Manchester United supporters have enjoyed the presence of many elite strikers throughout the years, with several of them winning the admiration of fans during their time at Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney dedicated 13 years to the Red Devils, having joined as a young talent from Everton and surpa
ssing all expectations upon his arrival.
The English forward scored 253 goals in 559 appearances – a record that still stands as the highest in the club’s history after he surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton’s milestone in 2017.
He frequently played alongside stars such as Robin van Persie and Dimitar Berbatov, significantly contributing to their remarkable achievement of 13 Premier League titles.
Currently, manager Ruben Amorim is in search of his own key player to help bring an end to the long wait for another league championship at the Theatre of Dreams.
What Sesko & Mbeumo will bring to Man Utd
Following a disappointing tally of only 44 league goals in the 2024/25 season, Amorim expressed his desire for a new centre-forward during the summer transfer window. The board supported his request by facilitating a deal to acquire Benjamin Sesko.
The acquisition of the Slovenian international came at a cost exceeding £70 million, with the former RB Leipzig star poised to provide both an immediate and long-term solution to their scoring issues, considering he is only 22 years old.
He has already proven his capabilities in the Bundesliga, netting 27 league goals over the past two years, a figure that surpasses any player currently in the Red Devils’ first-team roster.
He will receive support in his efforts from fellow newcomer Bryan Mbeumo, who also joined Amorim’s squad in a deal totaling £71 million.
Similar to Sesko, the 26-year-old has excelled in front of goal recently, scoring 20 goals in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season, which ultimately led to his lucrative transfer.
Nevertheless, despite the impressive skills of these new signings, one former Red Devil has continued to excel since departing the club, once again showcasing his remarkable goal-scoring prowess.
The former United star who’s outscoring Sesko & Mbeumo
Securing deals for seasoned attackers is not a new endeavor for United, especially after acquiring the iconic forward Zlatan Ibrahimović in the summer of 2016 following his release from PSG.
The Swedish player relocated to Manchester at the age of 34, yet this did not hinder him from making a significant impact in the club’s first team during the 2016/17 season.
He recorded an impressive total of 28 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions, contributing to the team’s victories in the Europa League and Carabao Cup under the management of José Mourinho.
Zlatan was not the only veteran player acquired by the club’s management in recent years, as Edinson Cavani also followed a similar trajectory after joining from the French club.
This transfer took place four years after his former teammate, with the Uruguayan also moving at a comparable age, as he was 33 when he made a free transfer to the Red Devils.
Cavani would go on to spend two years at Old Trafford, accumulating 59 appearances and scoring 19 goals, including a remarkable long-range effort against Fulham.
Considering he was nearing the end of his career at the elite level, he departed in the summer of 2022, leaving on a free transfer to join the Spanish team Valencia.
Fast-forward to today, the 38-year-old continues to play for the Argentine club Boca Juniors, consistently finding the back of the net.
| Edinson Cavani’s Man Utd time in numbers | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | Tally |
| Games played | 59 |
| Goals scored | 19 |
| Assists | 7 |
| Minutes played | 3094 |
| Yellow cards | 6 |
| Minutes per goal | 163 |
| Minutes per assist | 442 |
| Stats via Transfermarkt | |
Cavani, who has been described as “world-class” by an analyst, has netted 24 goals since the commencement of the 2024/25 season – an extraordinary achievement considering his age.
This tally surpasses that of the new signings, Sesko (21) and Mbeumo (22), thereby underscoring the offensive threat he continues to pose even now.
It is undeniable that the management made a prudent decision in permitting his exit from United, yet it is heartening to witness a former fan favorite continue to excel as he did at Old Trafford.
Should the two new signings replicate the Uruguayan’s impact at the Theatre of Dreams, there is every reason to believe that the club can once again contend at the upper echelons of the league in the forthcoming years.
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