10 Most Expensive Man Utd Transfer Flops In History

3. Garry Birtles (£1.35 Million)

Garry Birtles
S&G/S&G and Barratts/EMPICS Sport

When it comes to Manchester United flops, Garry Birtles is often afforded the prestigious honour of being recognised as the Old Trafford outfit's first spectacular flop.

Signed from Nottingham Forest for £1.35 million in 1980, anticipation was high that European Cup winner Birtles would score the goals that would lead United to glory.

Only he didn't score. At all.

Well, at least in that first season, that is. Yes, in the 25 league appearances the striker made in that 1980/1981 campaign, he didn't score a single goal for the Red Devils.

In his Forest career, Birtles had shown he was more than capable as he netted 32 goals in 87 games. Yet the move to United saw him become a figure of ridicule.

The following season would see him fare better by grabbing 11 goals in 33 games, but manager Ron Atkinson decided to cut his losses and allowed the player to return to Forest for an undisclosed fee.

What you have to keep in mind here, is that £1.35 million in 1980 was absolutely ginormous money. In fact, the British transfer record at the time was £1.46 million - which shows you just how big a deal a £1.35 million transfer was back then.

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