Manchester United's 15 worst signings of all-time

Alexis Sanchez’s 19-month nightmare at Manchester United looks set to come to an end any day now.

The Chilean is close to securing a loan move to Inter Milan with a permanent deal in place for next summer.

Sanchez was supposed to be United’s saviour after the club beat Manchester City in the race for his signature - it did cost them £30 million and £505,000-per-week, though.

And Alexis has rewarded the club with just five goals in 45 appearances.

Man Utd’s worst ever signing? We think so.

But Sanchez isn’t alone in that category.

Down the years, United have made some pretty awful mistakes in the transfer window - and we’re not just talking during the post-Alex Ferguson era.

So, GIVEMESPORT have decided to take a look at the 15 worst signings United have ever made.

15 | David Bellion | £3m

There were suggestions that Ferguson had tapped up Bellion while he was at Sunderland.

He shouldn’t have bothered.

Four goals in 24 appearances was as good as his Old Trafford career got.

14 | Diego Forlan | £6.9m

A world-class striker - just not at United.

It took him eight months and 29 games to score his first goal. He left with 17 in 63 matches - although fans will never forget his brace against Liverpool at Anfield and still sing about it.

Then there was that time he took his shirt off after he scored and couldn't get it back on - playing for several minutes whilst just holding it.

13 | Manucho | Free

Manucho was 24 when Ferguson signed him following a three-week trial, despite playing fewer than 100 league appearances in Angola beforehand.

He went immediately on loan to Panathinaikos and played just one game for the Red Devils during his two-year spell.

12 | Gabriel Obertan | £3m

Just a look at how Obertan’s career has gone following his two-year spell at United sums up his quality - or lack of it.

Newcastle, Anzhi, Wigan, Levski Sofia and now Erzurumspor in Turkey.

He made 28 appearances for Man Utd and was pretty rubbish.

11 | Massimo Taibi | £4.5m

Nobody will ever forget THAT mistake when he conceded a goal from Matt Le Tissier.

One week later, it took him 27 seconds to misjudge a cross against Chelsea on United’s way to losing 5-0.

He played just four matches.

10 | Juan Sebastian Veron | £28.1m

It was a British transfer record but it didn’t go to plan.

He spent just two years at the club before he joined the Roman Abramovich revolution at Chelsea.

But English football just wasn’t for him and he soon returned to Italy.

9 | Falcao | £6m loan

Just coming back from a serious knee injury, Falcao struggled for fitness at United.

With Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie to compete with, Falcao managed just four goals in 29 appearances. He was equally disappointed with Chelsea but has since rekindled his best form at Monaco.

8 | Owen Hargreaves | £16.9m

A great player on his day. But he didn’t have many days at the Theatre of Dreams.

In four seasons, injuries restricted Hargreaves to just 27 league appearances - making four in his final three campaigns.

He made one league appearances for Manchester City before retiring.

7 | Morgan Schneiderlin | £25m

It’s easy to forget Schneiderin ever played for United. He only lasted 18 months and 32 league appearances before moving to Everton.

6 | Angel di Maria | £59.7m

Another British transfer record broken - and another massive flop.

Louis van Gaal didn’t get the best out of the Argentine and he only lasted one season - scoring three times in 27 league matches.

He’s since proved his true quality at Paris Saint-Germain.

5 | Anderson | £20m

He won the Golden Boy in 2008 and was tipped to be the next big thing.

But despite staying at the club for eight seasons, making 181 appearances, Anderson never fulfilled his potential and eventually returned to Brazil.

4 | Eric Djemba-Djemba | £3.5m

So bad they named him twice.

Lasted just two seasons, playing 20 times before embarking on one of the craziest careers ever.

Aston Villa, Burnley, Qatar SC, OB, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Partizan, St Mirren, Chennaiyin, Persebaya Bhayangkara, Chateaubriant and now FC Vallorbe-Ballaigues.

13 clubs in 10 different countries.

3 | Kleberson | £5.9m

Featured in Brazil’s victorious 2002 World Cup campaign and was wanted by a host of clubs. But he remained in Brazil for another year so he could marry his girlfriend on her 16th birthday.

Eventually, he moved to United but played just 20 times in two seasons.

Like Djemba-Djemba, he then went on a bit of a tour playing for Besiktas, Flamengo, Atletico Parranaense, Flamengo again, Bahia, Philadelphia Union, Indy Eleven and Fort Lauderdale Strikers.