Gary Neville names two worst Utd signings since Sir Alex
Gary Neville told The Athletic in September 2026 that Angel Di Maria and Antony are Manchester United’s two worst signings since Sir Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford. He cited the Argentine’s £60 million fee and the Brazilian’s £82 million outlay as evidence of costly failures.
Neville’s own playing career spanned eight Premier League crowns and two Champions League triumphs, achieved alongside legends such as David Beckham and Ryan Giggs. Since his 2011 retirement, United have secured only one league title, in 2013, just before Sir Alex Ferguson departed Old Trafford. Man United’s transfer record has been a point of debate.
Angel Di Maria: a costly flop
Di Maria arrived at United in 2014 for around £60 million, fresh from a Champions League and La Liga double with Real Madrid. He earned the club’s Player of the Month award for September after contributing two goals and two assists in his first four games, but a hamstring injury in October halted his momentum. From that point he never replicated his early form, ending the season with four goals from 32 appearances before forcing a move to Paris Saint‑Germain.
The Argentine later flourished at PSG, adding five Ligue 1 titles and a World Cup win with Argentina, underscoring how he revived his career away from Old Trafford. He has repeatedly said that former United manager Louis van Gaal was the worst manager of his career, a view he voiced in a post‑season interview.
Antony: big spend, little return
Antony cost United roughly £82 million and burst onto the Premier League by scoring in his first three consecutive matches, a record for the club. His impact quickly faded, and he managed just 12 goals in 96 games before being loaned out and eventually sold to Real Betis.
At Betis he has logged 38 goal contributions in 80 appearances and featured in the UEFA Conference League final in the 2024/25 season, showing a resurgence that eluded him at Old Trafford. Nevertheless, his United spell is widely regarded as poor value for the hefty fee.
When asked to name the worst signings, Neville said, “I would say Antony and Di Maria. I’d have to say Antony.” He added that the criticism reflects United’s spending habits rather than the players’ character.
Action Images via Reuters captured Carl Recine Hal, an experienced freelance sports journalist now editing for GiveMeSport. Over the years he has contributed to Goal, football.london, HertsLive, 90min and The Set Pieces, and he earned an MA in Sports Journalism and an NCTJ qualification from St Mary’s University Twickenham. Since late 2021 he has been part of Valnet, after starting as a freelance writer for This Is Futbol and moving to FootballFanCast as a social media editor. Hal, an Arsenal and Three Lions fan who also follows the All Blacks, now gives the Red Devils’ coverage a seasoned voice.
Neville’s assessment underlines the lingering fallout from United’s post‑Ferguson transfer policy, reminding supporters that even massive outlays do not guarantee success. The club’s continued struggle to convert big‑money signings into performance remains a key narrative as it seeks to rebuild its identity.