During the summer transfer window, Manchester United were looking at acquiring new players in a number of positions, including a new winger, and one of the main candidates in United's hunt for a winger was Al Hilal's Crysencio Summerville.
Crysencio Summerville joined Al Hilal this summer for a fee of around £70 million, quite a hefty fee that pushed many clubs away from signing the Dutchman.
With his old club, West Ham, facing relegation, it was clear he would seek a move in the summer, and after being one of the Hammers' only bright spots of the season, there was no way he would return to the Championship.
Summerville managed 10 goal contributions for the Hammers last season, not incredible numbers by any means; however, his performances as a whole, especially during the latter part of the season, were what caught the eye of many and won the respect of the West Ham fans.
The biggest selling point for Summerville this year, however, was his performance in the 2026 World Cup. The winger managed two goals and two assists as he became one of the best players for the Netherlands.
What is interesting about Summerville is that he is just 24 years old; therefore, despite moving to Saudi Arabia, where many players go at the end of their career, due to his age, he could still make a return to Europe after earning money at Al Hilal and continue to grow as a player.
Summerville transfer saga
According to Sports Witness, the recent news comes from Crysencio Summerville's personal trainer and 'second father', Ivandro Monteiro, who recently spoke about the process that led to Summerville eventually signing for Al Hilal this summer.
“He told me that a lot of clubs were interested. Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Roma, Liverpool, Manchester United… all clubs that had spoken to him. I told him: ‘Just wait a bit. See what happens. You never know’.
“He said: ‘Listen to this, this is crazy.’ Then he told me about Al-Hilal and what they would be willing to pay for him. And he would earn a lot more there too.”
“I said immediately: ‘Boy, pack your bags and go. Don’t think about it’. You are still young and you can always go back. The league is tough and people underestimate the level there. But for him, it was a new challenge and a chance to develop further.
“A club doesn’t automatically make you better. Many people think that a good club makes a player better, but you mainly have to invest in yourself. If you keep training in your spare time and want to improve yourself, a trainer will see that too. Crysencio is such a person. He always wants to be the best and doesn’t just ‘sit down’.
Can Carrick turn the tide after the international break?
Manchester United have started the season poorly to say the least. After an 'easy' run of games where most fans would have expected at least 12 points from the first five league games, United have gotten five. They also lost the derby at home and are out of the League cup.
A big reason for the poor start could be the players' fitness and lack of preparation before the season. In an interview with Rio Ferdinand in pre-season, Youri Tielemans mentioned that the squad have barely done any running; Man United now sit bottom three in the league for almost every running stat.
However, on the flip side, United are among the best teams for attacking stats such as xG and chances created, suggesting that Carrick's methods are working, and once the attackers start going this season, the wins will come easily for the Red Devils.
The biggest worry for United is the defence, conceding 11 goals in just seven matches this season. With Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven proving against Brighton that they are not ready to play together, Lisandro Martinez scoring an own goal against Fulham, and a severe lack of fullback depth, there are many reasons to be concerned for United at the back.
On the positive side, Manchester United started last season very poorly also, to the point where Ruben Amorim was sacked in January, and despite this, the team finished third, implying that there is still plenty of time for anything to happen with United this season.
It seems like almost every fixture in the Premier League this season is a tough one, with the likes of Brighton and Brentford making a compelling case for a Champions League finish this year; however, one team that is struggling badly is Spurs, who United face in their first game back from the break. A win at home could be huge for United to kick on from.
