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Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson is arguably the greatest football manager to grace the English soil, if not one of the greatest managers ever in the history of the game. He joined Manchester United in 1986 and it was here that the Scot would build his legacy.
He built United in the lines of their most successful manager before him, Sir Matt Busby, pulling them out of their recent misery. He stressed on the academy and ensured that United carved men out of boys with great precision.
Under his guidance, United's youth academy prepared one batch after another of youngsters who had his attacking philosophy embedded deep within them. And where United looked a little short, he bought talent into the club.
It is fair to say that Sir Alex Ferguson's signings helped improve his team and the great Scot knew very well how to spot a talent. He retired at the end of the 2012-13 season, after taking Manchester United to the pinnacle of success during his career.
Almost 6 seasons later, it is no surprise that a few of his signings are still at the club and are still an important part of the squad under their new Norwegian caretaker manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. These 6 cost the legendary manager total of approximately £76m and without further delay, we take a look at 6 men brought to United by Sir Alex Ferguson who are still playing for Manchester United.
#6 Phil Jones
Sir Alex Ferguson bought Phil Jones from Blackburn Rovers in June 2011, in a deal worth approximately £17m. The youngster, then just 19-years-old, had impressed for his club in the 2010-11 club season. He displayed good leadership abilities and a commitment that seemed to impressed Sir Alex, who had hoped that he would go on form another iconic United defensive partnership in the future.
However, things did not turn out too well for Jones, who had a run of back luck and injuries throughout his time at United. There were times when he looked unbeatable in defense, only for him to pick up a knock or commit a mistake. Unfortunately, it hampered his chances to establish himself at United as well as his national side.
Phil Jones is still a part of the United squad now. He has started 13 times already this season and has been the preferred partner to Victor Lindelof in defense under the fresh reign of Solskjaer. However, the Englishman still has that one mistake in him, even though his commitment is unparalleled and at 27 years old now, Jones is yet to fulfill his potential at United.
Also see : Manchester Transfer News, EPL Transfer News
#5 Antonio Valencia
The Ecuadorian joined United from Wigan Athletic in a £16m deal, in the summer of 2009. He was one of Sir Alex Ferguson's first signings after the big money departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. The veteran was expected to step up his performances after impressing at Wigan for the previous two seasons.
He put on the No. 25 shirt and his speed and strength worked well for United. In the 2012-13 season, he was handed the coveted No. 7 shirt, but Antonio Valencia was overburdened by the expectations of the iconic number and his performances took a toll. He reverted back to his old number in the next season and that is the number he wears as of now.
Valencia had been quite decent for United on the right wing and after Louis van Gaal's arrival, he modified himself for a new role as a right back, where he was very impressive till the end of last season. His strength and speed made him one of the most feared right backs of the country in that time. After the retirement of club captain Michael Carrick, Valencia was appointed the new Manchester United skipper.
This season, the Ecuadorian has been riddled with injuries and bad form and has played just eight times. He has failed to break into Solskjaer's set up, having made just one start. However, with a busy period coming up, Valencia should get his chance to impress his new boss again.
#4 Chris Smalling
Chris Smalling signed for Manchester United in January 2010, as United saw off stiff competition from Arsenal to bring him from Fulham for a reported fee of £7m. The then 20-year-old was immediately loaned back to Fulham for the remainder of the season and joined United in the summer of 2010.
Even though he started as an understudy to Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, Smalling showed promise right from the start. Since then, Smalling has appeared 307 times for Manchester United and also scored 18 goals.
Besides being composed and decent on the ball, he also has the ability to score important goals. Smalling has also played at right back for United in the 2011-12 season. However, even though he has been good for United on many occasions, the Englishman has not reached the benchmark set by legendary United defenders.
Smalling has captained United on quite a few occasions and will be 30 this December. Even though he has failed to establish himself as a first choice center back, the English defender is still an important part of the United squad as only a foot injury has prevented him a start under Solskjaer so far.
#3 Ashley Young
Like Valencia, Young was initially bought as an attacker, but rediscovered himself in a fullback role. Ashley Young joined United from Aston Villa for approximately £17m in the summer of 2011, after impressing for the Lions in the previous 4 seasons.
Young took over the No. 18 shirt left vacant by United legend Paul Scholes, but was a totally different player from his countryman. He was a winger with good combination of speed and skills. He had a never-say-die attitude in him and perhaps that was why he appealed to Sir Alex. He was an essential part of the team under Sir Alex, he had a good eye for a goal, was two footed and would usually create a lot of chances in the game.
After the arrival of Louis van Gaal, Young was shifted to the left back position, a decision that gave him a new lease of life. The Englishman grew in stature in his new role and was so good over the next few years that he made his way into the England team that reached the semi finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Young has appeared in eight of the nine games under Solskjaer and has wore the arm band 20 times this season in the absence of Antonio Valencia. The Englishman, as such, remains a vital component of the team under the Norwegian.
#2 Paul Pogba
Technically, the Frenchman is both a Sir Alex as well as a Mourinho signing and he had already stirred up a huge controversy when he was just a teenager. The Premier League giants had been embroiled in a huge battle with French side Le Harve, who claimed to have him under contract. FIFA had to intervene to clear Manchester United of any wrongdoing when they signed a young Paul Pogba. Sir Alex himself had openly defended his club during the tussle.
However, Pogba would go on to join Juventus after failing to break into the team in his three seasons at Old Trafford. He returned after Mourinho took over, becoming the costliest footballer in the world at that moment, costing United a then-world record £89m!
Since then, the Frenchman had endured a mixed life at United under the Portuguese. He had looked world class at times, while appearing average on other occasions and had not fully justified his price tag
But post Solskjaer's arrival, Pogba has been massive for United and has been one of their best players in the last month, if not the best in the division. Whether Sir Alex deserves credit for all that might be debatable, but it was the Legendary Scot who brought him to Old Trafford in the first place.
#1 David De Gea
David de Gea is one of Sir Alex Ferguson's best signings at Manchester United. Sir Alex apparently missed a Manchester United game so that he could watch de Gea play in person, when the Spaniard was at Atletico Madrid. de Gea joined United in the summer of 2011, for approximately £18.9m, a young lanky boy who hardly looked capable of bearing the physicality of the Premier League.
The Spaniard did have a shaky start to his life at Manchester, but in time and under the watchful eyes of the great Scot, he has come a long way, to become arguably the best goalkeeper in the world.
There were many games where he was the only difference, the Arsenal game last season and the Tottenham game this year is still fresh in memory of many learned observers.
In many ways, David de Gea was Sir Alex's parting gift to Manchester United. The legendary manager left United with a world-class star at the back and with a little help from an infamous fax machine, United have managed to keep the 2017-18 Premier League Golden Glove winner at Old Trafford. He is their biggest asset right now and all the credit goes to Sir Alex.
