Raphael Varane is edging closer to joining Manchester United - and the Red Devils will be hoping their latest raid on Real Madrid pans out better than their previous one.

United, like many of their Premier League rivals, have struggled to get the best out of players signed from Los Blancos despite paying eye-watering fees over the years.

It may be an old adage, but players often seem to struggle to adapt to life in the English top flight, with Rio Ferdinand voicing such concerns over the proposed signing of Varane.

Indeed, there is no shortage of players who have failed to live up to expectations after moving from Real Madrid to the Premier League.

Without further ado, here are five transfers which left clubs regretting their splurges.

Angel Di Maria
Angel Di Maria is considered one of the finest wingers in Europe, but the less said about his time with Manchester United the better.

The Red Devils paid a British-record £59.7million to sign the Argentine winger from Real Madrid in 2014 but he lasted just one season at Old Trafford.

Di Maria scored four goals in 32 games during a hugely-underwhelming season under Louis van Gaal before departing for Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £44million, meaning United made a significant loss on the player.

Alvaro Morata

Alvaro Morata has faced fierce criticism wherever he has played, be it for Real Madrid, Juventus or at international level with Spain.

That being said, he has also proved himself to be a classy player capable of stepping up on the big stage, as shown with his three goals at Euro 2020.

But Morata found goals hard to come by after Chelsea signed him for a club-record £60million from Los Blancos in 2017.

The 28-year-old scored just 24 times in 72 games for the Blues before he was shipped out on loan to Atletico Madrid in January 2019.

Fortunately for Chelsea, they managed to recoup the vast sum they spent on Morata when he sealed a permanent return to Atletico last summer.

Robinho

Another expensive forward transfer which failed to deliver the goods, Manchester City were left red-faced after signing Robinho for £32.5million on deadline day in 2008.

The Brazilian was supposed to usher in a new era of silverware for City after their takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.

But Robinho managed a paltry tally of 16 goals in 53 games before returning to Santos on loan after 18 months, with no trophies in his cabinet from his time at the Etihad.

Danilo

Sticking with Manchester City, the Sky Blues would have been expecting far more from Danilo after his £27million arrival from Real Madrid in 2017.

The Brazilian showed patches of his quality but failed to nail down a starting role in Pep Guardiola's side during a time when full-backs were regularly chopped and changed.

Things have worked out rather well for City, however, as they used Danilo as a makeweight in a part-exchange deal to sign Joao Cancelo - one of their standout performers last season - from Juventus in 2019.

Michael Owen

Michael Owen spent just one season at Real Madrid before returning to the Premier League after Newcastle United agreed a club-record £16.8million transfer in 2005.

The Ballon d'Or winner was unveiled in front of a 20,000-strong crowd at St James' Park, but he failed to bounce back from his mixed spell in Spain on Tyneside.

Owen managed 30 goals in 79 games for the Magpies but his time with the club was notoriously injury-ravaged and he was unable to prevent their relegation from the Premier League in 2009.

Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/real-madrid-premier-league-varane-24623782

Ahh,reminds me of Man U and Varane,

Hope the superstitious belief work against manyoo

Arsenal is the most consistent team in the EPL for the past years.


Lalasticlala

obembet:
Arsenal is the most consistent team in the EPL for the past years.


Lalasticlala

by consistent, you mean?

Maria just wasn’t really into this games at United hence the flop. Funny enough he won club's player of the month award for September after two goals and two assists in his first four games. Then he started playing rubbish

Chelsea fans and pain, all this epistle just bcus Manchester United are signing a;

World Cup Winner
Uefa Champions League Winner
Club World Cup Winner
La Liga Winner
Copa Del Rey Winner
One of the best defenders of this generation

While they are stuck with Grandpa Silva

.

Owen's case was simple. The Magpies were taking a risk buying him, and they knew it. Even back then it was plain to see that Owen's best days were behind him at the point he went to St james' park

They just bought him for what he was , not for who he was at that moment.

Nasso

Ozil

Your assertion is not far from the truth but there's always a first time

we did not break any bank.
The amount Manchester United will pay is even not up to £40 million

Well United didn't break the bank. Raphael is worth more than 40 million pounds. Madrid are in financial distress and will do what they can to make money from a player who could leave for free next season.

Ozil nko?

Noted

All the best to them.

I haven’t read the content yet but if Torres to Chelsea doesn’t appear…

Di Maria didn't flop...

hmmm it's alright

This also happens with other clubs, not only Real Madrid. I really hope Varane does well at United

Ajibam:
we did not break any bank.
The amount Manchester United will pay is even not up to £40 million

No mind them money we use buy amad if not for that his contract is almost off he for cost pass 50m