I think its a little more than that now. Fergie would always check the character of a player before making a signing. He would know about their families, their background past history and how they conduct their lives off the pitch. It certainly sometimes feels we haven't gone to that level of detail with some of our recent signings.
And what players have we signed that wouldn't have 'passed' that test...?
Di Maria was a married father when we signed him.
Martial also.
Sanchez conducts himself professionally in his private life.
Pogba has a long term g/f and is a model pro whether you like him or not.
This line is just spin, it's just rubbish to be wheeled out as an excuse why the investment has been less than needed.