Southampton’s 2008 signing of midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is unlikely to be given enough praise.
The Saints have a history of bringing in players who are unknown in English football but have proven to be outstanding signings.
Schneiderlin is a clear example of this, as the club gambled in 2008 to recruit the midfielder in a transaction for an estimated £1.2 million.
The Frenchman was 18 at the time, and while the transaction may have been viewed as risky at the time, the Saints should remember it fondly.
Morgan Schneiderlin in Southampton
Southampton did not waste any time in bringing Morgan Schneiderlin on board; the midfielder was brought in to be an immediate starter.
Schneiderlin appeared 30 times in the Championship during his debut season at St. Mary’s, and despite Southampton’s relegation to League One, the midfielder continued to flourish for the club.
The Frenchman went on to feature frequently in League One for the next two seasons before helping the Saints win promotion from the Championship in 2011/12.
Schneiderlin played an important part in that promotion, scoring twice and assisting three times, and he continued his success in the Premier League.
In the following three seasons, he appeared 95 times in the top level, scoring 11 goals and contributing three assists.
He was a key part in Southampton’s promotion to the Premier League and subsequent retention before attempting to reach Europe.
So it will come as no surprise that clubs expressed interest in Schneiderlin in 2015, and that Manchester United finally went all in to get him. The Saints gained millions of dollars from this agreement after making a discounted purchase in 2008.
Southampton profited millions on Manchester United’s signing Morgan Schneiderlin.
After being promoted from League One in 2011, Southampton were a team on the rise.
The team maintained its pace in the second division, which earned them an opportunity in the Premier League.
But when the Saints made it to the Premier League in 2012, they didn’t stop there; they moved on to become not simply a freshly promoted team, but one that was comfortable playing in the Premier League and holding their own against the major clubs.
Morgan Schneiderlin was a vital part of that rise, so when Manchester United expressed interest in acquiring the midfielder, Southampton fans would have been dreading the day he left.
Man United decided to pursue Schneiderlin after he excelled with the Saints, and it was time for United to freshen up their midfield as they sought long-term alternatives for Michael Carrick.
Schneiderlin was signed to Old Trafford with German international Bastian Schweinsteiger, and the two were anticipated to form the Red Devils’ midfield tandem. Schneiderlin went on to cost Manchester United £27 million, thus the Saints received far more than they spent in 2008.
However, the French international struggled, playing 29 times in the Premier League in his debut season while also competing in the Champions League and other cup tournaments.
However, that was the most the player could hope for, as the 34-year-old only appeared in three league games the following season before being traded to Everton.
