KUALA LUMPUR – Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has criticised the club’s recruitment team for failing to sign a proven centre-forward in over a decade.
The 52-year-old, who made 672 appearances for United and collected 35 major honours during his 24-year career at Old Trafford, made the remarks as the Red Devils languish in 16th place in the English Premier League (EPL) this season — with just 42 goals scored from 37 games.
Bruno Fernandes, a midfielder, leads United’s scoring chart in the league with eight goals. The club’s two main strikers, Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee, have managed a combined total of just seven.
Speaking at a press conference for the upcoming Manchester United vs Asean All-Stars match, Giggs said the lack of an experienced, reliable goalscorer is deeply concerning — especially for a club historically known for attacking football.
“The recruitment department at Manchester United has not been doing a good job over the past 10 years, especially in terms of signing established strikers who can deliver goals for the team.
"I’ve noticed we’ve been relying on the same frontline for years, and that’s really concerning. This isn’t what the club is known for. During Sir Alex Ferguson’s era, we had three or four centre-forwards who could come in and make an impact at any time.
“At the moment, we rely too heavily on Bruno to find the net, and it’s sad to see him carrying the burden alone,” said Giggs.
Despite United’s domestic struggles, Giggs believes the season is not lost and backed the team to win the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur on May 22.
“There have been lots of negatives, obviously, but also some positives. The season isn’t dead. The team is undefeated in the Europa League, which is a huge contrast to our domestic form.
“Despite our back-to-back defeats to Spurs in domestic competitions, I’m confident we can come out on top against them, given our current form in Europe.
“It would also be a massive boost for manager Ruben Amorim if he wins the tournament and qualifies for the Champions League. That way, he’ll be able to attract the players he wants and rebuild the team for the new season,” said Giggs.
Giggs also praised United’s Asian fanbase for sticking with the club through a difficult season.
“The support has been fantastic, and I’m glad the fans haven’t given up on the team. The Manchester United vs Asean All-Stars match will be a perfect opportunity for the young United players to step out of their comfort zones and experience playing and learning about the culture of Asian football.
“I’m really looking forward to this match.”
The Manchester United vs Asean All-Stars match will take place at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on May 28.
The 13-time EPL champions last visited Malaysia in 2009 as part of their pre-season tour, where they beat a Malaysia XI twice — 3-2 and 2-0 — at the same venue. — May 17, 2025
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