The 2024-25 campaign saw Manchester United reach new lows.
As well as recording their worst league finish (15th) since relegation in 1973-74, the Red Devils logged their lowest ever goalscoring tally in the Premier League (44 goals).
It was inarguably the club’s least successful season in the re-branded top flight and, as Ruben Amorim conceded back in January, United’s cohort of players are “maybe the worst” in its 147-year history.
Unsurprisingly, the Portuguese tactician has urged United’s chiefs to be active in the transfer market, and they have already responded by signing Matheus Cunha.
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But the former Wolves forward alone won’t be enough to turn fortunes around at Old Trafford.
So we’ve used our Squawka Score rating system, which factors in multiple statistical categories, to determine United’s worst five players on paper last season. We’ve then judged whether they should be sold or kept.
So who are the handful of players that did more bad than good for United last season?
NB: Only players with at least 648 minutes across the 19 appearances last season are considered.
1. Kobbie Mainoo – 46%
Believe it or not, Kobbie Mainoo was United’s worst player on paper last season according to our numbers.
The youngster was in the bottom 20% for Premier League central midfielders in forward pass percentage, passes into the final third per 90, final third entries per 90, and possessions won in the middle third per 90. To top it off, he didn’t score or assist in the league all season.
But his meteoric rise to the top of football, which saw him start for England at the Euro 2024 final last year, came after being chucked into the deep end. Mainoo proved his worth in Erik ten Hag’s starting XI as a teenager, amid a historically poor season for United.
That alone is enough to justify his position at the club for now. It would be non-sensical for United to jump the gun and sell him after one tough campaign at 20 years old.
Squawka’s verdict: Keep
2. Noussair Mazraoui – 48%
Like Mainoo, Noussair’s Mazraoui’s inclusion in this list may come as a bit of a surprise, but our numbers show that he struggled in 2024-25.
The Morocco international was in the bottom 20th percentile for possessions won in the defensive third per 90, and in the bottom 40% for challenges lost and fouls committed per 90.
In fairness to him, Mazraoui was deployed all over the place. He played on either flank at full-back and wing-back, and was often used as a right centre-back in Amorim’s back three. Fans might even remember when Ten Hag started him in the No 10 role in a Europa League game back in October!
When he featured in his natural right-back position, Mazraoui was solid. Not to mention, he cost United just £12.8m. The 27-year-old wasn’t anything special, but cashing in on him seems like an unnecessary reduction in depth.
Squawka’s verdict: Keep
3. Rasmus Hojlund – 51%
In a season of “worsts” for United, Rasmus Hojlund fit like a glove. The £72m striker blended into the Red Devils’ failure, contributing just four league goals across 32 appearances.
Perhaps most worryingly, Hojlund only took 32 shots – the 62nd-most of any forward in the Premier League. He wasn’t exactly efficient either; his 40.63% shooting accuracy was the 58th-best of forwards in the English top flight.
With Cunha arriving at Old Trafford, and reports that Inter Milan are interested in Hojlund, this summer seems like a perfect opportunity for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co to recoup some of the gargantuan fee that the club paid for the Danish flop in 2023.
Squawka’s verdict: Sell
4. Manuel Ugarte – 53%
Last summer, Manuel Ugarte was the latest of a long line of players brought in to solve United’s chronic midfield issues, which seemingly extend back to the end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign. But like many before him, the Uruguayan has failed to do so up to this point.
Ugarte was in the bottom 20% of all central midfielders for passes into the penalty area per 90, and in the bottom 40th percentile for passes into the final third per 90, accurate forward passes per 90 and final third entries per 90. Fluid ball movement is paramount in Amorim’s system and Ugarte just can’t seem to keep up.
Although, he hasn’t had done enough to warrant his exit. Like Mazraoui, Ugarte’s been nothing special, but it would be a bit of a trigger-happy decision to transfer list him after one season.
Squawka’s verdict: Keep
5. Joshua Zirkzee – 54%
Joshua Zirkzee wasn’t much better than his forward counterpart Hojlund. He was equally the antagonist in United’s nightmare story in front of goal in 2024-25.
The Dutchman netted just six in all competitions and had an xG underperformance of -0.16, placing him in the bottom 20% for Premier League strikers in both stats. Zirkzee was also in the bottom 40% for touches in the opposition box per 90, dispossessions per 90, non-penalty shots on target per 90, chances created per 90 and conversation rate. It was a bleak campaign.
If Hojlund goes, Zirkzee should too. Sure, some fans might have their preference between the two. But choosing either option is like debating whether to sleep in a wasps’ nest or a shark tank.
With United securing Cunha’s signing and in hot pursuit of Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, a fully refurbished forward line might be best.
Squawka’s verdict: Sell