Ex-Manchester United star Paul Parker has blasted his former side’s recent transfer policy, naming their worst signing in recent history, a £47.5million transfer who left the club this summer, while slamming a midfielder as "really poor".
Recruitment success has been hard to come by at Old Trafford over the last decade.
While the jury is still out on this year’s additions, though there is some promise, Bruno Fernandes represents one of the few who have come in and made a marked difference on the side.
In contrast, the list of those who have not lived up to the billing is staggering. This season saw Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund, Antony and Jadon Sancho depart the club, all of whom joined for whopping transfer fees.
Bruno Fernandes remains one of Manchester United's best signings in recent years
| REUTERSFormer United full-back Paul Parker, speaking exclusively to GB News via Slotozilla UK, blasted his old employer’s recruitment over the past decade.
He named Onana, who recently joined Turkish side Trabzonspor on loan, as the worst signing in recent history for the Red Devils.
The 61-year-old, who made 146 appearances during his five years at Old Trafford, even proclaimed he could “write a dissertation” on United’s recruitment mistakes.
“The vast majority have been poor players,” Parker said. “Because they haven't been prepared to graft, and they don't understand what it's like playing for the club.
Andre Onana has been named Manchester United's worst signing in recent history
| REUTERS“Onana is probably No 1 [worst signing], if you're going to go recent transfers. Onana was just never a goalkeeper and isn't a goalkeeper, he was just a friend of [Erik] ten Hag, that's what it was.”
And Parker feels United’s goalkeeping woes could continue, after they opted against making a move for Italian shotstopper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Champions League winner instead moved to local rivals, Manchester City, impressing against the Red Devils on his debut on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim’s side had also been heavily linked with a move for Aston Villa goalkeeper and World Cup winner, Emiliano Martinez. The 33-year-old has been a stalwart for the Argentinian national team throughout a period of great success, and could have provided experience and confidence to a United backline lacking in both.
Gianluigi Donnarumma made a terrific save to stop Bryan Mbeumo's stunning volley attempt on Sunday
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The former Arsenal goalkeeper was left out of Villa’s squad before deadline day, with a move to Old Trafford expected to be completed. Instead, the Red Devils chose to sign 23-year-old Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp in an £18m deal. He was left out of the starting line-up to face City at the weekend.
“It is a missed opportunity that United didn’t go for Donnarumma,” Parker continued. “They've had more misses than anybody! Too many misses. You look at him, you look at Martinez as well, you've got goalkeepers with stature, goalkeepers with pedigree.
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“At the moment, United haven't got enough pedigree to be perfectly honest. They've got a lot of ifs, buts and maybes, but nothing guaranteed at the moment in time.
“Donnarumma reminds me of [Peter] Schmeichel just by his manner, the way he saves when he goes out, he goes out like that, the way he spreads himself.”
But the problems are not just between the sticks for United; boss Amorim is yet to settle on a midfield pairing that he is comfortable with.
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When life gives you Lammens... 🇧🇪
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 1, 2025
Welcome to the club, Senne 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Abp9aWWrHd
Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes have all racked up significant minutes in the middle of the park this season, but the club winning just one game so far tells the tale.
Kobbie Mainoo, who enjoyed a superb breakout season in 2024 under former boss Erik Ten Hag, has seen his career stagnate under the Portuguese head coach, who seems to favour a more experienced midfield duo.
The 20-year-old was refused a loan move away from Old Trafford in the summer and was given over 30 minutes of playing time in the derby this weekend, despite his team-mates struggling.
Kobbie Mainoo had an impressive 30-minute appearance during Manchester United's 3-0 loss against Manchester City on Sunday
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Parker questioned the thought process behind Mainoo’s lack of minutes in the struggling side and tore into Ugarte.
He added: “[Ugarte] gets caught in possession so much, and I think he gets played around. Then you look for him to offer something, to progress or to go forward or even just to make something happen, and he's just poor.
“I don't understand how he can play in front of Mainoo, how he is supposed to be better than Mainoo. I am really not understanding or seeing it.
“I think Mainoo needs to go and play football, and I'm glad that he wants to do that. He's not sitting around sulking, and I thought when he came on, his performance was everything I hoped it would be.
“No different to [Amad] Diallo when he was coming on during the situation with Ten Hag, he did everything right; I thought Mainoo was excellent when he came on. The lad deserves to play; his attitude when he came on as a sub was absolutely top-notch. When he came on, he didn't give anyone any excuse to question his attitude.”