The Transfer Window: Day 3 …
An agent claims United’s interest in Milanese midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is likely to get nowhere as the midfielder wants to stay with his club. A much touted deal to sign Owen Hargreaves seems no closer to conclusion. Frank Ribery is on his way out of Marseille while Barcelona have held talks with Ronaldo’s agent about a possible deal. And of course, United’s Chief Executive David Gill promises money is available for new signings but can not be sure whether any will be made.
These are the highlights of day three of the newly open transfer window but they could just as easily be a selection of the dullest snippets from last summer’s speculation. Did someone say Groundhog Day?
The decision of Ronaldo’s agent to make it known that he tried to sell his client to Barcelona before the World Cup rumpus is curious in its timing. Was it an attempt to slight the Catalan giant for an amateurish falling between two stools, in failing to get either Ronaldo or Arsenal’s Thierry Henry and thus fuel a more determined effort to sign the player next summer? Yesterday’s edition of the Catalan daily Sport reported that 57 percent of Barcelona fans would like to see Ronaldo on the payroll.
At least Jorge Mendes had the good grace to help fans keep down their breakfast by stating that United would never sell their prized asset and that he is “happy in the Premiership.” Until next summer that is!
Meanwhile, a certain Claudio Pasqualin was busy working up a head of steam trying to interest the Teleradiostereo Sport audience in a piece from the cuttings library that claimed Sir Alex wants the World Cup winning midfield general Gattuso.
“Manchester United have tried many times to sign Gattuso,” Pasqualin said. “But I think that he will remain with Milan for next season also.”
Clearly Pasqualin has failed to keep abreast of current events, which have United trailing Owen Hargreaves as the latest ‘new’ Roy Keane and are planning to test Bayern Munich’s commitment to keep the player with a £15 million opening offer. If the Sun newspaper is to be believed, Hargreaves will come to United tagged as the new ‘Phil Neville.’ The newspaper reported that: “Hargreaves’ versatility, which allows him to fill in at full-back, also appeals to the United boss.”
Chief Executive David Gill proved himself to be the interviewee from hell when pressed on the current state of United’s transfer dealings. “I think we all know the area in which we want to strengthen, but I’m not going to comment on that.” Gill’s interviewer might not have been alone in wondering why on earth David Gill went on Manchester United Radio only to contribute nothing whatsoever of substance?
Gill then left his audience dizzy with a little something that amounted to nothing. “The money is there but traditionally we do most of our big spending in the summer and I think that will continue,” he told listeners. “Things may change. If there’s an area in which we want to do something then we’ll do it, but at the moment we don’t plan to do a great deal. We’ve already brought in Henrik Larsson, while a number of the players who have been out on loan are also back at the club.”
Gill might enjoy teasing the United fan base but he should know better. Sir Bobby Charlton confirmed less than a month ago that United would indeed be active this month. Woe betide anyone who makes a fool out of this heavyweight United legend.
A fool, a knave or an insider with his hands on a scoop, is clearly behind the constant rumours that United are secretly managed by George Graham and hence cannot wait to add to their stock of defenders. Southampton’s fresh faced fullback Gareth Bale is just £7 million and a signature away from joining the Old Trafford millionaires club according to the gossip mill, with Gabriel Heinze heading off to Milan. If that wasn’t enough to startle, United are keeping tabs on £17 million rated Franck Ribery, just in case the tabs of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Lyon fall off the player in the coming days. AU
© Copyright: Absolutely United 2007
