David Bellion, Massimo Taibi, Bebe… The worst XI using players signed by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson made some incredibly savvy signings during his reign as Manchester United boss that helped them dominate during the Premier League era.
Players like Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney turned into club legends for relatively modest transfer fees.
This along with their revered academy products saw Ferguson win 13 league titles and countless other domestic trophies.
Man United were often linked to some of the best players in the world and the best XI of players they nearly signed is incredible.
Not everything Fergie did turned to gold, though, as there was also some truly shocking transfers made among the excellent ones.
Here, marvelbet369.com, is looking at the worst XI of players signed by the great manager.
Goalkeeper: Massimo Taibi
Taibi had the unenviable task of filling the boots of a certain Peter Schmeichel and was a complete disaster.
He was signed for £4.5million in 1999 and only played four matches for Man United.
This included conceding five against Chelsea and the infamous goal let in against Southampton when a tame Matt LeTissier shot rolled through his legs.
Left-back: Quinton Fortune
Fortune was signed for £1.5million in 1999 from Atletico Madrid and initially came to the club as a midfielder.
Ferguson used him at left back but was often underwhelming when he did play. He was part of three Premier League winning seasons but did not play enough games to earn a medal.
He was released by the club at the end of the 2006/07 season.
Centre-back: William Prunier
Prunier was signed on a trial basis in 1995 while United were ravaged by injuries. He partnered Gary Neville in the heart of the defence against QPR and then Tottenham, who ran riot scoring four goals.
He was released quickly after and ended up at Copenhagen.
Centre-back: Pat McGibbon
Ferguson signed McGibbon from semi-professional Irish side Portadown in 1992. He was sent off on debut in a 3-0 defeat to York in the League Cup and never made another appearance for the club despite staying for five years.
Right-back: David May
May was signed as a centre-back in 1994 for £1.2million from Blackburn to provide competition for the ageing Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister.
Injuries to Paul Parker meant he was forced to play at right-back and was often the scapegoat for United’s poor performances.
However, Gary Neville’s rise also meant May's time at right-back was limited, though he was immortalised in the 1999 Champions League triumph.
He is popular among United fans for his work behind the scenes and on the club podcasts.
Left midfield: Zoran Tosic
The tricky winger was signed from Partizan, along with teammate Adem Ljajic, in January 2009 for around £7million.
In 12 months he made just two appearances before getting impatient and wanted to leave the club.
He then was loaned to Cologne and sealed a permanent move to CSKA Moscow.
Centre midfield: Bebe
Arguably the most bizarre and worst signing made during the Ferguson era at United.
He was signed for £7million with Fergie admitting to never seeing him play.
Bebe was terrible and made seven appearances in his first season before being shipped out on loan before they could offload him to Benfica in 2014.
Centre midfield: Kleberson
Kleberson helped Brazil win the World Cup in 2002 and Luiz Felipe Scolari hailed him as the driving force behind their success.
United secured his signature 12 months later paying a huge £6.5million. He was a disaster, though, and made just 20 appearances before being sold to Besiktas two years later.
Right midfield: Karel Poborsky
Poborsky was named in the Euro 1996 team of the tournament and won Czech footballer of the year as he secured a move to United.
He was somewhat overshadowed by David Beckham and never showed his full potential at Old Trafford before leaving for Benfica 18 months later.
Striker: David Bellion
United were accused of tapping up Bellion in 2003 as his contract expired at Sunderland. It ended with them paying £2million in compensation and it is baffling why they went to so much effort to sign the striker.
He left permanently in 2006 after failing to make much of an impression.
Striker: Dong Fangzhou
The striker was signed for £500,000 from Chinese side Dalian Shide in 2004. He failed to score during his time at Old Trafford and was released four years later.
There was some suspicion that he was signed to help increase the Red Devils’ popularity in China and the rest of Asia.
