‘This Is A Completely Different Football Club’ Manchester United Labelled As A ‘Backward Step’

The current state of Manchester United will have players wondering whether joining the club is a ‘backward step’. 

Former Chelsea and Celtic striker Tony Cascarino has questioned whether any players linked with a move to Old Trafford will think it is a step backwards in their career. 

This comes after United’s long standing interest in Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is set to materialise into a deal, with both parties inching ever closer to reaching an agreement. 

Cascarino said on talkSPORT: “Manchester United for the large period of my career, the grass was never greener leaving Manchester United.” 

“Now you have got players who are looking at the club and thinking is this a step backwards, which is a complete reversal of how it used to be.” 

The former Irish international added: “De Jong will be thinking, Barcelona didn’t have a particularly great season neither but is going to Manchester United who finished sixth last year a backward step for me?” 

“There is an element in that within players, who are thinking this is not the Manchester United of 2013 and before, this is a completely different football club now.”

“There are a lot of issues at that club to be dealt with, not just on the field, off the field. They’ve tried to make quite a bit of change but there are loads to be done.” 

New manager Erik ten Hag is about to start his reign as United boss, with players reporting back for pre season training on Monday ahead of the club’s tour of Australia and Thailand which starts at the end of next week.

The Old Trafford club have let multiple high profile players leave including the likes of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata, but no new players have been signed yet. 

The deal for De Jong is getting closer but not yet over the line, they are said to be put off by the asking price for Ajax winger Antony, which is believed to be in the region of £68 million. 

Free agent Christian Eriksen is deciding whether to join United or rejoin Brentford where he spent the second half of last season at. 

There are a lot to do both on and off the pitch, with the clock ticking and the new season fast approaching, United need to pick up the pace in order to give their manager a squad that is capable of challenging for the top honours.