Wayne Rooney Names Three ‘Mistake’ Signings That Have Set Man Utd Back Years

Wayne Rooney has picked out three signings that set Manchester United back for years.

Following a poor first season in charge for Ruben Amorim, United backed him in the summer as they spent big to improve the squad.

The likes of Diego Leon, Senne Lammens, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko were brought in, taking the club's spending to around €250 million.

The Red Devils did part ways with fringe players such as Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund.

Despite a poor start to the 25/26 campaign, United are currently enjoying an upturn in form.

Amorim's men are unbeaten in five matches, having won against the likes of Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion before drawing with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur.

Speaking recently on The Overlap's Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet, Rooney commented on United's upturn in form.

Ruben Amorim is starting to turn his Manchester United career around. Image: Getty

He said: "Now they've got a couple of results, you can see the confidence coming back and the manager as well, he needed those results for himself.

"I think gradually we are starting to see better signs, but you have to be realistic and say are they gonna win the league? No they're not. But we are starting to see improvements."

Touching on the signings made since INEOS boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment, Rooney spoke about the club's past mistakes when it came to recruiting players.

The former striker added: "The recruitment before that was horrendous, wasn't it, just bringing names in. If you look at (Romelu) Lukaku, Zlatan (Ibrahimovic), good players, but they were just bringing players, (Paul) Pogba coming back.

"They were just bringing names in and spending an enormous amount of money, which is going to take a bit of time to actually get over them mistakes."

Focusing on Sesko, Rooney said: "I think he's going through a tough time in terms of goals scored. I think the keeper is being more direct to Sesko; he can compete, and he can hold the ball up better than Hojlund.

And we are seeing as the ball is going up to him, (Bryan) Mbeumo is making the runs in behind, (Matheus) Cunha is making runs in behind, and Mason Mount at times when he is playing.

"They know he'll compete and will win flick-ons. He's been better than what people have been suggesting, but I still think he needs to get the ball, lay it off and get in the box. I think he will come good."