Bruno Fernandes, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Casemiro and Man Utd's best signings of the post-Alex Ferguson era - ranked

Anthony Martial was relatively unknown when United signed him at the age of 19 from Monaco for a fee rising to £50 million ($64m). However, he had a dream debut against Liverpool, scoring a tremendous goal. Red Devils' fans revelled in his underdog status, penning a chant with the words "£50 million down the drain, Tony Martial scores again".

Martial had an excellent first campaign, scoring 17 times, including firing United to an FA Cup semi-final win over Everton with a goal in stoppage-time. But he suffered when Jose Mourinho succeeded Louis van Gaal, with his form and confidence nosediving.

The arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led to a resurgence of sorts and he scored 17 league goals in the 2019-20 campaign to help United finish third. His injury problems then resurfaced, however, and he has not been the same player since.

Although he had his moments last season after returning from his unsuccessful loan spell at Sevilla, Martial continued to be haunted by fitness issues, missing 33 games in total.

Cristiano Ronaldo's return sent United fans into a frenzy in 2021, unleashing a wave of nostalgia for his brilliant first spell with the club, when he developed from a shy and skinny boy with spaghetti-like hair into a Ballon d'Or winner.

United's announcement of his £12m ($15m) transfer from Juventus broke the club's record for social media interactions and there was an incredible buzz for his debut against Newcastle. It could hardly have gone better, with Ronaldo scoring twice in the 4-1 win amid a carnival atmosphere.

The Portuguese gave United fans more moments to savour by leading the Red Devils to comeback wins over Villarreal, Atalanta and Arsenal while hitting hat-tricks against Tottenham and Norwich. He ended the season with 18 league goals, the joint-highest amount for a United player since Robin van Persie in 2012-13.

But the inescapable truth is that United became a worse team overall due to Ronaldo's presence and they finished the season with their lowest-ever points total in the Premier League. Ronaldo's petty antics the following campaign further tainted his return and he embarrassed the club with his infamous interview with Piers Morgan which led to him terminating his contract and joining Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Raphael Varane is not a chest-beating, screaming centre-back like many of his peers. He adopts a lower profile, letting his close control, ball-carrying abilities and passing do the talking instead.

United did not unearth Varane as he was already a serial winner with Real Madrid and a World Cup winner with France, and he did not come cheap at £50m ($64m), but he has helped stabilise United's defence.

It is only when he is not available that United realise quite how much they miss him. Of the 12 matches Ten Hag's side lost last season, Varane was missing for seven of them. After he injured his ankle in the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Sevilla, United lost three of their next seven games. And when he returned, they won four in a row.

Ander Herrera was the subject of one of the most intriguing transfer stories of 2013, when United tried to sign him from Athletic Club on transfer deadline day. The move was derailed by imposters claiming to be his lawyers but who Herrera had never met.

Despite the fallout from the botched move, United went after Herrera again the following summer and got their man for £29m ($37m). They had signed a fantastic passer but also a committed workhorse who would carry out whatever duties his managers asked of him.

Herrera was a disciple of Mourinho, and although he was not the most talented player in the team, he was one of the Portuguese's most reliable and loyal soldiers. And he was beloved by supporters, who could see how much he loved English football and how much he relished being a part of United.

It is still early days, but if Alejandro Garnacho can continue down the path he has already set out on then he could prove to be one of United's best ever signings. Signed at the age of 16 in 2020, United only had to pay £100,000 ($128,000) in compensation to Atletico Madrid, and after taking a year to settle in the academy, he inspired the Under-18s to win the FA Youth Cup and then set his sights on the first team.

The Argentina international ended his first season with Erik ten Hag's side on five goals and five assists, and that was despite suffering an ankle ligament injury that sidelined him for two months. Every time he gets on the pitch at Old Trafford, the fans are lifted out of their seats, and he was a whisker away from levelling the FA Cup final.

Huge things are expected of Garnacho in the upcoming campaign and if he can stay free from injuries and be as effective when starting games as he is when coming off the bench, then United will have a star on their hands, one they paid next to nothing for.

United were mocked for signing a 5'9 defender for £47m ($60m) in the summer of 2022 but Lisandro Martinez has more than made up for his lack of size by demonstrating a remarkable ability for playing out from the back.

The World Cup winner has exceptional vision for a defender and his laser-like passes from his own area have given United an outlet they have rarely had before. Indeed, the Argentine often resembles a holding midfielder, such is his ability to step out from defence and influence the play.

He is also said to be one of the team's most vocal leaders, which is no mean feat for a newcomer. His influence on United's fortunes was laid bare when his debut season came to a painful end in April due to a fractured metatarsal and the team badly struggled without him, wobbling in their pursuit of a top-four finish before eventually getting over the line.

As ever, enigmatic Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic defied convention by announcing he was signing for United before the club. He truly announced himself in his first few matches too, scoring in the Community Shield win against Leicester, on his Premier League debut at Bournemouth and netting twice against Southampton on his Old Trafford bow.

Even though he was 34 when he joined, United could hardly believe their luck at landing one of the best players of the modern era, and on a free transfer. Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals in his first season, including two in the League Cup final win over Southampton and a stunning hat-trick against Saint-Etienne in the Europa League.

His brilliant season was cruelly ended by a knee injury against Anderlecht in April, which meant he had to use crutches to watch the Europa League final in Stockholm. He made just a smattering of appearances the following campaign, but later revived his career with the LA Galaxy before returning to AC Milan and retiring in June 2023, aged 41.

United urgently needed a shake-up in midfield in 2022 after years of the dreaded 'McFred' axis, and they could not have asked for a better man to do that than a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, who they signed for £60m ($77m). It was sure a lot of money for a 30-year-old, but it was more than worth it.

Casemiro has provided United with a badly-needed injection of experience, commitment and bloody-mindedness, and given them a real presence in arguably the most important area of the pitch. As well as shielding the defence, he has fuelled many attacks and above all has been a galvanising force for others.

The Brazilian's defensive qualities were well known during his time at Madrid, but at United he has also showcased his attacking attributes, contributing to 13 goals in his first season, including a stunning bicycle kick against Bournemouth.

England defender Luke Shaw was the outstanding player on his debut at Old Trafford for Southampton, and David Moyes was desperate to sign him. The Scot made the case for United to target the left-back but never got to see him prosper in a red shirt as he was sacked before the club signed Shaw for £30m ($38m) in the summer of 2014.

Shaw quickly realised the promise he had shown at Southampton, but his progress was cruelly disrupted by a double leg fracture suffered against PSV which prevented him from playing for 11 months.

Like many others, he did not get on so well with Mourinho, but after the Portuguese left he rebuilt his United career and is now heading into his 10th season with the club having recently signed a new contract until 2027. He is one of Ten Hag's most influential leaders and one of the team's most consistent performers.

There is a serious argument to make that Bruno Fernandes is the best player of the post-Ferguson era, with only Marcus Rashford giving him a run for his money. So the Portuguese is a natural choice when it comes to naming the club's best signing of the last decade.

United had pursued Fernandes for almost a year when they finally agreed a £47m ($60m) fee with Sporting CP in January 2020, plus an extra £20m ($25m) in add-ons. Three-and-a-half years later, that looks like a bargain.

Fernandes has contributed to United in almost every aspect possible. Within a few weeks of his arrival from Sporting, he turned the team's fortunes around, inspiring them to finish third in the Premier League and helping them pick up more points than anyone else in the division since the day he signed.

He was their leading goalscorer in the the 2020-21 campaign and last season played all over the pitch, operating as a box-to-box midfielder, a No.10, a winger and a holding midfielder. He is Ten Hag's most trusted operator and was the only real candidate to succeed Harry Maguire as captain.