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Initial word out of Old Trafford was promising with David Moyes speaking of an unlimited budget and Ed Woodward saying Manchester United can do what other clubs can only dream of doing in transfer market. Sensational talks of Gareth Bale and Christiano Ronaldo signing were abundant, with United doing little to dispel any of the rumors. Links to Barcelona’s Cesc Fàbregas seemed more concrete, with Woodward even going so far as to fly back from the Australian preseason tour, to secure the transfer.
That never ended up happening, either did Sami Khedira or Mesut Ozil or Daniel De Rossi or Ander Herrera. The latter being an absolute shambles of negotiations, as three Spanish representatives fraudulently represented Manchester United with Bilbao. A new left back was also sought after, with Moyes keen to link up with Leighton Baines again, as a replacement for Patrice Evra. When Everton refused to budge on their evaluation , a last minute loan attempt was made to Real Madrid player Fabio Coentrao, that also failed.
Amazingly after all the promise, United ended up with only one signing by the end of the window. Marounne Fellani put pen to paper in the dying embers of the transfer window, for an extra four million pounds then he would of been if bought one month earlier, ya know when he had an actual release clause. Unfairly the Fellani purchase would be used as a constant stick to beat Manchester United hierarchy with until he left for China many years later.
It was this scatter brained approach that left a sour taste in the Old Trafford faithfuls mouth, and barely into their tenure, it looked like both Moyes and Woodward were out of their depth. Wayne Rooney was signed to a new bumper contract, despite Ferguson stating that Rooney was keen to leave, so atleast United fans had something to smile about.
Continued….
