That’s how expensive the United team was, who made a fool of themselves

After the botched start of the season in the Premier League against Brighton & Hove Albion a week ago (1: 2), Manchester United went one better – in a negative sense. In Brentford, the English record champions got really badly under the wheels, after just 35 minutes (!) it was 4-0 for the outsider.

Although the Red Devils are having a lousy transfer period and getting many baskets from desired players, there was still an eleven on the pitch at the Brentford Community Stadium that cost a horrendous sum and should therefore have great potential.

SPOX takes a look at the cost of those players who embarrassed themselves to the bone early on Saturday night:

goal and defense

• David DeGea | joined from Atletico Madrid in 2011 | Transfer fee: 25 million euros
• Diogo Dalot | came from FC Porto in 2018 | Transfer fee: 22 million euros
• Harry Maguire | joined from Leicester City in 2019 | Transfer fee: 87 million euros
• Lisandro Martinez | joined from Ajax in 2022 | Transfer fee: 57 million euros
• Luke Shaw | came from Southampton FC in 2014 | Transfer fee: 37.5 million euros

midfield

• Fred | came in 2018 from Shachtjor Donetsk | Transfer fee: 59 million euros
• Fernandes Bruno | joined in 2020 from Sporting CP | Transfer fee: 67 million euros
• Christian Ericsen | joined from Brentford FC in 2022 | free transfer

attack

• Jadon Sancho | came from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 | Transfer fee: 85 million euros
• Marcus Rashford | joined the professional squad from his own youth in 2016
• Cristiano Ronaldo | joined from Juventus in 2021 | Transfer fee: 15 million euros

In total

United paid 454.5 million euros in transfer fees for the Brentford starting eleven alone, the shaky back four devoured more than 200 million of it! Not forgetting that some of the stars are amongst the absolute top earners in the Premier League.

The fatal appearance on Saturday is all the more remarkable. A lot of work awaits the new coach Erik ten Hag.