Do you know there are players Ralf Rangnick recommended to Man Utd. Do you guys remember Ralf Rangnick? Manchester United hired the German boss in 2021 as an interim coach after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked. Initially, Rangnick was brought in to assist with player recruitment, and the plan was for him to transition into a consultancy role once a permanent manager took over.
However, despite being initially focused on recruitment, Rangnick faced criticism for on-field performances, ultimately leading to his departure.
But what if Manchester United had followed his recruitment advice and signed the players he recommended?
Players Ralf Rangnick recommended to Man Utd.
Let’s take a closer look at the fate of the 9 players Ralf Rangnick suggested for Man United.
1. Erling Haaland
Firstly, we all know the story of Erling Haaland. Rangnick recommended signing him for United, but that move didn’t materialize.
To be fair, it’s not entirely Manchester United’s fault. Even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to sign him, given their previous collaboration at Molde. However, Haaland had different ambitions, seeking a club in a stronger position, hence his choice of Man City. And now, he’s making a huge impact there.
2. Julian Alvarez
Julian Alvarez was another player recommended by Rangnick to United before City’s interest, yet the board didn’t pursue the move. Now, he’s thriving at the blue side of Manchester.
With 16 goal contributions in 42 appearances since joining City, Alvarez stands out. In comparison, Antony, for instance, has managed only 6 goal contributions in 33 appearances since joining United. The contrast in performance is striking. Additionally, Alvarez is a World Cup winner, adding further weight to his accomplishments
3. Enzo Fernandes
Did you know that Rangnick also advised Man United to sign Enzo Fernandes? Of course, that didn’t happen, but there was a time when United were reportedly leading the race for his signature.
What’s happening with Enzo? Well, you could argue that he joined the wrong club. It’s clear that he’s super-talented, but Chelsea has been in a bad state since he joined, even though his abilities still shine through regardless. He was named Young Player of the Year at the 2022 World Cup, so his talent is undeniable.
Man United should definitely have pursued him when Rangnick advised them to. Instead, they ended up going for Amrabat and Mount in the summer, two midfield signings that are turning out to not be so great for the club
4. Luis Diaz
Another South American player Rangnick recommended for United was Luis Diaz. The Colombian winger is an insanely skillful player who has been super effective for Liverpool since he joined. He has had 16 goal contributions in 40 appearances while Sancho has had 1 less in 18 more appearances. The difference is just so clear.
5. Alvaro Morata
Another attacker Rangnick recommended was Alvaro Morata. True, his time at Chelsea in the Premier League wasn’t the best, but Morata seemed a stronger striking option compared to Anthony Martial and Wout Weghorst, whom United eventually acquired during that period.
Now, Morata has notched up 10 goal contributions in 13 appearances for Atletico Madrid this season. Meanwhile, all of Man United’s attackers combined have scored just one Premier League goal so far this season. That alone speaks volumes about their recruitment strategies.
6. Dusan Vlahovic
Continuing on the attacking front, Dusan Vlahovic was also recommended by the current Austria national team boss. Despite not experiencing the best time at Juventus currently, he has managed 5 goal contributions in 9 Serie A appearances this season, significantly aiding Juventus in their early charge for the Serie A title.
Do we really need to highlight the collective number of league goals scored by all Man United attackers this season? Hojlund, Sancho, Antony, Martial, Pellistri, and Rashford have together scored only 1 Premier League goal in 11 appearances. Frankly, it’s a bit embarrassing.
7. Christopher Nkunku
Perhaps the one Manchester United might not feel too bad about missing out on is Christopher Nkunku. Chelsea secured the Frenchman’s signature, yet he’s still yet to play a single minute of official football for them and might not until the new year. Given their current situation, United might not have welcomed a new signing facing such a lengthy injury absence.
However, considering Nkunku’s impressive record of 32 goal contributions in 36 appearances for Leipzig last season, United might rue not signing him once he’s back to full fitness. Additionally, Nkunku boasts a high level of versatility as a forward, something lacking in most of Manchester United’s attacking options.
8. Konrad Laimer
Ralf Rangnick also told United to sign Konrad Laimer, a midfielder he worked with during his time at Leipzig. The Man United board refused to sign him, so Bayern went ahead and snatched him and he’s proving to be a really solid midfielder.
Instead of signing another attacking midfielder in Mount last summer when they already had a world class one in Bruno, United could have easily signed the young central midfielder Rangnick recommended when he recommended him.
9. Josko Gvardiol
Finally, Rangnick recommended Josko Gvardiol for Man United, but the board refused to go for him. And well, just like 2 other players on this list, Pep Guardiola went in there and snatched him. Now, Gvardiol is proving to be really solid and really versatile at the back for City.
But to be fair, United have a pretty solid defense so they don’t regret this so much. At center-back, they have World Cup winners Varane and Lisandro Martinez. They also have Lindelof, and Maguire even seems to be returning back to top form. But Gvardiol’s age just makes it feel like he would have been a really good signing for United, especially for the future.
From all these recommendations, one can tell that Ralf Rangnick’s talent ID is really top notch. Which of these recommendations do you think United should really, really have signed by all means?
Which one do you think they regret not signing the most?
Tell us in the comments.
