Manchester United have not always got it right in the transfer market over the past few years, even if deals made sense at the time.
One of the moves Manchester United fans had high hopes for in recent seasons was the £15 million signing of Porto captain Alex Telles in late 2020.
Telles made an excellent debut against Paris Saint-Germain, and scored a memorable long range goal against Villarreal a year later. But these standout moments were few and far between.
The last time he shared a pitch with his Manchester United colleagues, he wasknocking them out of the Europa League in 2023, while on loan with Sevilla.
Alex Telles explains painful need for surgery
Alex Telles played in every game of Manchester United’s first pre-season under Erik ten Hag, where he was used as a centre-back.
But he did not actually play a single competitive game under the manager, sent out on loan to Sevilla.
Then last summer it was made clear there was no future for the Brazilian, and a deal was struck to sell him on to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for around £5 million, where he was reunited with Cristiano Ronaldo.
After completing the season, with Al-Nassr finishing in second place, Telles has undergone surgery on his hernia and explained he has been in pain for two years.
He wrote on Instagram: “This was a season of sacrifice like never before in my career. Been living with recurring pain from a hernia for two years now. Something that has in many moments created limitations in my daily life and in the development of my functions as an athlete.
“The pains have intensified this past semester though I tried every way on a daily basis so I could keep playing and helping the club in every game. I underwent a surgical procedure today that I can already say was a success.
“I will be back for the beginning of the next season recovered, ready for the competitions we will have and even stronger.”
Manchester United needed a left-back
The decision to sell Alex Telles appeared to be a sensible one, with Manchester United glad to get any kind of fee back for a player surplus to requirements.
What United did not count on, was a defensive injury crisis which would leave the club without a left-back nearly all season, amid injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
Would United have considered keeping Telles as cover if the club knew what lay ahead?
Telles’ injury troubles put that debate in a new light, but he did still manage to make 26 league startsfor Al-Nassr this past season.
United needed every penny to scrape together a loan fee for Sofyan Amrabat on deadline day, so the decision to cash in on Telles may have been necessary regardless.