Former Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has reignited criticism of the club’s post-Ferguson direction, highlighting a key player he says he would never have signed. Now coaching Austria’s national team, Rangnick, 66, has long argued that United needed major structural reform—likening it to “open-heart surgery”—to regain past success. With recent seasons failing to inspire hope, his assessment looks increasingly accurate.
Rangnick managed United from December 2021 to May 2022, bridging the gap between Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Erik ten Hag. His record—11 wins, 9 draws, 9 losses—reflected a disappointing stint. While the club has added silverware in the FA and League Cups since, real long-term progress has been hard to find.
Last season was especially bleak. Under new manager Ruben Amorim, United finished a lowly 15th in the Premier League and were eliminated from the Europa League by Spurs. Much of the club’s ongoing struggles, Rangnick suggests, stem from inconsistent and shortsighted recruitment—using Casemiro’s 2022 arrival as a prime example.
Though Casemiro found renewed form late last season, even helping drive the team to an unexpected Europa League final, Rangnick remains critical of the decision to sign him. The midfielder’s physical transformation and resurgence were notable, yet Rangnick believes that investing £70 million and £350,000 per week on a 30-year-old defies logic.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he explained:
“If I were running a club, I’d focus only on signing younger players. Financially and strategically, it just makes more sense. Spending big money on someone nearing 30 doesn’t add up.”
He broke down the costs: a 30-year-old on a five-year deal could cost around €130 million when factoring in wages, fees, and bonuses.
Since Rangnick’s departure, United have spent over £600 million on new players. Casemiro, with 29 goals or assists in 125 appearances, remains at the club. With his contract set to expire next year, the club faces a decision: sell now—potentially to Saudi suitors—or use him for one final season before letting him go on a free.
