As preseason preparations progressed, transfer activities across the major Leagues became increasingly frequent.
On July 10, 2023, Manchester United Football Club officially announced that the Qatar Consortium had taken over the team for 5.5 billion euros, and would continue to manage the club with a professional management team.
Manchester United's Director of Football, Murtough, at the behest of the board, met with Erik ten Hag, approved the club's current season objectives; demanded that the team play attacking football as a prerequisite, and play aesthetically pleasing football; and also required the team to sign 2-3 world-class players.
After rejecting most of the transfer targets submitted by Erik ten Hag, the club quickly finalized its first transfer deal.
On July 15, 2023, Manchester United officially announced that Neymar had joined the team on loan for two years, with Manchester United covering 40% of his salary. The transfer contract included a mandatory buyout clause of 60 million euros. Neymar's weekly salary, when converted, was approximately 380,000 euros, making him the highest-paid player at Manchester United.
Having been asked to leave by Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar's salary demands were unaffordable for most top clubs, but after the Qatar Consortium took over Manchester United, things changed.
The previously proposed "introduction of the 'Cristiano Ronaldo rule,' hoping to limit player weekly wages to within 200,000 euros, allowing more players to be at this salary level, rather than spending 500,000 euros per week for one superstar" was completely shattered.
After Neymar's loan expires, Manchester United will offer him a two-year contract with a weekly salary of 500,000 euros and a signing bonus of 40 million euros, essentially equivalent to his current contract value.
The Qatar Consortium, which had previously vowed to bring Messi to Manchester United during the acquisition phase, even if they couldn't fulfill that promise, Neymar's arrival was enough to excite the fans. The only concern was Neymar's health.
Immediately after, Manchester United Football Club announced its second transfer deal three days later, directly buying central defender Pau Torres from La Liga's Villarreal for his minimum release clause of 100 million euros. Both parties signed a five-year contract with a weekly salary of 180,000 euros and an 8 million euro signing fee.
The Qatar Consortium's performance continued. Two days later, they bought Erik ten Hag's long-sought Declan Rice from West Ham United for 125 million euros. Manchester United successfully swayed Rice with a five-year contract offering 325,000 euros weekly and a 15 million euro signing fee. There was no other way; the offer was simply too generous.
In five days, they spent 290 million euros to acquire three world-class players, and the Qatar Consortium, through Manchester United, once again shocked European football.
The subsequent transfer work was handed over to Erik ten Hag, as the club needed to show some respect to its head coach.
The clear-out within Manchester United proceeded relatively smoothly.
Lindelöf and Wan-Bissaka, who were originally on the clear-out list, remained with the team, regaining trust through their performances in the final stages of last season.
Harry Maguire was sent to West Ham United on loan with a 20 million euro buy-out clause.
McTominay joined West Ham United for a transfer fee of 32.5 million euros, filling the midfield void left by Rice.
Martial joined Wolves on loan with a 30 million euro buy-out clause.
Dean Henderson refused to continue playing for the team and was bought by Arsenal for 7.5 million euros.
After Neymar's arrival, Sancho, concerned about his playing time, proactively requested to be put on the loan list and ultimately returned to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on loan for 500,000 euros per month.
Fred refused to leave; his contract with the club will expire next year, at which point he will consider his future options.
After these operations, Manchester United Football Club still had a transfer budget of 68 million euros, which for Erik ten Hag meant he could easily buy a few rotation players to strengthen the squad.
First, they poached goalkeeper Alexander Nübel from Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga for a bargain price of 1.9 million euros, but had to offer him a weekly salary of 90,000 euros.
Next, they bought Paris Saint-Germain's midfielder, Renato Sanches, for a transfer fee of 25.5 million euros and a weekly salary of 120,000 euros.
Then, for 18.5 million euros, they brought in midfielder Mario Pasalic, who had previously played for Chelsea, from Serie A's Atalanta, with a weekly salary of 88,000 euros.
Finally, Erik ten Hag, unable to find his desired player for the center-forward position, brought Wout Weghorst back to Manchester United for 20 million euros. This Dutch heir voluntarily took a pay cut to join Manchester United, only requesting a weekly salary of 67,000 euros.
The team's main transfers were largely completed, and other minor details such as the loaning out and purchasing of young players were gradually arranged as the team operated.
Before the start of the new season, Manchester United's starting lineup gradually became clear.
The tactics remained 4-2-3-1.
In the goalkeeper position, De Gea, who renewed his contract with a pay cut, remained the first choice, but he had to be ready to face the challenge from the newly arrived Alexander Nübel at any time.
In the defense, Luke Shaw and Malacia competed for the starting left-back position.
In central defense, Varane, Lisandro Martínez, Pau Torres, and Lindelöf competed for the starting positions.
The right-back position was contested by Dalot and Wan-Bissaka.
The three starting midfielders were largely confirmed: Bruno Fernandes, Declan Rice, and Casemiro. Reserve rotation players Eriksen, Renato Sanches, Mario Pasalic, and Fred would have to wait for opportunities, always ready to step in for starting positions vacated due to injuries, suspensions, or other factors.
On the forward line, due to a lack of personnel in the center-forward position, Erik ten Hag constantly experimented with different approaches during preseason warm-up matches and provisionally settled on two starting lineups.
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The first: left inverted winger, Neymar; center-forward, Rashford; right inverted winger, Antony.
The second: left inside forward, Rashford; center-forward, Wout Weghorst; right inside forward, Neymar.
In the first lineup, Neymar and Antony's roles are inverted wingers. Their attacking positions generally start from the flanks, making choices during the process of dribbling inwards, either attacking the goal or passing to a teammate.
This lineup focuses more on attacking the flanks, with Neymar and Antony dribbling in from both sides, and full-backs delivering crosses from the byline to create more attacking opportunities for Rashford in the center and central players making forward runs. Rashford is also required to contribute with better finishing ability.
In the second lineup, Rashford and Neymar's on-field positions are inside forwards. Unlike the first lineup, an inside forward's attacking stance is closer to the center, tending to break into the heart of the penalty area, thereby getting more shooting opportunities and directly threatening the goal, which is very suitable for players with superb finishing ability.
Therefore, the attacking focus of this lineup is in the center. Wout Weghorst in the center-forward position needs to act as a pivot, holding up the ball with his back to goal to create opportunities for teammates, while the full-backs need to push forward, supporting on both flanks while attempting diagonal passes into the box from a 45-degree angle.
Gao Nuo, in a substitute role, can play as a center-forward and right winger. Garnacho is more versatile, capable of playing in all three positions (left, center, and right). Manchester United academy's left and right wingers, Shoretire and Pellistri, were promoted to the first team as backup.
Just as Erik ten Hag was contentedly selecting two lineups and beginning to integrate the team, Manchester United Football Club's new owners presented a different opinion.
