Ranking Manchester United's biggest controversies

Chaos masquerading as a football club

Few clubs do glory quite like Manchester United — but few do chaos quite like them either. Whether it's physical altercations, transfer shambles or just wildly poor club decisions, Old Trafford has seen its fair share of controversy. Here’s a look at some of the most jaw-dropping moments in the club’s turbulent modern history.

14. The "Nazi" email scandal (2013)

When what you might call "accidental Nazi imagery" was sent out as part of United's weekly 'Uncovered' email newsletter, the club faced a PR nightmare. Though unintentional, the incident sparked outrage and awkward apologies – a classic example of how the Red Devils can have a serious off-day — off the pitch.

Image credit: X/@LordCunny

12. Garnacho’s Rash Villa holiday (2025)

What’s worse than a young star wearing another club’s shirt? Wearing Aston Villa’s shirt, with Marcus Rashford on the back, while still employed by United. It hasn't exactly endeared Alejandro Garnacho to the fans.....or the board. The PR team is still spinning.

11. Stealing Paul Pogba (2009)

United snatched 16-year-old Paul Pogba from Le Havre amid accusations of “stealing” their young talent. Yet it never really felt like United got a 'steal' when it came to Pogba. About seven years later they bought him back for £89 million.

10. 2024/2025 (2024/2025)

2024/25 wasn’t just bad — it was historically dreadful. United finished 15th with just 42 points, their worst league campaign since relegation in 1973–74. Erik ten Hag was sacked after the club accidentally triggered a contract extension, and his successors couldn’t stop the slide. Amid new ownership and endless injuries, United looked both overcoached and completely directionless. A season that belongs in a museum. A very sad museum.

9. The Ángel Di María mistake (2014–15)

He came, he ran a bit, he got robbed, he vanished. Bought for a record fee, Di María lasted one season before legging it to PSG, calling Manchester “horrible” and its inhabitants "weird" on the way out, as the Daily Mail reported. The city probably still hasn't forgiven him.

8. The £85 Million Invisible Winger (2022–?)

Antony was supposed to be ten Hag’s Brazilian jewel. Instead, fans are still trying to remember his last assist. Or shot. Or forward pass. All for the small fee of £85 million. Though he's wrapping up his loan spell in Spain this summer, we're picking he won't make it back to Manchester. Millions down the drain on this one.

7. Alexis Sánchez: Piano Man turned benchwarmer (2018)

He played a piano in the unveiling video. Unfortunately, he hit more notes than he did goals. Five in 45 games, roughly £10 million per goal. United basically gave him to Inter for £5m... the equivalent of a packet of crisps and a metro card in the football world.

5. Carlos Tevez moves to Manchester (City) (2009)

Fans loved him, but for whatever reason the board never got their A's into G with Tevez. A simple poach from City would have been tough enough, but then came that billboard: “Welcome to Manchester.” Manchester is nowhere near a beach, but the air was awfully salty in 2009.

4. Ronaldo’s mic drop (2022)

Cristiano Ronaldo, the returned Golden Child, told Piers Morgan that he didn’t respect the manager, the club hadn’t progressed since 2009, and basically set the place on fire –  then left before marshmallows could be toasted. United terminated his contract before Christmas.

3. David Beckham’s sale to Real Madrid/Fallout with Fergo (2003)

One flying boot to the face, one Real Madrid move, and a billion more shirt sales. Sir Alex never admitted it was personal, though he did later say that he had been frustrated with Beckham's "lack of focus at the time" and let the £50m man go for a measly £18m, as Goal reported – it certainly looked like a motivated sell at the very least....

2. Kung-Fu Cantona (1995)

Eric Cantona channelled his inner Bruce Lee with that flying kick on Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons. Asked about the incident, he gave the most Cantona answer imaginable: “When the seagulls follow the trawler it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"... giving absolutely nothing away to the UK's frothing press at the time. He later said Simmons had been racially taunting him, as the Mirror reported in a retrospective.