Gary Neville has backed Manchester United’s new players to prove themselves on the big stage next season, and has given three reasons why they will succeed.
After a turbulent campaign in the 2024/25 season that saw Manchester United finish 15th in the Premier League, this summer gave the Red Devils an opportunity to right their wrongs.
Ruben Amorim has welcomed two new signings to his squad so far in the names of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford, respectively.
The two attackers combined for 35 league goals last season in the English top flight, also achieving 13 assists. It is thought that this pair will go a long way in resolving United’s goalscoring conundrum.
With many supporters eagerly anticipating Cunha and Mbeumo’s debut season for the Reds, United legend Gary Neville has given his three reasons as to why the pair will succeed.
Neville on United’s past failed recruitment
When talking with Sky Sports, the former United full-back spoke on the recruitment from the Reds this summer, and he also touched on the disappointing recruitment over the past decade.
He said, “Manchester United over the last 10-11 years have sort of accepted a position whereby they’ve made mistakes in the transfer market, or they’ve made mistakes in recruitment, or they’ve held onto players too long.
“It would seem that, to be fair, what’s happening now is that Ruben Amorim is identifying players he does not want in the squad and, to be fair, he’s moving them out of the squad. That’s a positive.”
Neville then proceeded to mention that United still need more signings, saying, “There are a couple more needed. I think they need a goalkeeper, they need a centre forward.”
Neville’s thoughts on United’s signings
The English pundit had a lot of time for United’s two new attackers, stating, “I do like on paper, the signings of Cunha and Mbeumo,” before then explaining his three reasons as to why he thinks they’ll succeed.
“One [reason] is that they’ve got Premier League experience. One is that they look more like Manchester United’s style of players, with a bit more pace and power, and the ability to have that sort of physicality to get from box to box quickly.
“I’ve always felt that United need players who can open their legs up and really sort of stretch teams, and I think Cunha and Mbeumo do that.
“And then the other thing that I like about those two signings is that they’ve not proved themselves at the highest level yet in the game in respect of the Premier League club level, or you know, European club level.
“So they should be really desperate and hungry to prove themselves on a huge stage, which is Old Trafford, and that hunger hasn’t always been there in the last ten years with players who have come to the club.”
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