Old Trafford has been home to many major football superstars throughout the years, and it’s not often that Manchester United gets it wrong when it comes to signing new players.
However, Ed Woodward made a huge mistake by allowing one player to slide through the gaps, and the United board will undoubtedly regret not taking the player’s potential more seriously.
Former Manchester United scout Jorge Alvial revealed to the Manchester Evening News that the Old Trafford hierarchy passed up multiple opportunities to capture Bayern Munich superstar Alphonso Davies, rejecting 40 reports on the talent before he signed for the Bundesliga giants.
The club eventually offered Davies a trial, but the 17-year-old turned it down and committed his immediate future to Vancouver, with the player ruminating on the interest from English clubs when he signed with Bayern Munich two years later.
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“I know there were rumors about England,” he told the Daily Mail. I was aware that many teams had approached my agency. My entire emphasis at the time was on Vancouver and getting into the playoffs.”
At this moment, the left-back has emerged as one of Europe’s most exciting prospects, having won 12 trophies with Bayern Munich since joining in 2019, including a Champions League and three Bundesliga titles. As a result, the United board must be having nightmares over passing up the opportunity to sign the 21-year-old when they had it.
Another slap in the face for the Red Devils will be the fact that the German champions signed Davies from Vancouver for just £9 million, and according to Transfermarkt, the young star is now worth an amazing £63 million as of December 2021, a 600 percent increase in value in just three years.
According to Squawka, when comparing Davies to United’s most recent left-back purchase Alex Telles this season, the Bayern Munich star has made 23 more ball recoveries, completed almost 200 more passes, has superior pass accuracy, completed 55 more take-on, and won 55 more ground duels.
Rio Ferdinand dubbed Davies the “Usain Bolt of football,” and United must learn from their decision to dismiss the young talent as they enter a new era with a new manager at the helm this summer.
