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The Comparison In Spending Between Manchester United And Ajax Is Staggering

The Comparison In Spending Between Manchester United And Ajax Is Staggering

United's outlay on transfers dwarves that of their opponents

Joe Baiamonte

Joe Baiamonte

That Manchester United have spent an arseload more on transfers in the past few years than Ajax should come as a surprise to no one. But when the actual figures are stacked up against each other, the stark contrast in spend is staggering.

Even during the days of Sir Alex Ferguson, when the likes of John O'Shea, Quinton Fortune and Ji-Sung Park could be man managed into world beaters on a regular basis, United would still spunk a good amount on international talent, some of which was worth the outlay; Rio Ferdinand, Jaap Stam, Robin van Persie, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney. And some of which that proved to be multi-million pound disasters; Juan Sebastian Veron, basically.

However, since Ferguson's retirement in 2013, an astronomical amount has been spent to maintain United's competitiveness in both the Premier League and continental competition.

More often than not, it's proven to be a disaster.

A British record fee of £59m was spent on bringing Angel Di Maria to Old Trafford in 2014, but, despite an impressive start to life at Old Trafford, injuries and personal problems caused the Argentine midfielder to depart less than a year later for a cut price of £44m to Paris Saint-Germain.

Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis and Bastian Schweinsteiger were brought in for a combined fee £56.5m and lasted just over 18 months before being offloaded to Everton, Lyon and Chicago Fire, respectively.


Memphis Depay on the bench
Memphis Depay on the bench


Schweinsteiger
Schweinsteiger

Neither Depay or Schweinsteiger made an impact during their brief spell with United. Images: PA

Even some post-Ferguson recruits who are still on the books at Old Trafford are some way short of convincing United fans of their quality, with £27.5m Marouane Fellaini and £30m Luke Shaw not exactly enjoying the best of reputations among the Red Devils' fanbase.

In total, £455m has been spent by United over the past three seasons, with the club having just one FA Cup and this season's EFL Cup to show for their troubles.


Pogba
Pogba

The £89m spent on Paul Pogba makes up a significant amount of the club's insane £455m outlay over the last three years. Image: PA

This sum is, insanely enough, more than Ajax, a club with four European Cups to their name, have spent on new recruits since the end of the second world war, with the Dutch giants spending £379m in the past 72 years.

When you consider the players that Ajax have had on their books during that time, including Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Ronald Koeman, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Edwin Van Der Sar, the De Boer twins, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael Van Der Vaart, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Kluivert, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Luis Suarez it proves not only how ridiculously prolific the Amsterdam club's youth academy is, but also how astute they can be in the transfer market.

Ibrahimovic
Ibrahimovic


Suarez
Suarez

Ibrahimovic and Suarez are proof of how effective Ajax's transfer policy has been in the past. Images: PA

While United continue to break transfer records, such as the world record fee of £89m they splashed out on Paul Pogba, last year and the £36m they parted with to make Anthony Martial the world's most expensive teenager, in 2015, the scrutiny on executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward will be even more intense should the club fail to lift tonight's Europa League, thus securing qualification for next season's Champions League.

Who do you think will emerge victorious from tonight's final in Stockholm? United or Ajax?

Have your say in the comments section, below.

(H/T Goal)

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football, Europa League, Manchester United, Ajax