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Manchester United have long been known for their prolific strikers, but since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, the club has struggled to find a consistent goal-scorer. The legendary Scottish manager famously brought in Robin van Persie from Arsenal before his final season, and the Dutchman’s goals helped the Red Devils lift the Premier League title.

Under Ferguson, United always revolved around lethal No. 9s, but in the years that followed, the team often lacked a dependable finisher. The club missed out on signing Harry Kane in the summer of 2023 before he joined Bayern Munich, a decision that many fans still consider a major oversight.

Instead, United opted for Rasmus Hojlund, who found it difficult to settle at Old Trafford. He moved to Napoli on loan last summer, a deal that was made permanent earlier this month. To replace the Danish forward, INEOS signed Benjamin Sesko last year, and the young Slovenian has made a decent start to life in England, netting 12 goals in his debut campaign.

The last striker who truly captivated the Old Trafford fans was Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who arrived in 2016. His successor, Romelu Lukaku, has now opened up about why his spell with United didn’t go as planned.

In an interview with Canal+, Lukaku explained that both he and Paul Pogba joined the club too early in their careers. He said, “It was good, but I think we were too young at the time. We are both alphas.”

He added, “One day I’d like to sit down with him and say, ‘If we had been together with the mentality we have today, it would have been dangerous. Very dangerous. Really, really dangerous. It hurts; it hurts a lot.’”

United brought Pogba back from Juventus in 2016 for £89 million and signed Lukaku from Everton the following year for £75 million. The Belgian striker spent two seasons at the club, scoring 42 goals and providing 12 assists in 96 appearances before leaving for Inter Milan in 2019.

Pogba’s second stint at United was also underwhelming. The club had envisioned him as the centrepiece of their rebuild, but the Frenchman only managed to win the Europa League and the EFL Cup. He left Old Trafford as a free agent in 2022 to return to Juventus.

Lukaku further mentioned that Manchester City’s dominance at the time made it harder for United to compete. He recalled, “Manchester City were much stronger; they got 100 points in the Premier League. But if you look at how we started that season — 12 points from 12, and playing really well. 4–0 here, 4–0 there, 4–0 again, bang, bang, bang.”

Reflecting on that period, he continued, “And then… with hindsight — I don’t want to start anything — but if we had the maturity and experience we have now, if we had walked into that dressing room at 27 or 28 years old, it would have been completely different.”

Lukaku’s first season at Old Trafford was impressive, as he scored 27 goals and registered nine assists across 51 games. Though his second campaign saw a dip in form, he remains fondly remembered for leading United’s dramatic comeback against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League.

As United prepare for another summer of change with Casemiro likely to depart, the squad still includes seasoned figures such as Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, and Tom Heaton. The influence of experienced former players like Michael Carrick and Jonny Evans also helps maintain high standards within the dressing room—something that may have been missing in previous years.

Meanwhile, Sesko has found his rhythm, scoring 10 goals in his last 15 matches for United, suggesting that he is adapting well to the demands of English football. With INEOS expected to strengthen the squad further this summer, supporters will be hopeful that the Slovenian striker can truly establish himself as the long-awaited No. 9 the club has been searching for.