An array of ultra high-cost defensive excellence lined up at Old Trafford and at Frankfurt’s Waldstadion on Saturday. In Manchester, the most expensive defender in football history, United’s Harry Maguire, in front of the best goalkeeper from last season’s Champions League, Andre Onana.
Over in Germany, the most costly Asian player ever, Kim Min-jae, anchored a Bayern Munich rearguard alongside Dayot Upamecano, whose €43 million move from RB Leipzig two years ago places him in the top half dozen of fees the Bavarians have ever paid.
Three of those, Kim among them, are centre-backs. And a thoroughly chastening weekend it was for all these bearers of high price tags.
United conceded three unanswered goals at home to Bournemouth, two of them to headers – Maguire’s chief domain – and all of them from crosses into the United box.