Manchester United recorded the fourth highest revenue among football clubs in the world, according to Deloitte's most recent financial report.
They are also the fourth highest paid team, according to an estimate from FBref. But on the pitch, they are only 15th... in their domestic league.
Sometimes things like that happen. Dortmund under Jurgen Klopp ended the 2014-2015 Bundesliga season in seventh place. Jose Mourinho's Chelsea won the Premier League that season, but what about the next season? Mourinho was sacked in mid-season, and the Blues finished in 10th place.
For Man United, this is not simply a bad season. Based on the best available measure - a combination of 70% expected goals and 30% actual goals - Man United is currently the 15th best team in the Premier League.
And this is not the only time they have played poorly. In the last 4 seasons, the "Red Devils" have finished in the following positions: Friday, Tuesday, Eighth and 15th. Correspondingly, the number of goals conceded is: 0.+15,-1 and -10. There was an exceptional season, and it wasn't the last one.
Man United have not achieved any titles. And they have paid a higher price than almost any opponent in the world to get the best young players. Compared to other clubs of the same financial class, they can pay high salaries and more playing time to anyone they recruit.
With no pressure to win the Premier League or compete in the Champions League, Man United can focus on building a foundation for the next great generation.
Now they can do it, but they don't do it at all. With billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe running the team and coach Ruben Amorim, this summer proves that nothing has really changed at Old Trafford. Man United is still a mess.
Man United are really confused in how to negotiate transfers. They were upset when Brentford kept demanding more money from Bryan Mbeumo, but then returned the correct amount of money that the "Bees" demanded.
According to some sources, Man United are considering two names to add to the center forward position. They are Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig and Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa.
Sesko is a 22-year-old striker, inexperienced but has an ideal physique. Watkins (29), meanwhile, is a proven Premier League player, consistent and capable of scoring regularly.
The problem is that these two players are not similar in style or tactical value. Recruiting Watkins means optimizing for one or two next seasons. Meanwhile, recruiting Sesko will be an investment for the future.
Ratcliffe himself said in March this year that the real goal for the "Red Devils" to compete for the Premier League title is in 2028 - two seasons after the upcoming campaign. However, he admitted: "It's a bit difficult. But it's not impossible."
If we take the time for the "Red Devils" to be strong enough to win the Premier League in 2029, then Mbeumo will be 29 years old, Cunha will be 30 and Watkins will be 33.
Man United say they want to win in the future. But all their actions show the opposite.
