Alvaro Negredo has blasted Manchester United's approach towards £74 million ($99.5m) striker Benjamin Sesko, warning them that expecting him to win games on his own is unfair and will only hinder his development. The Slovenian forward has been under the microscope since his big-money arrival from RB Leipzig this summer, but he has struggled to deliver the goals expected of him.

AFPSesko's struggles at Old Trafford

When United splashed out a massive fee to bring Sesko to Old Trafford, expectations were sky-high. Yet, the 22-year-old has found the going tough. In a dismal 3-1 defeat to Brentford, Sesko finally scored his first goal, but the match summed up his struggles at the club. Against Manchester City in the derby one week prior, Sesko’s performance was nothing short of alarming. With only eight passes completed and a measly three duels won out of nine, he seemed a world away from the striker who was supposed to lead the line for United.

AdvertisementNegredo wants Sesko to play with more freedom

Negredo, who has himself experienced the pressures of a big-money move, insists Sesko needs time to adapt. Speaking about the young striker’s struggles at the former goalscorer made it clear that United’s demands for instant success may be harming his game.

"Benjamin Sesko is a young player. When I played for Man City we were winning almost every match, so it was much easier for me to adapt," he said. "When you sometimes start and sometimes don't, it’s hard. When a striker scores, he always feels better about himself and contributes much more to the team due to the confidence he has in himself. Above all, it’s about patience. They are young players who still have a lot to contribute and cannot be asked to win games alone. 

"I think it is unfair to give so much responsibility to such a young boy. The situation is similar for Benjamin Sesko as it was for me because he's playing. He's been playing almost every game and has scored once."

Getty Images SportAmorim's big spending not yielding results yet

Amorim threw big money into the summer transfer market, bringing in three attacking players to try and bolster the squad, in the likes of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, alongside Sesko. But the Slovenian's failure to hit the ground running has put more pressure on Amorim, especially after the £74m price tag. With the expectations mounting, the striker must be given space to improve without bearing the weight of United’s attacking hopes on his shoulders. 

Time for Sesko to prove himself

With United’s next match against Sunderland on October 4, the spotlight is now firmly on Sesko to prove his worth. He’ll be desperate to silence the critics with a strong performance and help his team secure an important win. However, the pressure doesn’t end there. After the domestic clash, Sesko will turn his attention to international duty, with Slovenia set to face Kosovo and Switzerland in World Cup qualifiers on October 10 and 13. It’s a chance for him to get back to scoring ways, away from the intense spotlight of Old Trafford.