Oh you mean Pre-Calciopoli? I'm not even taking that into account because this is a new club at this point with totally different (transfer) moves.
Do you know how many people laughed when they say Pogba leaving rumors? Everyone. The same people called everyone who thought different morons because

we're not a selling club

and it happened the same with Vidal. We sold Coman too (and I don't mind that). So yes, we let our strongest position, midfield, fall apart and become our weakest spot. So either way once we became a strong force we've been selling our best players. We also build a name for Morata who went away.
Also, some are mentioning how we don't want to sell but players ask to leave. They make it sound 'good' which it ain't. It can't be good when your best players are asking to leave, it just proves we're not a top club capable of keeping their players.