Looking back at a turbulent 2025 for MU

The year 2025 remained a forgettable one for Manchester United; moments of brilliance were few and far between, while at times the declines were extremely severe.

Most memorable moment

The biggest success on the pitch was definitely reaching the Europa League final, although in the end Man United still lost to a Tottenham Hotspur team that was equally unstable. Brennan Johnson’s first-half goal was enough to end the North London club’s 17-year trophy drought.

Regarding memorable moments, fans always recall matches against their fiercest rivals. Harry Maguire’s header against Liverpool in October secured a 2-1 victory for Man United, their first win at Anfield in 10 years. This also marked a milestone in Maguire’s remarkable “rebirth,” transforming from one of the most criticized players in the Premier League into a symbol of perseverance and effort.

Worst moment

If there was one match or moment that best reflected Man United’s current state, it was the second-round Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby. Grimsby, a team playing in England’s fourth tier, won a dramatic penalty shootout 12-11 at Blundell Park (capacity 9,000). Bryan Mbeumo missed the decisive penalty. Man United only managed to equalize 2-2 in regular time thanks to late goals from Mbeumo and Maguire after trailing 2-0 in the first half. This loss is now etched in United’s history as one of their most humiliating defeats ever.

This match also created a meme that Amorim will likely never escape: an image of him sitting on the bench, using a small board on his lap to draw tactics under a torrential downpour. Just two weeks into a promising new season, United hit rock bottom once again.

Successful signing

Bryan Mbeumo (£70 million) has performed excellently since joining the club, providing an immediate impact for Man United. After years of disappointment with various attacking players, Mbeumo’s ability to link play and create chances has been highly praised. At only 26, he still has plenty of potential to grow as United aims to rebuild a competitive squad.

Another name worth mentioning is Senne Lammens (€21 million). The Belgian goalkeeper is considered a bright prospect and has brought stability to United’s defense. Even Sir Alex Ferguson has praised his early performances.

Forgettable signing

The summer of 2025 saw many players brought in by Ten Hag being offloaded at significant losses. Rasmus Højlund, who joined United from Atalanta in 2023 for £64 million, is currently on loan at Napoli with a mandatory purchase option worth €44 million. André Onana, bought for £43.8 million from Inter Milan in 2023, was also loaned out, this time to Trabzonspor (Turkey).

Perhaps the biggest failure was how United handled Antony’s case. The Brazilian joined for a huge fee of €95 million, with an additional €5 million in potential add-ons, but failed to meet expectations and gradually became a secondary option in the squad. After a loan spell at Real Betis, he moved there permanently on the transfer deadline day for a fee that could reach €25 million.