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Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has unleashed a scathing critique of the club’s transfer strategy following their humiliating 3-0 defeat to arch-rivals Manchester City in the latest installment of the Manchester derby. The loss, which exposed United’s frailties in multiple areas of the pitch, has intensified scrutiny on the club’s recruitment decisions, particularly their failure to secure the signature of world-class goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made an impressive debut for City in the same match.
The Red Devils have endured a torrid start to the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, amassing just four points from their opening four matches. Their woes were compounded by an embarrassing exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two side Grimsby Town. Despite an ambitious summer transfer window that saw United splash over £200 million on new signings—including Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, and Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens—the team’s performances have fallen far short of expectations. Scholes, a revered figure at Old Trafford with 11 Premier League titles to his name, has pointed the finger squarely at the club’s recruitment team, particularly for their handling of the goalkeeping situation.
A Goalkeeping Conundrum
At the heart of Scholes’ criticism is Manchester United’s perplexing approach to their goalkeeping department. Despite investing £18.2 million in Senne Lammens, a relatively unproven 23-year-old from Club Brugge, the club opted to bench him for the derby in favor of Altay Bayindir, a backup goalkeeper who has struggled to assert himself as a reliable option. Meanwhile, Andre Onana, United’s primary goalkeeper for the past two seasons, was loaned out to Turkish side Trabzonspor after a string of underwhelming performances earlier in the campaign. Onana’s departure, while perhaps necessary given his inconsistent form, left United with limited options between the posts.
What has particularly incensed Scholes is the club’s failure to capitalize on the availability of Gianluigi Donnarumma, the 26-year-old Italian goalkeeper widely regarded as one of the best in the world. Donnarumma, who played a pivotal role in Paris Saint-Germain’s historic Champions League triumph last season, became surplus to requirements at the Parc des Princes following the arrival of Lucas Chevalier. Available for a reported £26 million—a bargain in today’s inflated transfer market—Donnarumma was snapped up by Manchester City after they sold their long-serving goalkeeper Ederson to Fenerbahce. The Italian’s commanding performance in the derby, where he kept a clean sheet and made several key saves, only rubbed salt in United’s wounds.
“Goalkeeper as well was a major issue,” Scholes remarked on the BBC Football Daily podcast. “Did you really need to get to that Grimsby game to realize Onana has not been good enough? Then you see someone like Donnarumma become available, and you think: this is a chance. You can get a keeper for £35–40m who can serve you for the next 10 years. If Manchester United were not in the market for Donnarumma when he became available, that’s a criminal offence for me. You buy this lad from Belgium for €20m (£18.2m)—that tells you everything about him at this point.”
Scholes’ frustration is palpable. Donnarumma, a towering presence at 6’5” with a proven track record at both club and international levels, represents the kind of elite talent United have lacked in goal since the days of David de Gea and Edwin van der Sar. His debut for City showcased his ability to command his area, distribute the ball effectively, and make crucial interventions under pressure—qualities that United’s current options have struggled to replicate.
A Missed Opportunity
The decision to overlook Donnarumma in favor of Lammens has raised eyebrows not only among fans but also within the broader footballing community. Lammens, while highly rated in Belgium, has yet to prove himself on the biggest stages. His limited experience in top-tier European football stands in stark contrast to Donnarumma’s resume, which includes a European Championship triumph with Italy in 2021 and a Champions League title with PSG. Scholes, speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, doubled down on his criticism, drawing parallels between Donnarumma and one of United’s greatest-ever goalkeepers.
“The Donnarumma one is the biggest mistake I can see,” Scholes said. “As soon as that man became available, drive to Paris, go get him, give him whatever he wants. He could easily be the best goalkeeper in the world—he reminds me of Peter Schmeichel. That presence, that ability to dominate games, and the confidence he instills in his defense. United have been crying out for someone like that, and they let him slip through their fingers to their biggest rivals.”
Scholes’ comparison to Schmeichel, a Danish legend who anchored United’s defense during their dominant 1990s era, underscores the magnitude of the missed opportunity. Schmeichel’s commanding presence and knack for making game-changing saves were instrumental in United’s success under Sir Alex Ferguson. In Donnarumma, Scholes sees a similar figure—a goalkeeper capable of elevating the entire team. Instead, United are left with a goalkeeping trio of Lammens, Bayindir, and the absent Onana, none of whom have inspired confidence this season.
A Broader Recruitment Failure
While the goalkeeping situation has drawn the most attention, Scholes’ criticism extends to United’s broader transfer strategy. The club’s £200 million summer spending spree was intended to bolster a squad that finished a disappointing sixth in the Premier League last season. The signings of Mbeumo, Cunha, and Sesko were heralded as bold moves to inject pace, creativity, and goal-scoring prowess into the team. However, their integration has been far from seamless.
Bryan Mbeumo, acquired from Brentford for a reported £50 million, has shown flashes of brilliance but has struggled to adapt to the high-pressure environment at Old Trafford. His pace and directness have added a new dimension to United’s attack, but his end product has been inconsistent, with only one goal in his first four league appearances. Matheus Cunha, signed from Wolves for £45 million, has similarly failed to hit the ground running, with questions lingering about his suitability as a central striker in United’s system. Benjamin Sesko, the 22-year-old Slovenian striker who joined from RB Leipzig for a hefty £65 million, has shown promise but has yet to find his rhythm in a team lacking cohesion.
The hefty investment in these players, coupled with the decision to loan out Onana and overlook Donnarumma, has led to accusations of mismanagement in the transfer market. United’s recruitment has been under scrutiny for years, with a string of high-profile signings failing to deliver consistent results. The club’s scattergun approach—signing players without a clear tactical plan—has been a recurring issue since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. Scholes, who played under Ferguson during United’s golden era, believes the current regime lacks the vision and decisiveness needed to restore the club to its former glory.
“You look at the money they’ve spent, and you wonder what the plan is,” Scholes said. “You’ve got all these signings, but are they fitting into a system? Are they the right characters for Manchester United? I’m not sure. The Donnarumma situation just sums it up—they had a chance to sign a world-class player for a fraction of what they’ve spent on others, and they didn’t even try.”
The Manchester Derby: A Tale of Two Goalkeepers
The Manchester derby provided a stark illustration of the gulf between United and City, both on the pitch and in the transfer market. While Donnarumma was a commanding presence for City, United’s Altay Bayindir struggled to cope with the relentless pressure of Pep Guardiola’s side. City’s goals came from a combination of clinical finishing and defensive errors from United, with Bayindir unable to prevent Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Kevin De Bruyne from finding the net. Donnarumma, by contrast, thwarted United’s few attacking forays with ease, earning praise for his composure and authority.
The contrast between the two goalkeepers was not lost on fans or pundits. Social media platforms, particularly X, were abuzz with reactions to United’s transfer blunder. One user posted, “Donnarumma for £26m and we signed Lammens? Whoever’s running our recruitment needs to be sacked.” Another wrote, “Scholes is spot on—missing out on Donnarumma is unforgivable. He’s a game-changer, and we’re stuck with Bayindir and a kid from Belgium.”
The derby defeat has also intensified pressure on United’s manager, whose tactical decisions and team selections have come under fire. The choice to bench Lammens, who was signed as a long-term investment, in favor of Bayindir raised questions about the club’s faith in their new recruit. Meanwhile, the loaning out of Onana, who was signed for £47 million just two years ago, has been criticized as a knee-jerk reaction to his early-season struggles. The lack of a clear goalkeeping hierarchy has left United vulnerable, with no one stepping up to claim the No. 1 spot.
The Bigger Picture: United’s Identity Crisis
Beyond the immediate fallout from the derby, Scholes’ comments highlight a deeper issue at Manchester United: a lack of direction. Since Ferguson’s retirement, the club has cycled through managers, sporting directors, and players without establishing a clear identity. The signings of Mbeumo, Cunha, and Sesko were meant to signal a new era of attacking dynamism, but their struggles reflect a broader failure to build a cohesive unit. The goalkeeping debacle, epitomized by the failure to sign Donnarumma, is just one symptom of a club that seems to be reacting rather than planning.
United’s rivals, meanwhile, have shown a more calculated approach. Manchester City’s acquisition of Donnarumma, coupled with their consistent success under Guardiola, demonstrates the value of decisive and strategic recruitment. Liverpool, Arsenal, and even Newcastle have also made significant strides in recent years, leaving United in danger of falling further behind. The club’s inability to capitalize on opportunities like Donnarumma’s availability raises questions about the competence of those in charge of recruitment, including sporting director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Omar Berrada.
What Next for United?
As Manchester United lick their wounds after the derby defeat, the pressure is on to turn their season around. The upcoming fixtures, including clashes with Tottenham and Chelsea, will test the squad’s resilience and the manager’s ability to galvanize his players. However, the goalkeeping situation remains a glaring concern. With Onana unlikely to return from his loan spell in Turkey, United are left with Lammens and Bayindir as their primary options. Whether Lammens can step up and justify his £18.2 million price tag remains to be seen, but his lack of game time in the derby suggests the club is not yet convinced of his readiness.
Scholes’ comments have sparked a wider debate about United’s recruitment strategy and the need for a long-term vision. The failure to sign Donnarumma is not just a missed opportunity but a symbol of the club’s broader struggles. As Scholes put it, “You can’t keep making these mistakes and expect to compete with the best. United need to get serious about who they’re bringing in and how they’re building this team.”
For now, United fans can only watch in frustration as Donnarumma thrives at City, while their own team grapples with a goalkeeping crisis and a season that is already teetering on the brink. The road to redemption will be long and arduous, but addressing the mistakes of the past—starting with the Donnarumma saga—will be crucial if Manchester United are to reclaim their place among football’s elite.
