Top 10 Manchester United signings of the decade

6. Ander Herrera

Ander Herrera was targeted by David Moyes in the summer of 2013, but a move failed to materialize. It was Louis van Gaal who managed to get the Spaniard in the following season from Athletic Bilbao, in a deal worth £29m and Herrera joined the Red Devils in June 2014. His busy style of play and eye for a pass was a welcome addition to the United midfield. Herrera made 31 appearances for the Red Devils in his first season and also scored 8 times, which remains his best return in a season.

Despite falling out of favour under the Dutchman in the following year, the Spaniard battled his way back into the team and became a vital cog in the middle of the park, displaying a fighting spirit that set him apart. He was crucial in United’s F. A. Cup-winning run in the 2015/16 season, even setting up Martial with a subtle assist to score the winner in a tightly contested semi-final against Everton.

Following Jose Mourinho’s appointment, Herrera appeared in a number of different roles for his team. He helped United win the League Cup as well as the UEFA Europa League in Mourinho’s first season. The Spaniard fell out of the Portuguese’s good books soon, but once again managed to fight his way into the first eleven.

After Mourinho’s departure, Herrera became a pivotal part of Solskjaer’s midfield and was crucial in the Norwegian’s record-breaking start to life as the caretaker United manager. His high energy and intelligence were crucial for Solskjaer’s style of play and Herrera flourished under a manager who trusted him. Unfortunately, the United management failed to extend Herrera’s deal and he joined PSG in a free transfer in the summer of this year. By then, though, he had already made a place for himself in the hearts of United fans worldwide.

About the author

Deepungsu is a veteran football journalist who has been covering daily transfer roundups and news for over seven years at Sportskeeda. He has written more than 9000 articles for the website, and has garnered over 20 million reads.

Deepungsu holds a PG degree in Microbiology and an MBA degree in Total Quality Management. He has an extensive two-decade long writing experience, which includes a decade of sports blogging. His writing prowess has even led his work getting cited on the legendary Franz Beckenbauer's Wikipedia page.

Inspired by Diego Maradona, Deepungsu played as an attacking midfielder for his local club at subdivision level in his initial years and scored an important goal or two. However, his all-time favorite footballer is Lionel Messi, and evidently, he feels Argentina's glory in 2022 is his favorite FIFA World Cup moment for fulfilling his long-standing dream. He is also an ardent East Bengal fan.

Deepungsu has been a Manchester United supporter since the year 2000. Unsurprisingly, his favorite manager is Sir Alex Ferguson and the Scotsman helped him get through some of the toughest days of his life. Like the fiery Scot, Deepungsu also leaves no stone unturned when it comes to accuracy in articles and only relies on credible sources.

Despite believing in Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland to create an iconic rivalry, Deepungsu reckons no one can match the longevity of Messi and Ronaldo. He spends his leisure time writing about life on his blog, reading books, and playing the guitar.

Know More

Edited by Sai Teja