Man Utd break record for most expensive squad ever built

Manchester United have put together the most expensive squad in history, according to the latest report on European finances.

The report takes into account the total cost of the transfer fees paid to sign every player in the squad, but does not include United's expensive shopping spree last summer when Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir joined for around £180m combined.

According to UEFA's latest study, even before those expensive new faces were added to the mix United's squad cost them a whopping €1.422bn (£1.21bn).

That is the highest total ever recorded, eclipsing the record set by Real Madrid in 2020. Eden Hazard had joined the Spanish giants 12 months earlier for well over £100m, adding to a squad which featured expensive signings like Ferland Mendy, Luka Jovic, Eder Militao and Rodrygo.

United have never been scared to splash the cash to bolster their squad. They paid £85.5m to sign Antony in 2022, with the Brazilian becoming their second most-expensive signing of all time, eclipsing the £80m spent on centre-back Harry Maguire.

Jadon Sancho cost the Red Devils around £73m and is included in this calculation, having since left the club to join Borussia Dortmund on loan.

Also included is United's £60m spend on Casemiro, the £47m deal to sign Bruno Fernandes and the complex agreement for Anthony Martial, who has cost United £43m to date.

That expensive squad could only lead United to third in the Premier League standings last season, 14 points behind eventual champions Manchester City, who are the only other team in Europe to spend over £1bn on their squad.

City parted with a cool £1.1bn to build their current unit - more than the entire Barcelona and Bayern Munich squads combined.

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