'MU should have spent £82 million on Alvarez instead of Sesko'

Manchester United is under fire for their summer transfer window, opting for Benjamin Sesko rather than Julian Alvarez. Arsenal icon Paul Merson believes this decision might prove costly for the Red Devils.

Atletico Madrid paid £82 million to sign Julian Alvarez from Man City in August 2024. The Argentine star quickly proved his worth by scoring 33 goals in 63 matches for the Spanish club. Merson argues that this is the type of striker MU truly needs to complement Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, the new arrivals at Old Trafford.

In contrast, Man Utd chose to spend £74 million on Sesko from RB Leipzig. However, the Slovenian striker has yet to score in his first 6 games, increasing the pressure on him. Merson bluntly commented: "Manchester United’s style of play doesn’t suit Sesko. Bryan Mbeumo wants to score goals, Matheus Cunha likes to dribble. I don’t think they will be crossing balls for Sesko from the wings. Honestly, I don’t know when Sesko will score his first goal, and that’s a big concern for MU. They should have signed a striker like Julian Alvarez, who would fit perfectly alongside Mbeumo and Cunha."

Not only Merson, but Rio Ferdinand also shared his views on Sesko’s poor form. The former MU defender believes the striker must adapt himself rather than rely solely on teammates: "I think the responsibility also lies with the striker. Nowadays, there is enough technology and video analysis for him to show his teammates: 'When you have the ball in that position, look where I am.' Decisions in the final third are crucial, and Sesko has to make his teammates understand this through clear runs or direct communication after matches."

Ferdinand also recalled the story of Ruud van Nistelrooy quitting training because Ronaldo didn’t pass him the ball. He emphasized that Sesko needs to learn how to communicate his needs to teammates if he doesn’t want his career at Old Trafford to stall.

From another perspective, legend Peter Schmeichel believes MU shouldn’t have signed Sesko at all. The Danish goalkeeper highlighted: "It’s nothing personal against Sesko – but we don’t need him. MU requires a central midfielder to control the midfield and a better goalkeeper. Those are the real issues that remain unresolved."

Clearly, doubts about the Sesko signing are growing. With no goals after 6 matches, the 22-year-old striker will have to work hard to prove his worth and dispel unfavorable comparisons to Alvarez.