5 World Class Players Man United Have Bought Over 30
Ageing players Manchester United have bought in the past.
With the signing of 30 year-old Bastian Schweinsteiger comes the inevitable question: are Manchester United taking a big risk signing a player who will turn 31 in August? Traditionally United's transfer policy has been to buy much younger players and help them to realise their potential, as was the case with Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and more recently Memphis Depay. Or to purchase players right at the peak of their footballing powers, such as Juan Sebastian Veron and Dimitar Berbatov.
It's clear Sir Alex Ferguson wasn't fond of buying players over the age of 30.
The fee for Schweinsteiger is also a talking point: around £15 million is the reported fee (as per the Guardian), which may not seem like much, but there definitely won't be any chance to recoup a lot of that money if the transfer doesn't work out. He easily becomes the most expensive player aged 30 or over United have ever bought, although paying £24 million (as per BBC Sport) for a then 29 year-old Robin van Persie showed the need they have for immediate success.
Louis van Gaal has so far given no indication he will stay beyond his 3 year contract so will be looking for a quick fix, and with Schweinsteiger that is exactly what he could get. In short, that investment is worth the risk for him and his managerial career.
So who have United bought in the past that were in the supposed twilight of their careers? And did they get a good return on their investment?
5. Bastian Schweinsteiger
Fee: £15million from Bayern Munich, 13th July 2015 (as per the Guardian)
Age: 30
Signing the World Cup winning captain has stamped a serious statement of intent from United. A proven winner with bags of experience, Schweinsteiger could well provide what the club have been missing since the departure of Roy Keane all that time ago.
He has 69 goals in 535 appearances and his major honours list is simply staggering: 8 Bundesligas, 7 DFB Pokals, 1 Champions League, 1 Club World Cup 1 World Cup. He represents a risk well worth taking.
The Impact
Uncertain so far, but if his career to date is anything to go by, there's good reason to be excited.