With the Premier League about to roar back into action, Gary Neville isn’t expecting miracles from Manchester United — despite the club’s hefty summer spending.
The Sky Sports pundit and Old Trafford legend predicts his former side will finish somewhere around seventh or eighth this season, a far cry from the days when United’s aim was always the title.
Big Spending, Bigger Expectations
United have poured £200 million into reshaping their attack after last year’s dismal 15th-place finish — one of the worst in the club’s modern history.
New signings Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko are seen as a potentially electric front line, giving manager Ruben Amorim fresh firepower.
Inside the club, there’s a quiet optimism that this year could see a significant bounce back.
Neville’s Realistic Prediction
While Neville acknowledges the new recruits should make United stronger, he’s not expecting them to crack the top four.
Speaking at the launch of Sky Sports’ new Premier League coverage, he said:
“A top-six finish would be healthy, but my feeling is probably between seventh or eighth.”
One advantage United have this year, he notes, is a lack of European football.
Without midweek trips abroad, the squad should enjoy more training time, less injury risk, and a fresher lineup on weekends.
Champions League Ambitions at Old Trafford
Despite his personal prediction, Neville believes the club’s hierarchy will be aiming higher.
“I think they’ll be looking at Champions League,” he said, calling that a more realistic goal than chasing the title.
“We’ve gone past the point where we say United have to win the league — that’s unrealistic now.”
Impressed by Recruitment
Neville is upbeat about the quality of the summer signings.
“If you’d told me after that Tottenham game in the Europa League that United would have those three in the forward line, I’d have snapped your hand off,” he said.
With two proven Premier League players and a promising young talent in Sesko, the challenge will be gelling them into Amorim’s system.
According to Neville, if the trio can combine for 35–40 goals, that would be about par for expectations.
Tough Opening Test Against Arsenal
United’s season begins on Sunday at Old Trafford against last year’s runners-up, Arsenal — hardly a gentle start.
But Neville sees the benefit:
“I’m glad they’ve got that start. I just think they need something big.”