Antony signed on 1 September 2022, the final day of the window—part of a familiar pattern.
Many United supporters hoped the club would wrap up business early this summer, but that was always unlikely.
For six straight seasons, at least one senior first-teamer has arrived at Old Trafford as the window was about to shut.
Twelve months ago, United waited until deadline day before settling on Senne Lammens—eventually their new No. 1—instead of Emi Martinez, whom Amorim wanted from Aston Villa.
In 2024, they paid PSG £50.8 to bring in Manuel Ugarte on deadline day. The year before, experienced duo Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat joined on loan.
Antony’s £81.3m fee—he’s now at Real Betis—remains United’s second-highest outlay, behind Paul Pogba.
A year earlier came the move with arguably the biggest splash: Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2021 return, heralded as the deadline-day coup to propel United back to the top. It backfired badly.
In 2020, Edinson Cavani also arrived on a deadline day pushed into October due to Covid-19.
Those last-minute signings suggest deadline day isn’t the ideal time to buy. So, as the final week of the window approaches, perhaps Manchester United fans should have expected it to play out this way.