Manchester United have a long history of signing players on free transfers, with mixed results. As the summer transfer window approaches, manager Michael Carrick may look to the free agent market again. Mirror Football revisits three notable free signings: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Laurent Blanc, and Victor Valdes.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: A Free Signing That Paid Off
In 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined Manchester United as a free agent after his Paris Saint-Germain contract expired. The Swedish striker announced the move himself on social media, writing: 'Time to let the world know. My next destination is Manchester United.' United confirmed the signing, noting that Ibrahimovic had more Instagram followers than the club, which he used as justification to announce the news first.
Ibrahimovic was reunited with manager Jose Mourinho, under whom he had played at Inter Milan. He took the number nine shirt and made an immediate impact, scoring 28 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions in the 2016/17 season. He helped United win the League Cup and the Europa League that campaign.
Injuries hampered his second season, and he left for LA Galaxy in March 2018. Reflecting on his time at United, Ibrahimovic told ESPN: 'I had fun. I'm happy I played for United, which I think is the best team in England.'
Laurent Blanc: From Criticism to Premier League Glory
Sir Alex Ferguson had pursued centre-back Laurent Blanc since 1996, finally signing him as a free agent in August 2001. Blanc, then 35, had won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France. He was brought in to replace Jaap Stam.
Blanc struggled initially, with United suffering five league defeats by December, drawing criticism from fans. However, he earned a one-year contract extension after a turnaround in form. In the 2002/03 season, Blanc helped United reclaim the Premier League title. He retired shortly after that season.
Victor Valdes: A Free Transfer That Soured
In January 2015, United signed Barcelona legend Victor Valdes as a free agent to provide cover for David De Gea. Valdes had been recovering from a knee injury and was without a club after leaving Barcelona, where he won six La Liga titles and three Champions League titles alongside Lionel Messi.
Valdes was familiar with then-Manager Louis van Gaal from their time at Barcelona. He made his debut in May 2015 but was excluded from the pre-season tour the following summer. Reports said Valdes refused to play for the Under-21 side, and he was placed on the transfer list. He made only two appearances for United before loan moves to Standard Liege and later a free transfer to Middlesbrough.
These examples show the varying outcomes of free transfers at Manchester United, from the triumphant Ibrahimovic and Blanc to the disappointing Valdes.
