Manchester United did not sign Emiliano Martinez: Schmeichel criticized the transfer policy.

Legend Reaction to Manchester United's Signing

According to The Sun: Peter Schmeichel expressed his "disappointment" after Manchester United signed the wrong goalkeeper this summer.

Emiliano Martinez intended to leave Aston Villa in favor of a move to Old Trafford, but the club chose less experienced Senne Lamens, who has only one full season in professional football.

Schmeichel, who won 15 major trophies during Sir Alex Ferguson's time, believes the club took a risk by choosing the wrong player on transfer deadline day.

The legendary goalkeeper, 61, told SunSport via Sky Bet:

“We should have signed Emiliano Martinez”

Schmeichel on MartinezSky Bet

“We even had the chance to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma when we had the opportunity.

“With Martinez, everything was agreed, and it looked like a very good deal, as he is the goalkeeper Manchester United really needs.”

Martinez, 33, spent the day on Villa's training ground waiting for a call from United that never came.

Schmeichel added: “He has proven he can play at the highest level. He has a great command of the fundamentals, but more importantly, he has real leadership. He is the type of goalkeeper that makes attackers think twice. His presence is vital. It is very unfortunate that the deal did not happen due to financial reasons.”

Aston Villa was asking for around £40 million for the two-time world’s best goalkeeper Martinez, while Manchester City signed Donnarumma for £26 million.

The £18.2 million spent on 23-year-old young talent Lamens, who did not play in the 0-3 defeat at the Manchester derby, led to Andre Onana being forced to join the Turkish club Trabzonspor on loan.

Schmeichel also admitted: “As for Lamens, I’ll be honest: I had never heard of him until these rumors surfaced.”

“I know his statistics are excellent in the top 10 European leagues. But that was data from Antwerp in Belgium, in a team that finished fifth.”

“He is not what United needs at the moment”

Schmeichel on LamensSky Bet

“Statistics do not show how you respond after a mistake, or how you cope with the pressure of Manchester United. This pressure is unlike anything else in football.”

Onana, who was a Champions League finalist with Inter, is facing fierce societal pressure after a rough start following his £47 million move to United.

Schmeichel added: “Lamens could become the best signing, but right now it looks like a hope, and that is not what United needs.”

“If we had signed him and Martinez, it would have made sense: a proven world champion as number one, with a talented young goalkeeper developing behind him.

“But instead, we are left with the question of who will be number one.”

“I had never even heard of Lamens before the rumors”

SchmeichelSky Bet

Schmeichel also believes it is a “big question” why Lamens is the fourth or fifth choice for Belgium and was not included in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers.

Lamens may debut in the Premier League under watchful eyes this week against Chelsea, after a rough start for Altay Bayindir, who conceded seven goals in four matches.

Donnarumma instantly became the starting goalkeeper at the Etihad and made a great save on Sunday as Pep Guardiola adapted the team’s play to the new goalkeeper.

Schmeichel noted: “The modern goalkeeper, playing from the back, is changing.

“City has just signed Donnarumma – a huge goalkeeper who can coordinate his area in response to what Arsenal has been doing for many years with set pieces.

“Guardiola is now partially adjusting how the ball is played out of the box.

“On Sunday against United, we saw many goals that simply went out onto the field. So he raised City’s starting point higher on the pitch. But that’s Pep – he never gets it wrong.”