Fellaini joins Manchester United’s top flops

Dong made his much anticipated debut for the title-winning Red Devils in 2007 at Stamford Bridge, to a guard of honour from Chelsea players. This would be as close as he would get to tasting any trophy success with United, as after making a grand total of three first team appearances, Dong’s contract was cancelled in 2008. Widely acknowledged to be a signing made to lure Chinese fans and sponsors to Manchester, Dong’s career has spiralled since his stint at the club. The forward now plies his trade back in his homeland at Hebei Zhongji.

3) Dimitar Berbatov

Currently playing his football in tax-haven Monaco, the silky striker arrived in Manchester from Tottenham Hotspur in 2008, scoring 48 goals in 108 Premier League starts for the club.

It was the brooding forward’s lax attitude and inability to gel with the team, often slowing down play, that saw him relegated to the bench in favour of Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez. Despite undoubted individual brilliance, the Bulgarian’s performances and application were not up to scratch for a side chasing honours on all fronts. A reported fee of £30.75m propels Berbatov almost up to the summit of terrible transfers.

2) Juan Sebastian Veron

Sir Alex Ferguson broke the British transfer record back in 2001 to separate the Argentine from S.S Lazio. For a reported £24.7m fee, the expectations placed on Veron to impress in a Champions League winning midfield containing Red Devils legends Paul Scholes and Roy Keane, were just too high. He failed to adapt to English football and life in Manchester, escaping after just two seasons for another disappointing stint at Chelsea.

1) Bebe

It began as a fairytale rags to riches story, as former street kid Bebe secured a dream transfer to United, hoping to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo. The Red Devils paid a reported, and what now seems extortionate, £7.4m for the Vitoria de Guimaraes man in 2010, after he had played only one full season at a professional club.
Almost five years and three loans later, Bebe looks to have no future at the club, and failed to make Portugal’s World Cup squad as a wildcard.