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6 months ago
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Ashley Young has revealed he is part of a WhatsApp group full of ex-Manchester United players - and the club's recruitment is a hot topic of conversation in the chat.
Young spent nine years at Old Trafford between 2011 and 2020, winning one league title in Sir Alex Ferguson's final season in 2013.
The Red Devils have failed to win the league again in the 11 years since, despite spending over £1bn during this period, including £170m last summer on the likes of Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana. This heavy spending did not translate to results on the pitch as United ended up in eighth place, their worst-ever Premier League finish.
Young has now opened up on a WhatsApp group that he is involved in along with several of his former United team-mates, and how they have raised concerns about the team's signings in recent years.
'Nowadays, with players that are retired, we’ve got a WhatsApp group,' he told talkSPORT.
Ashley Young has revealed Man United's ex-players have raised concerns over the club's signings
United spent £170m last summer, bringing in the likes of Rasmus Hojlund (right) and Andre Onana (centre), while they also splashed out £85.5m on Antony (left) in 2022
Wayne Rooney (left) and Rio Ferdinand (right) are part of the WhatsApp group that has questioned United's recruitment
'We’ve got ex-United players in there. At times, we do talk about it [transfers]. But when you’re in the dressing room, you’re not thinking, "why have we signed this player?"
'You’re trying to integrate them into the squad. I had fantastic times there and you want the best out of every single player who walks through that door.'
Young went on to reveal the name of the group and exactly which former players are in it.
'It’s called Band of Brothers. There’s quite a lot (of ex-players),' he added.
'Rio [Ferdinand], Fletch [Darren Fletcher], John O’Shea, Wazza [Rooney], Wes Brown, Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverly, Ando [Anderson], Nani, Berba [Dimitar Berbatov], Patrice [Evra], the twins, Rafael and Fabio, Quinton Fortune, Anders Lindegaard.'
Asked if there was anyone with particularly strong opinions, Young replied: 'Everyone. Honestly, every day that’s group’s going off. It’s like we’re still at training, that banter’s still going. Someone’s getting it every day, basically.'
United's recruitment strategy has raised eyebrows over the years, with the club failing to close the gap to Manchester City and Arsenal.
However, it could change this summer under new part-owners INEOS, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already moved quickly to bring in Omar Berrada as the club's new CEO and Jason Wilcox as technical director.
United are also keen to add Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director, although they are yet to agree a compensation package with Newcastle, and Mail Sport exclusively revealed earlier this week that he inadvertently sent an email to a Newcastle account disclosing a conversation he'd had with Berrada before United had informed the Magpies of their interest in Ashworth.
United's transfer strategy could change this summer under new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
This could lead to a Premier League 'tapping up' probe, but Ashworth is set to argue at an arbitration hearing later this month that he was sacked by Newcastle in a bid to force through his move to Old Trafford.
United's season is not over yet, with the team hoping to upset the odds and beat City in the FA Cup final on Saturday, before focus turns to the summer transfer window.
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