Man Utd left Ralf Rangnick ‘astonished’ with Erik ten Hag transfer

Erik ten Hag on Cristiano Ronaldo staying at Man Utd

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Former Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick was stunned by the club’s attempts to sign Marko Arnautovic. Rangnick, Arnautovic’s manager in the Austria national team since leaving United, made no secret of the need for an overhaul at Old Trafford but was astounded by Erik ten Hag’s short-lived pursuit of the striker.

The 64-year-old coach’s six-month tenure was highlighted by the outspoken nature of his press conferences rather than United’s dreadful form on the pitch. He often criticised the club’s recruitment strategy and the quality of his squad, diagnosing ‘open-heart surgery’ in Ten Hag’s first summer at the helm.

Rangnick famously publicly pushed the Red Devils to sign as many as 10 new players in what would’ve also been his first summer window in association with the club. But it was no surprise to see his two-year advisory contract ripped up at the end of the season after accepting the Austria job.

Ten Hag wasn’t quite backed with 10 signings in one window, but he did recruit six new players at the start of his long-term rebuild in M16. United’s summer could’ve looked different, though, had the club decided against performing a U-turn on their shock plans to sign Arnautovic for attacking reinforcements.

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Supporters, already frustrated by seeing just three names through the door and not one forward, revolted against the idea of the 33-year-old Bologna star. And according to the Manchester Evening News, Rangnick was, too, ‘astonished’ by United’s bizarre strategy in the market after using his recruitment expertise to provide months of advice.

United quickly threw the towel in after seeing an opening offer rejected, garnering mass criticism alongside their uninspiring chase for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot as doubts grew over Frenkie de Jong. However, the 20-time champions recovered and ended the window with a flourish.

Shortly after cancelling their pursuit of Rabiot, United completed the £70million signing of Real Madrid’s Casemiro. His arrival was followed by the double deadline-day captures of Ajax’s Antony for £85m, making him the club’s second-most expensive player in history, and Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka on a season-long loan.

Ten Hag splashed a total of £229m this summer, their highest-ever expenditure in a single transfer window. And the failed deals for Arnautovic and Rabiot will likely be looked back on as significant blessings in disguise.

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