Man Utd on Football Manager 2023: 10 tips for a new save
By Henry Burt, Tom Gott
Manchester United are always a popular choice for players starting a new save on Football Manager, and things are unlikely to change in Football Manager 2023.
United's status and financial clout always makes them a strong choice for managers looking to achieve short-term success in Football Manager. This time around, however, the Red Devils also boast one of the more valuable squads they've had in recent years, with enough star power to challenge for silverware immediately - or raise funds to build the squad of your dreams.
With that being said, United remain a work in progress and there's a few things you'll need to take care of before the glory days can truly return to Old Trafford. Take a look at our tips on where to start if you decide to take on the job.
Table Of Contents
- Football Manager news, features and rankings
- The best teams to start a save with on Football Manager 2023
- The best free agents to sign on Football Manager 2023
1. Deal with the Ronaldo situation
Re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo and putting him on half a million pounds per week is beginning to look like one of United's less prudent decisions.
The Portuguese still boasts strong attributes in FM23, including 19 finishing, but his wages and demands for first-team football mean he runs the risk of being an expensive problem to deal with as a manager.
With his contract expiring in 2023, it's possible to get some joy out of Ronaldo for a year before letting him move on. On that salary, though, you might be better off moving him on and using that wage budget elsewhere.
2. Make United into a financial powerhouse again
United's finances are rated 'okay' in Football Manager 2023. You'll certainly have some money to spend on transfers, and the 75,000 capacity of Old Trafford helps a lot, but it'll take more than that to consistently challenge the likes of Manchester City.
The first thing to do to improve your financial situation is bring the wage bill down. Shifting on a few overpaid stars like Ronaldo and Harry Maguire and replacing them with a core of hungry young talent will go a long way towards boosting the club's spending power, but the best way to get the funds rolling in is simply to start delivering consistent results and make the fans fall in love with the club again.
If you can sell out Old Trafford consistently and qualify for the Champions League, you'll be able to loosen the purse strings and sign more of the kind of star quality that United fans are used to.
3. Improve the backroom staff
Signing the right players is crucial in Football Manager, but selecting the right backroom staff is arguably just as important to your chances of success.
United's assistant managers, Steve McClaren and Mitchell van der Gaag, boast attributes of 13 and 14 respectively across the attributes of People Management, Judging Player Ability and Judging Player Potential. Decent, sure - but a club of United's means can certainly do better.
Signing staff in every position with ratings of 16-20 in the key attributes for their job will give you a major edge and ensure your players are as fit and well-drilled as they possibly can be. Football is a game of fine margins, and these small changes will all add up over time.
4. Work on your youth prospects
United lack youth players who offer major long-term potential for any side looking to win titles, but there are a few prospects in the academy who could help you raise funds if managed properly.
Facundo Pellistri, Shola Shoretire and Zidane Iqbal are among the best United's academy has to offer in FM23, and while they might never be good enough for your first team, integrating them into the squad will see their transfer value go up and potentially generate decent transfer funds when you move them on.
In the meantime, be sure to hire good scouts and seek out affordable wonderkids from around the world so you're never short on young talent again. United boast excellent youth facilities in Football Manager, so your annual youth intake should throw up the occasional gem too.
5. Sign a right-back
In the immortal words of Gary Neville, this is Manchester United. You've chosen to manage a top club with aspirations of being the best of the best, and that means signing the best in every position. There's no way around it; you're going to need a new right-back.
Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are both decent options for the short term, but neither has the capacity to grow into an elite full-back with an extended run in the team. Our advice is to move one of them on instantly and find someone with the pace, passing range and defensive acumen to play the role of the all-action modern full-back.
Achraf Hakimi might prove too costly, with a base value of over £100m, but you're not short on options. Around £30m will land you Torino's Wilfried Singo, whose excellent physical attributes make him perfectly suited to the role.
6. Sign a striker
Whether you sell Ronaldo or keep him for a year, the fact remains that you're going to need to sign a new striker within your first year or two at Old Trafford.
A striker who can score you 30 goals per season is vital, and worth spending big on if you've got the money. However, if you're after a bargain, there's more than a few up-and-coming strikers worth having a look at.
Our personal recommendation is Palmeiras' 16-year-old wonderkid Endrick, who is available for around £20m from the beginning of the game. While he won't be able to join you until he turns 18, the Brazilian's finishing and dribbling skills make him a handy asset who will evolve into a deadly striker within a few years.
7. Improve your midfield options
United have a decent squad, but there's no doubt that their midfield could be improved upon. Casemiro is as good as it gets when it comes to defensive midfielders, but Christian Eriksen is not a natural deep-lying playmaker and the likes of Fred and Scott McTominay have their limitations.
If you're keen on replicating Erik ten Hag's 4-2-3-1 formation, a top-quality DLP to partner Casemiro is a must.
Hellas Verona's Ivan Ilic will set you back £40-50m, but at 21 will set you up in midfield for the next decade. Just ignore the fact that he was a youth player at Man City.
8. Free Phil Jones
Yes, we said this last year, but some things simply never change.
Phil Jones, inexplicably, remains a Manchester United player in 2022. Not only that, but he earns a princely £110,000 per week, making him a major drain on your finances.
Finding a buyer for Jones who is prepared to pay his exorbitant salary won't be easy, but he's not a terrible player and can certainly do a job for someone - just not a side pushing for Champions League football. His contract expires in 2023, so a loan deal could do the trick if a permanent deal proves difficult.
9. Give David De Gea a new deal
Much has been made of David De Gea's patchy form for United in recent years. In the world of Football Manager, however, he remains one of the best keepers in the game.
The Spaniard's contract expires in 2023, and it's definitely worth tying him down for the next few years and seeking out young goalkeepers who could be developed into a long-term successor.
Anatolii Trubin or Diogo Costa are two possible candidates to replace De Gea down the line, but there's no rush.
10. Balance short-term and long-term planning
Achieving sustained success in Football Manager is largely about your ability to plan for the long term. Starting off at a club like Manchester United, however, presents the challenge of delivering instant results while still building for the future.
Getting this balance right will be key to your success in the job. Signing good players will help you out in the short term, but be sure not to neglect your academy and backroom staff. Similarly, while signing wonderkids is a lot of fun, it shouldn't come at the expense of building a squad capable of winning trophies.
Striking a balance between these two focuses is no mean feat, but achieving it will set you up to dominate world football with the Red Devils for years to come.