FIFA 22 Man Utd Career Mode Guide: Starting Lineup and Who to sign

A huge summer for Manchester United has left them as one of the most popular teams to play with on FIFA 22.

United's squad has plenty of pace, power, and young guns to make them an ideal team for starting a save.

With Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford and FIFA beast Raphael Varane also arriving, the Red Devils finally have a squad capable of competing - and this is where you come in on FIFA 22 Career Mode.

Team Rating

Manchester United have a five-star rating in FIFA 22, with an 85 attack, 84 midfield and 83 defence.

Starting Lineup and Formation

Manchester United default formation is a 4-2-3-1 Wide, and you should not be looking to alter this.

You could be tempted to play Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani together in a two-man attack - but it would mean axing one of your star players in Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Jadon Sancho or Marcus Rashford.

David de Gea lines up in goal, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw in the back four.

Paul Pogba plays in a more advanced CM position and lines up alongside Fred (who is actually decent in FIFA) in the engine room, with Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford operating behind star man Cristiano Ronaldo.

On the bench go for Dean Henderson, Victor Lindelof, Alex Telles, Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek, Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani.

You are likely to be tempted to give Mason Greenwood some minutes to unlock the 19-year-old's incredible 89 potential.

Tactics and Instructions

We know how much talent this United team is, but they can get in their own way at times.

Adjusting the tactics can make sure the side is efficient in attack and solid in defence.

You can leave the back four as is, and your first port of call should be Fred who is the midfield anchor.

Put the Brazilian on "Cut Passing Lanes" for his Defensive Behaviour, "Stay Back While Attacking" on his Attacking Support and "Cover Centre" for Defensive Position.

Next to him, Paul Pogba can have more of a licence, but should still have "Cut Passing Lanes" and "Cover Center".

Attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes loves goals, so have him "Get into the Box for Cross" and "Free Roam". For more attacking game plans or against weaker opposition you may feel he can "Stay Forward" for Defensive Support.

On the wings, Jadon Sancho can be left as is, but Marcus Rashford will be key with his pace and finishing, so have him "Cut Inside" for Chance Creation, Support Runs should be "Get in Behind" and certainly should "Get into the Box for Cross".

Lastly, Cristiano Ronaldo is a versatile forward, and perhaps the only thing you can adjust is for him to "Stay Forward" on his Defensive Support.

Training

Even with the talents of Pogba, Ronaldo, Varane and Fernandes, the encouraging thing for United fans is that they still have young players that can improve.

In your training sessions, try to use Aaron Wan-Bissaka (POT 87), Jadon Sancho (POT 91), Marcus Rashford (POT 89), Dean Henderson (POT 87), Donny van de Beek (POT 86) and Mason Greenwood (POT 89).

On Career Mode you can also adjust players' positioning via training, and in time, you may want to do this with Mason Greenwood or Marcus Rashford so they can become the club's main striker once Ronaldo and Cavani have moved on.

The Transfer Market

Starting transfer budget: £164 million

Starting wage budget: £629,000 a week

Who should go

Manchester United's squad is quite balanced and offers useful depth, but there are a few cuts that can still be made.

Phil Jones is somehow still at the club, and the former England man can collect you £2.5 million and free up £63,000 a week in wages.

Juan Mata has never quite made his mark at Old Trafford, and the little Spaniard will struggle for minutes this season behind Bruno Fernandes, Donny van de Beek and Jesse Lingard in the number 10 role.

Selling him can get you £6 million, and save £85,000 a week in wages.

With a new midfield anchor high up on your shopping list, third choice holding midfielder Nemanja Matic can go, with the Serbian worth £8 million, and on £86,000 a week in wages.

United fans may have become tired with Anthony Martial, especially with the growth of Mason Greenwood - but look to keep the Frenchman for one season at least, so see if he can still improve.

Out of all the youngsters, Dillon Hoogewerf has the lowest potential lat 78, ao you may want to cut your losses with just one year remaining on his contract.

You also don't need four goalkeepers in the first team so either sell Tom Heaton or loan out Dean Henderson.

Loans

United have ample depth, meaning there are a number of youngsters who can be sent out on loan.

Amad Diallo (POT 85) was meant to be loaned out to Feyenoord this term before injury got in the way, and you should look to offer the Ivorian minutes elsewhere.

Shola Shoretire (POT 84), Anthony Elanga (POT 80) and Hannibal Mejbri (POT 84) can all be loaned out to see if they can catch up with the first team.

Who to Sign

New transfer budget: £173 million

New wage budget: £629,000 a week

World Class Holding Midfielder

Part of the Paul Pogba problem is that the Frenchman doesn't have a midfield partner who can clean up for his occasional sloppiness.

So it's time for United to splash the cash and bring in one of the world's best - and we are putting Bayern's Joshua Kimmich at the top of the list.

The German won't come cheap, however, with £115 million perhaps required so sign him, but his wages of £138,000 a week are respectable.

The versatile midfielder is just 26 years old and can grow to a 90 potential.

Alternative options

Promising centre back

With Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly offering backup in defence, you may want to get someone in who will provide better cover in the years to come, and could go on to even break into the starting 11.

You may not want to splash all your cash, so Marco Senesi could be a shrewd move, with the Feyenoord defender costing £31 million and starting wages of just £13,000 a week.

The Argentine has a 79 OVR and can grow to a potential of 85.

Alternative options

Contracts

Eight players have contracts running out at the end of the season, and there is just one worthy of a definite renewal - Tahith Chong.

You are likely to want to keep Edinson Cavani on the books, but the Uruguayan is 34, so perhaps watch his overall in the early months of the season to decide whether to extend.

Reece Devine, Dillon Hoogewerf and Dylan Levitt all have a potential of 78, so unless they have an encouraging season, you may as well release them.

D'Mani Mellor (POT 76) is in a similar category, but he will likely be released alongside Lee Grant and Juan Mata (if not sold).

Board Expectations

After a significant summer, the Manchester United board wants results - and you may feel the heat in your first season in charge.

Domestic Success is critical, for which you will need to win both the Premier League and FA Cup.

Brand Exposure is also vital, with the targets here to give 5 clean sheets in a row in away games and sign three players from South America - which may hamper your transfer plans.

Youth Development is the third critical area, for which you will need to sign three players under the age of 20, with a higher potential than the current average of players in their position.

Not only that but you must sign two youth academy defenders.

Continental Success still has high importance, and you will be asked to win the club's first Champions League title in 14 years.

Lastly, your Financial objective has a very low importance, for which you will need to maintain a profit margin of £258 million - so maybe hold off splashing the cash until January.

Reclaim the throne

It will have been nine years next summer since Manchester United last won the Premier League title, and in that period four other clubs have struck gold.

That should be your priority this term, as you may only have one season of Cristiano Ronaldo at his 91-rated level.

The squad depth should get you through to the latter stages of the FA Cup and Champions League, but whether you have enough to take on the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern and PSG will be the crucial factor.

It may take you two seasons or more to get that squad together which will enable you to rotate, and then you can target European domination - it's overdue for this club.