammate Nicolas Jackson for the number nine spot, he is now giving Enzo Maresca a headache.
9Dusan Vlahovic
Linked with Arsenal but still a Juventus player
If Manchester United had been more interested in listening to Rangnick’s transfer advise, they may have signed Imposing center-forward Dusan Vlahovic, who was predicted to become a star on the grandest stages in football. The 24-year-old, who currently plays for Juventus in Turin, has established himself as one of Serie A’s best players despite not being able to display the same level of strength as he did at Fiorentina.
Fans have a good possibility of seeing Vlahovic in the Premier League sooner rather than later once he’s on Arsenal’s radar. However, it’s unlikely that we’ll see him donning United’s iconic red shirt because coaches at Old Trafford are presently working to get the most out of both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
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