Manchester United's reputation in tatters after David De Gea deadline day debacle
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Updated 02/09/2015 at 15:01 GMT
Paul Parker says the David De Gea episode was very damaging for Manchester United, who must hope they can get the keeper back to top form after his move to Real Madrid collapsed.
Manchester United's goalkeeper David de Gea arrives at Las Rozas' Soccer City on September 1, 2015.
Image credit: AFP
Manchester United’s reputation as a club is in tatters over the farcical events which stopped David De Gea joining Real Madrid.
Given how things fell apart on Spanish deadline day, I imagine De Gea will be feeling quite bitter now. Two of the biggest clubs in the world have made a horrible mess of a transfer and it is the player who will suffer. De Gea was ready to return home to play for arguably the biggest club in the world – he was in Madrid ready to be unveiled – and now he has to come back into a very awkward scenario.
Making that move with his family, staking a claim for a starting role for Spain for Euro 2016 and representing Madrid… that has all been ripped away from him by two clubs failing to do their jobs properly. It is incredibly selfish of both Real Madrid and Manchester United and he has done nothing wrong.
Neither club has treated him well at all. United kicked him out of the team while the interest was there and Madrid waited until so late in the window to get things done. It hardly sent out a message that they were desperate for him to come. If they had his best interests at heart they would have done the deal weeks ago.
But for two clubs as well versed in elite football as Manchester United and Real Madrid – with all the staff they employ and expertise they have – to let a huge transfer fall apart because they can’t complete and upload files properly at the last minute is frankly unbelievable.
The fall out has been embarrassing with both clubs issuing statements in an attempt to transfer the blame, and I can’t believe United have got themselves caught up in it. Sometimes, silence is golden. Let other people shout and rant and just keep your counsel. But United aren’t good at keeping their mouths shut at the moment.
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Manchester United and Spain goalkeeper David de Gea
Image credit: PA Sport
There’s only one noisy neighbour now and that’s Manchester United. They keep airing all their linen in public, keeping the press well informed about what is going on. Meanwhile, Manchester City do things reasonably quietly and effectively.
One thing is obvious: Manchester United have to bring him back into the team. David De Gea was the player who got United into the Champions League and they will need him this season. The back four are doing okay but Sergio Romero was found wanting against Swansea. Louis van Gaal can’t afford to bear a grudge.
De Gea also needs to play his way back into form and prove again what a great keeper he is. Perhaps he will join Madrid in January, perhaps he won’t, but either way Euro 2016 is at the end of the season and he needs to be there. Both men need to put their differences aside and work together for the benefit of the club.
The most important thing is that Manchester United have the best players available as they try and get over this debacle and get on with their season.
MARTIAL MONEY
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France's national football team forward Anthony Martial gives a press conference in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines on September 2, 2015
Image credit: AFP
Anthony Martial joined from Monaco for a fee of up to £58m which is an extraordinary amount to pay for a player as inexperienced as he is. But after missing out on Pedro, I think United felt they had to get it done. There’s no doubt it is a big gamble, especially when he isn’t exactly an out-and-out centre-forward. That’s the position United were sorely lacking in and he only half fulfils the brief.
It is suggested that Monaco stuck an extra £15 million on the asking price because they knew United were a desperate situation with only Wayne Rooney in the striking department, and I can absolutely believe it. United put themselves in a vulnerable position by getting rid of all their other strikers this summer and leaving themselves short.
United spent all summer trying to buy a galactico – Gareth Bale, Thomas Muller, even Marco Reus – and ended up paying a galactico-type fee for a teenager. He might have huge potential, and could become a great player, but at things stand they’ve targeted a Rolls Royce and bought a Ford Escort.
WINDOW MADNESS
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Barcelona's Brazilian forward Neymar da Silva Santos Junior gestures during an official team presentation at the 50th Joan Gamper Trophy football match FC Barcelona vs AS Roma at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on August 5, 2015.
Image credit: AFP
I would go as far as to say that United’s transfer window has been a bit of a joke in some respects. I’ve never seen Manchester United linked with so many players. It’s absolutely embarrassing – and the Neymar link was the most ridiculous thing I have heard in my life.
As if they were going to sign someone who has just won the treble with Barcelona. It was absolutely incredible in every sense of the word.
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