Does Manchester United Have A Strikers Curse?

In the rich history of Manchester United, legends have worn the No. 9 and 10 shirts with pride, Denis Law, Eric Cantona, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Wayne Rooney just to list a few. These were strikers who didn’t just score goals; they defined eras. But since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, it’s felt like the club has been trying and largely failing to find their talismanic forward.

Radamel Falcao, Memphis Depay, Alexis Sánchez, Romelu Lukaku, Edinson Cavani, Cristiano Ronaldo (the second time around), and now Rasmus Højlund. All have been billed as the long-awaited solution. Most, if not all, have fallen short of expectations. So the question lingers: Does Manchester United have a striker’s curse?

There's only one striker Rio Ferdinand wants to see at Manchester United 👀🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/JNrIPR14b4

— ESPN Africa (@ESPNAfrica) April 8, 2025

Post-Ferguson Difficulties

Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season saw Robin van Persie fire United to the Premier League title with 26 league goals. Since then, United’s forward line has been a revolving door, lacking consistency and most importantly goals.

The club has spent heavily on attacking talent. United have spent over £400 million on forwards in the past decade alone. That includes the likes of Lukaku (£75m), Martial (£36m rising to £58m), Sancho (£73m), and Højlund (£64m rising to £72m). The returns? Mixed at best.

The bigger issue lies not in the money, but in what that money has produced: too few goals, too many injury problems, and more often than not, players who either failed to fit the system or haven't been able to handle the pressure of leading the line for Manchester United.

Big Names Further Disappointments

Radamel Falcao arrived in 2014 on loan with global fanfare but managed just four goals in 29 appearances. Zlatan Ibrahimović had a promising start, scoring 28 goals in all competitions in 2016–17 before an ACL injury derailed his campaign. Lukaku had strong numbers (42 goals in 96 games) but struggled with consistency and left after just two seasons. Alexis Sánchez, a marquee signing in a swap deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, became a symbol of United’s poor recruitment, a world-class talent whose form disappeared overnight.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s return in 2021 briefly reignited hope. His 24 goals in the 2021–22 season masked broader team issues, and his second stint ended acrimoniously in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan. He left mid-season, with United reportedly relieved to move on.

Even promising talents like Anthony Martial have failed to deliver over the long term. Despite flashes of brilliance, including a 23-goal season under Ole Gunnar Solskjær in 2019–20, Martial’s United career has been plagued by injuries, inconsistency, and long periods of unavailability.

Rasmus Højlund: Another False Dawn Or The Real Deal?

Højlund, signed from Atalanta in the summer of 2023, is the latest to carry the weight of expectation. At just 20, the Dane arrived with raw potential but a modest goal record in Serie A. His start at United was frustrating: he went 14 league games without a goal before finally breaking his duck.

To his credit, Højlund responded in style, scoring in six consecutive games across all competitions, including important goals in the Premier League and Champions League. He has pace, strength, intelligence off the ball, and perhaps most importantly, a temperament that suggests he’s unfazed by the pressure.

Still, United fans have seen this movie before. Early promise followed by inconsistency has been the defining pattern of recent striker signings. The hope is that Højlund, still young and with years ahead of him, can develop into the consistent presence United so desperately need up top.

Systemic Issues Or Simply Bad Luck?

Firstly, United have lacked tactical identity for much of the post-Ferguson era. From Louis van Gaal’s rigid possession play to José Mourinho’s pragmatism, Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s counter-attacking approach and then Erik ten Hag’s high-intensity structure. As a result few strikers have been given time to settle into one system. Continuity has been sacrificed for short-term fixes.

Second, recruitment has been reactive rather than proactive. United have often bought players based on availability or commercial appeal, rather than how they fit the system. Alexis Sánchez is the clearest example: signed more to beat Manchester City than to solve a tactical need.

Third, the environment itself hasn’t always been ideal for strikers to succeed. Creative support has been inconsistent, and managerial turnover has disrupted cohesion. The psychological burden of being the "next great United No. 9" cannot be underestimated either, especially when comparisons to Rooney, van Nistelrooy or Cantona come as part of the job description.

Goal contributions from Utd’s forwards this season via transfermrkt.

Rashford £0 — 29 goals, 11 assists

Antony £85m — 8 goals, 2 assists
Martial £50m — 7 goals, 3 assists
Garnacho £500k — 4 goals, 5 assists
Sancho £75m — 6 goals, 2 assists
Weghorst loan — 2 goals, 3 assists pic.twitter.com/xsYxNXMSnk

— 天蝎座 (@UtdEIIis) May 7, 2023

How Do Other Clubs Compare?

It’s worth noting that United are not alone in struggling to find the perfect striker. Chelsea have also faced years of difficulty post-Drogba, cycling through the likes of Álvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuaín, Romelu Lukaku (again), and more recently Nicolas Jackson. Arsenal endured a long wait before Gabriel Jesus brought stability. Even Manchester City, despite their domestic dominance, only truly resolved their striking issues with the arrival of Erling Haaland.

But United’s problems feel particularly stark because of their history and the expectations that come with it.

Is The Curse Real?

So, does Manchester United really have a striker’s curse? It’s tempting to say yes, especially given the long list of high-profile failures. But the better answer might be that the club has lacked long-term planning, tactical clarity, and strategic recruitment.

Strikers thrive on service, confidence, and stability. Three things United have failed to consistently provide since Ferguson's retirement. The result is a decade of false dawns and underwhelming returns.

There’s hope that Højlund might be the one to finally break the trend. He’s young, hungry, and has the potential to grow with the club. But even he will need a system that suits him, teammates who complement him, and a manager who trusts him through inevitable dips in form.

Until then, the shadow of the "striker’s curse" will continue to loom over Old Trafford.

6 - Marcus Rashford has created six chances for Aston Villa tonight, equalling the most he ever created in any of his 426 matches for Manchester United (six vs Wigan in January 2024). Invention. pic.twitter.com/gb76DjjIkj

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 28, 2025