Following their worst ever Premier League season, Man United were a wounded beast, all but written off by fans and pundits up and down the U.K. Despite that, they still managed to attract one of last season’s best players.
Bryan Mbeumo was immense throughout 2024-25 at Brentford, scoring 20 of their 66 league goals, beating his xG of 12.26 by 7.74. It felt at times like everything he touched turned to gold.
It’s been a mixed start to the season for Ruben Amorim’s side, but Mbeumo has hit the ground running, and already looks like their most important player.
A legendary seal of approval
It’s not unfair to suggest that there haven’t been man big money Man United signings that went on to be roaring successes at the club. In fact, they usually find their form as soon as they leave.
Wayne Rooney, United’s all-time top goal scorer freely admitted on his podcast that he didn’t expect much from Mbeumo after he joined but is clearly delighted to have been proven wrong so soon.
“For me he has been Manchester United’s standout player this season and he hasn’t got his rewards for his hard work and the sacrifices he’s made for the team throughout the season.
“I thought it was a great goal (against Liverpool), and I’ll be honest, I was a bit sceptical when Manchester United signed him, I didn’t know if he had the ability to come and play for Manchester United, but he’s proved me wrong.
“I think he’s been a great addition to the team and by far United’s best player of the season. That’s such a huge win for the manager. I’ve been one of them, I’ve questioned decisions, tactics, players’ desire over this season and last season and that win is massive, to win at Anfield—that's not easy to do.”
Big moments from a big game player
It wasn’t hard to see what United were bad at last season, and no, we’re not going to say ‘everything.’ Defensively they had their issues, but weren’t awful, the biggest problem was at the other end of the pitch.
Amorim’s side scored ten goals in their last ten Premier League games last season, which doesn’t sound too bad, but they you realise six of those came in a 3-0 defeat to Leicester and a 4-3 defeat to Brentford, in which Mbeumo surprisingly failed to score.
So, United addressed their goal scoring issues by going out and spending over £200 million on new forwards, including the Premier League’s two highest xG overperformers in Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo.
At a club with a manager that has a very particular way of playing, Mbeumo has continued where he left off at Brentford. Operating as United’s right sided number ten, he already has a habit of starting quickly.
In the 2-1 win over Chelsea, he was the reason Robert Sanchez saw red after five minutes, completely catch the opposition defenders off guard and leaving the Spaniard with no other option but to try and close him down.
Against Liverpool, he scored the fastest goal of the season so far with a similar move. After Virgil van Dijk clattered into Alexis Mac Allister, Mbeumo saw the open space and ran into it, and by the time Van Dijk was back in position, the ball was already in the back of the net.
He missed the deciding penalty in the defeat to Grimsby, but he scored the first goal in their comeback from two goals down to get them there. In Mbeumo’s defence, United should never have been in that position in the first place.
Verdict
The win over Liverpool genuinely feels like a defining moment for Amorim’s United, yes, the Champions have been poor, but it’s the type of result that build confidence for a set of players that have looked bereft of it at times.
In the few good moments United have had this season, Mbeumo has had a hand in all of them, if the Red Devils want to finally get back to where they’re meant to be, the Cameroonian will be key.