Premier League giants Manchester United suffered a 1-3 defeat at home to Brighton this Saturday. After this denting result for United, a report revealing the shocking cost of Brighton’s starting eleven against them further deepened their wounds.
According to the report, the eleven that Brighton started against Manchester United at Old Trafford just cost them a mere sum close to $19.4 million. The eleven that took the pitch for United were approximately twenty-two times higher in market value when compared with Brighton.
Brighton’s starting 1️⃣1️⃣ today cost only €18.2M 🤯 @OfficialBHAFC pic.twitter.com/mYkjk5ZBdT
— 433 (@433) September 16, 2023
Even United’s summer signings (excluding loan deals) combined stood at approximately $170 million. This is around eight and a half times more than Brighton’s starting eleven against them. United’s manager, Erik ten Hag would be decimated by the fact that, even after having a squad of such great value, they faced a defeat in a capitulating manner.
By beating the Red Devils 1-3, the Sussex-based side also ended United’s unbeaten run at home since May 2022. Brighton has a policy of signing players at a low cost and selling them with deservingly higher price tags. The way the club does business has been a lesson for everyone in the Premier League.
Brighton’s manager Roberto De Zarbi has turned his side into a team that currently can defeat any other side in the league. The soccer world has noticed the impact he has on his team. Even Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola has previously praised De Zarbi for the work he has done with Brighton.
Currently, Brighton sits in the fourth position in the league table with twelve points. On the other hand, the Red Devils have suffered three losses in their first five games this season. They sit in thirteenth position with six points with the help of two wins so far.
Other teams with the lowest squad value in the Premier League this season
Recently promoted Luton Town F.C’s first-team players have a squad value of around $8.1 million. They have returned to the top division of English soccer after being relegated in the 1991-92 season. With the team currently sitting in the relegation spot in the league table, they would want to turn things around quickly.
Sheffield United won promotion back to the Premier League this season. The Blades have a current squad value of around $13.02 million. They are presumed to be in trouble after selling a couple of top players like Sander Berge and Illiman Ndiaye. They have returned to the league after facing relegation in the 2020–2021 season. Currently, they are sitting just outside the relegation zone in the seventeenth position in the table.