Manchester United

Manchester United played all nine seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18 in the Premier League. They were champions in 2010/11 and 2012/13. They won six major trophies: two league titles, the Europa League, the FA Cup and two League Cups. Over those nine summers they paid £714.4m in transfer fees and took in £209.9m, a net spend of £504.4m. In 115.football they get City’s £900m instead.

Manchester United began this period as the team to beat and ended it as one of the chasing pack. Under Sir Alex Ferguson they finished second, first, second and first, the 2012/13 title his last before retiring. Then came seventh in 2013/14, their lowest Premier League finish at the time, and a long search for what came next.

The money flowed both ways. Cristiano Ronaldo left for Real Madrid for £80m in summer 2009. Ángel Di María arrived for £59.7m in 2014 and left a year later for £44.3m. Paul Pogba returned from Juventus for £89m in 2016 and Romelu Lukaku followed from Everton for £75m. Cups still arrived, an FA Cup in 2015/16 and the League Cup and Europa League in 2016/17, but not the league.

On 115.football, United's challenge is the reset after 2013. Keep Ronaldo in 2009, spend £900m with hindsight, and the gap after Ferguson might never open up.