Manchester United s depravity: Even the "small character" refuses to join, who will save this devastating wealthy family?

When Ruben Amorin agreed to take over Old Trafford's coaching stick, many people thought it was a bold adventure in the young Portuguese coaching career.

Amorin faces many challenges.

But perhaps Amorin himself could not imagine how ruined this "Red Empire" that once ruled England was now. The 2024/25 season was not only the worst season for Manchester United in half a century—ranked 15th, lost 18 games and ended with a negative goal difference—and also marked the full decline of this once-significant global club.

From the dream place to the mediocre choice

In the past, Manchester United was the dream destination of all players. Sir Alex Ferguson's call was enough to change the landscape of the transfer market.

But now, even young talents with Manchester ancestry like Liam Drapp have chosen Chelsea over Manchester United, citing "their game style and ambitions are clearer". For a young player with a termination fee of only £30 million, watching him fall into the hands of his competitors once again proves that the "Red Devils" have lost their position on the football territory.

Data from Transfermarkt shows that Manchester United has spent more than 780 million euros (about £670 million) in the transfer market since the summer of 2019. Among them, the three most expensive signings - Sancho (£73 million), Anthony (£85 million) and Hoylund (£72 million) - are currently depreciating severely. According to the latest update, the market value of the three is only about £110 million, a shrinking nearly 45% compared to when they signed the contract.

Bruno Fernandez, the captain of the team, is a rare bright color in this bleak season. He contributed 12 goals and nine assists in the Premier League, is the player with the most opportunities (91 key passes) in the team and the only one to show his fighting spirit among a group of exhausted players.

However, facing an attractive invitation from the Riyadh Crescent and a salary temptation of up to £400,000 per week, even a loyal player like Fernandez began to waver.

If Bruno is lost, Manchester United will not only lose their spiritual leader, but also the last light that guides the direction in the dark tunnel. More importantly, this will send a negative signal to the market: Even the best and most loyal people no longer have confidence in the project.

Can Amorin reshape the "Red Devil"?

Ruben Amorin is a coach with clear and modern football philosophy. In Portugal Sports, he led the team to the Portuguese Super League championship, ending the club's 19-year championship drought.

Organized pressing tactics, flexible three-center-back system, and ability to tap young players make Amorin one of the most popular coaches in Europe. But can he reappear in a collective lacking direction, lack of discipline, and is experiencing a crisis of trust?

Amorin showed a tough side, and because of his unprofessional attitude, he excluded Rashford from the roster in the second half of the season. But this also made him lose the most experienced shooter.

Sancho publicly stated that he wanted to leave. Alejandro Garnacho hinted through social media that he was leaving the club. If Bruno also leaves, Amorin will almost have to rebuild from scratch—not only in terms of personnel, but also in terms of team culture.

Financial, Brand and Attraction: All are in a recession

Another factor that weighs on Manchester United is the fiscal situation and brand image. Although it remains one of the world's highest brand value clubs (Forbes ranked 4th in 2024), the decline in professionalism is dragging down the business side. Sir Jim Ratcliffe of Inelos - owning 29% of the club - lost up to £6.5 billion in net worth in the first 18 months of investment, which is a wake-up call.

Manchester United no longer has the ability to compete with Real Madrid, Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the transfer market. Even Chelsea, which ranked No. 8 last season, can easily compete with the Red Devils for players, thanks to their young programs, visionary coaches and efficient scouting systems.

Although all signs indicate that this is a bleak sight, there are still some sporadic highlights. Manchester United signed Mattus Cunnia from Wolves - a skilled forward with active pressing, perfect for Amorin's system. They are still paying close attention to many other young talents.

However, such a transaction cannot be successful without clear plans and long-term stability. Most importantly, Manchester United needs to change their mindset: from chasing glitz to building a sustainable foundation.

Manchester United is standing at a crossroads of history. On one side is a challenging road to reconstruction that requires patience, wise investment and consistent leadership. On the other side is a terrible prospect: becoming a "Premier League version of AC Milan" - living in the glory of the past without a future.

Ruben Amorin may be the right person to start over. But the conditions for his success have not been guaranteed. Without real support from the top, even a talented strategist would be trapped in a vortex of failure like many of his predecessors.

A life-and-death summer is waiting for Manchester United. The question is no longer "Can they sign the stars?", but: "Who else is willing to come?"