Dutch striker, Wout Weghorst, experienced a rollercoaster of emotions during his time with Manchester United. His move to the club was a dream come true; he had tears in his eyes when he heard about the £3 million deal that cut short his loan move from Turkish club Besiktas. This transfer happened after an impressive performance at the World Cup and a successful stint with Burnley.
Weghorst's journey from Wolfsburg to Burnley, then Besiktas and finally landing at Old Trafford is nothing short of remarkable. He was signed by Burnley for £12 million in January 2021 but was loaned out to Besiktas following Burnley's relegation. However, after helping Holland reach the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar, Manchester United came knocking.
Former Manchester United striker, Wout Weghorst, said:
"They were super successful months in which we hardly lost. I was also very important for the team, as both a focal point of play and hard-working link between midfield and attack.
“Only my goals were lagging behind. That gnawed at me and was the reason why I lost my starting place. The Premier League is by far the toughest league in the world, with the best defenders. But we were rarely the dominant side creating chances. And the way we played was also different from what I was used to.
“In Germany and Turkey, the teams always played for me. I was the end of the line, while at United I mainly had to ensure that others could excel. I think I managed that very well. But whichever way you look at it, I would have liked to score much more often.”
The Dutchman couldn't resist the allure of donning the famous red shirt and turned down a lucrative offer from Besiktas. His excitement reached its peak when he watched United beat rivals City 2-1 in the Manchester derby while finalizing his deal.
Within a year, Weghorst has gone from Turkey, England, and Germany in the span of a year
Despite realizing his boyhood dream and making 31 appearances for United - often playing as a withdrawn midfielder - Weghorst's tenure at Old Trafford is tinged with regret. He blames manager Erik ten Hag’s tactics for not being able to become a regular goalscorer.
During his five-month spell with Manchester United, Weghorst managed only two goals despite earning an EFL Cup medal and making an appearance in FA Cup final. The towering striker believes that Ten Hag’s tactics were responsible for him not finding back of net more frequently.
Following this disappointing stint, Weghorst moved on loan to German club Hoffenheim where he hopes to regain his scoring form. Despite the challenges faced at Manchester United, Weghorst's journey serves as a reminder of the highs and lows that come with professional football.
Wout Weghorst's time at Manchester United was a mixed bag of emotions - from tears of joy upon signing to feelings of regret due to unfulfilled potential. His story is a testament to the fact that while talent plays a crucial role in football, tactics and team dynamics significantly influence an individual player’s performance.
