‘United made a mistake signing Schweinsteiger

Former Red Devils defender Gordon McQueen is bemused by the club’s difficulties in offloading the Germany international and believes the responsibility lies with Louis van Gaal

Manchester United legend Gordon McQueen says that the club failed to do their homework when signing Bastian Schweinsteiger and Jose Mourinho has been left to pick up the pieces.

Mourinho said on Saturday that he was surprised that there are no takers for the German World Cup winner and made it known that he will pick Academy players ahead of the experienced midfielder.

Schweinsteiger, who cost £6 million last summer, has two years left on his £140,000-a-week contract and hinted on social media last week that he was not pushing for the exit door.

And McQueen believes United are paying a hefty price for their lack of due diligence, with the Scot, who played over 200 games for the club in a seven-year spell, telling Goal: “It was obvious even before he signed for United that time has caught up with him and he doesn’t have the legs any more.

“I don’t think United signed a world-class player. If you look at his record over the previous two seasons it was not good.

“I know that he won a World Cup with Germany in 2014, but his club performances were largely poor and there wasn’t that many of them.

“It was a bad bit of business by Louis van Gaal. His signings were, by and large, a disaster. In this case, it is his successor who is having to deal with it, but it’s a bit of a mess.”

Schweinsteiger, who married tennis star Ana Ivanovic in the summer, won eight Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich although McQueen believes the German club knew they were not selling one of their better players.

He added: “Bayern Munich would not sell a top player to a rival like Manchester United.

“They only let him go because his best days were behind him and they were looking to move on.”

Schweinsteiger has claimed that United will be his last club in Europe, owing to suggestions he will look to the lucrative China Super League or MLS in the United States for another pay day, but that may not be until next year at the earliest.

“The reason why he says United will be his last club in Europe is because he won’t be getting that kind of money anywhere else in Europe,” McQueen said.

“He has come here for one reason and one reason only and that is money. He is getting a lot more than he was getting at Bayern Munich.

“Schweinsteiger will make life as difficult as he can for United. The club might have to pay off the duration of his contract.