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More than a decade ago, in 2015, when Michael Carrick was still controlling games from midfield, Manchester United made an ambitious move for a superstar defender.

As per the BBC, United offered £28.6 million in an attempt to persuade Real Madrid to sell Sergio Ramos after receiving indications that the Spaniard was open to leaving the Santiago Bernabeu. Ramos eventually signed a new contract with Real and went on to captain them to multiple Champions League titles.

United have brought in a number of centre-backs since then, even setting the world transfer record for a defender in their pursuit of a true leader at the back. Even so, it would not be an exaggeration to say they have still not come close to signing a commanding presence in the mould of Ramos.

Now, much like his former manager Louis van Gaal once did, Carrick is dealing with similar defensive problems.

Following the summer revamp in midfield, United at last appear to have players who are comfortable in possession. But if their opening three Premier League matches are any indication, the Red Devils have become a side that looks far too soft without the ball.

It is only the second occasion in the last 50 years that United have let in two or more goals in each of their first three league matches of a season, the other instance being the 2020-21 campaign.

It is not easy to pin United’s defensive fragility under Carrick on one individual or one tactical issue, yet newly promoted Hull City and Ipswich Town, followed now by Everton, have all found it far too easy to get through them.

Carrick was quick to dismiss concerns over his team’s mentality after the 2-0 defeat at Hull, but the way United have surrendered control in these matches cannot simply be brushed aside.

United have often appeared sluggish as a collective, while their relatively inexperienced players have not always been on the same wavelength. In the closing moments against Everton, Senne Lammens attempted to pick out a team-mate in his own half instead of going long towards Benjamin Sesko and pushing Everton back into their defensive third.

That move eventually resulted in a corner, which United initially defended well. But Patrick Dorgu then chased the ball and tried to press the Everton goalkeeper without any real purpose, leaving the hosts with a two-against-one advantage on the right. In the end, the ball broke kindly for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who smashed home a fierce effort to make it 2-2.

In similar fashion, United were disorganised in stoppage time against Ipswich and conceded a late goal that could easily have been prevented with better concentration and stronger tactical awareness. That is where someone like Sergio Ramos could make a difference, bring calm to the side, and stop yet another rebuilding project at Manchester from unravelling.

Considering the 40-year-old has been without a club since January 2026 after leaving Mexican outfit Monterrey, many would understandably laugh off the idea. Even so, he remains available as a free agent.

But because of INEOS’s “building blocks” transfer strategy, under which defensive additions are expected to be prioritised in 2027 after last year’s attacking rebuild and this summer’s midfield overhaul, there is very little United could realistically do once the transfer window has shut.

If United were somehow to decide to add a new player now, their only realistic route would be the free-agent market. In that situation, Ramos stands out as the most attractive central defender available on a free transfer.

At this stage of his career, Ramos may well be slower on the turn than Harry Maguire and could struggle with the physical demands of English football in the way Lisandro Martinez has at times, but his experience and intelligence could still prove transformative.

Ramos, who captained Los Blancos during one of the most dominant periods in their history, winning 22 major trophies, and who also lifted the World Cup with Spain, is a natural winner. He would immediately command the respect of his team-mates and would not allow standards to drop.

The veteran Spaniard, famed for his fierce mentality, could be used regularly from the bench to help Carrick’s young squad manage matches more effectively and close out results in difficult circumstances.

With Ramos on the pitch, one could expect United to stay aggressive and go for the jugular rather than simply sit back and try to protect a lead.

In addition, with Casemiro having departed, the Mancunians have lost a significant goal threat from set-pieces. In Ramos, though, they would be getting a player who is arguably the second-best header of the ball after Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Spanish great has not yet announced his retirement from football, and United should think seriously about offering him the chance to bring down the curtain on his career with one final major challenge — the very one he turned down more than a decade ago.