LAPTV

Skip over video
video image
25Jul

“Man Utd used to be a club that broke transfer records”

Not a long time ago, in a galaxy very, very close, Manchester United were breaking transfer records left, right and centre. These days, it’s all change at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson is spending money on promising youngsters, but gone are the days when he was signing Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastián Verón and Rio Ferdinand for close to £100m. Ferguson wants a good deal in the transfer market, most recently shown by him baulking at São Paulo’s demands for £30m for Lucas Moura. But is his hand being forced? The Life’s a Pitch panel delves deeper.

“Manchester United are holding back,” says journalist and author Ian Ridley. “Ferguson has talked a lot recently about value for money in the market and I think he’s getting to that age, as is Arsène Wenger, where they are horrified by the amounts of money floating around. They missed out on Eden Hazard for that very reason. The problem is that United are supposedly the richest club in the world, so [as a fan] you would think: ‘Why are we taking £80m for Cristiano Ronaldo instead of paying £80m?’ They always used to be a club that broke transfer records and now they’re not doing it.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of Manchester, Man City boss Roberto Mancini has got a permanently open purse to buy whomever he wants. Is it a surprise, then, that Sir Alex hasn’t publicly criticised the Glazer family?

Not so, according to Dominic Fifield of the Guardian. ”He’s an employee – why would he? You can look at it from the outside, and it is remarkable just how supportive he is of the Glazer regime; he has no complaints with them and feels they have done well for him in terms of the investment he’s had for the structure of the team. [But] It’s so depressing when you see a club like United effectively channeling its monies through the Cayman Islands; it doesn’t seem right. I can see why United fans are up in arms about it, but they’ve been made impotent, really.”

Has the way in which the Glazers bought Man Utd had an impact on their spending power? David Walker of the Sunday Mirror believes so. ”The success that the club has had [on the pitch], and the commercial success, has helped the Glazers borrow money from the club,” he says. “This whole leverage scheme, you would look at it as a fan and say ‘it’s not good’. £80m-90m a season is being taken out of the club to pay their interest debt, it’s a huge problem – if they’d bought the club clean, that money could have been used for other things including players. If I was a fan, I would be aggrieved with the way the club was purchased, but it was within the law and there’s not a lot that fans can do about it.”

The panel also discusses Chris Smalling’s injury problems and whether Man Utd can win a 20th Premier League title this season.

Watch the full video discussion by clicking on the play button in the image above.  

Related articles:

Video: Who are the Premier League’s best centre-forwards?

Video: Who are the Premier League’s best wide midfielders? 

Video: Fryers, Pogba and Butterfield: Hit or miss?

Video: Schurrle to Chelsea, Man Utd eye Baines, Fletcher to Sunderland?

Video: Podolski, Kagawa and Foster: Hit or miss?

Follow Life’s A Pitch on Twitter @BTLifesaPitch

Comments

Please leave your comments using the box below. Learn more

  • ga Bl

    How do you expect a club like MUFC to break transfer records in the current climate where some clubs are selling oil to buy players..

  • Utdfan

    SAF was the cause of Glazer buying man utd, the owner are just bloody blood suckers from usa who cares little for the club or it’s traditions and are using borrowed money to make a fast buck……pretty much like the early days in America where conmen used to sell swamp land as prime property…….and in this instance, the glazers and their supposed wealth or assets are nothing but a smoke screen/swamp land

  • Abhi_gogoi46

     Ya man Chelski and Man Shitty are both selling oil to buy players.

  • Moinam Chatterjee

    i think deal is possible as no official announcement have been made by the managers
     

  • Redscot

    This whole topic of the Glazer’s parsimony at Manchester United is very ,and I mean  very devisive . It’s similair to pressing the self – destruct  button.
    The internal fighting squabbling that raises it’s ugly head , each and every occasion there are discussion’s over flotation’s, transfer spend , improving the sqaud , etc.
    We all know that Manchester United broke the British transfer record , pre the Glazer on numerous occasion’s .And are now clearly reluctant , to match even what Chelsea paid Liverpool for Fernando Torres , £50 million.
    Yet Sir Alex Ferguson set the precedent in selling Ronaldo for a still world record transfer fee , for the funds from same to be  ‘ wasted ‘ servicing debt.
    Because of the waste on servicing the leveraged debt £ 500 million  to- date , we are clearly looking at ‘ value for money ‘.As David Gill described , Sir Alex Ferguson is building a team for the future . This may well be a smoke – screen , that we will just not purchase , players who are the finished article .To compete with our main rivals , particularly in Europe.
    A few weeks ago we were in the hunt , alegedly for Edin Hazard , failed to sign the Belgian . We all were getting our hopes up that at Manchester United , we can still attract one of the up – coming  stars of Europe . Built up to be cruely , guzumped by an arch rival . The current holder’s of the Champion’s league cup , immediately by signing Hazard , further developing their team . For the forthcoming season , clearing out ‘ great club servants ‘ Didier Drogba and Niklas Anelka as examples . While at Manchester United , because of the stringent control of the finances , we persevere , with also club legends Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs .
    I have even read a forum today , where the headline topic  ” is their still hope for  Bebe at United ? This is  based on Bebe’s  second half performance this after noon against Shanghai Shenhua, which was probably the best he has played in a United shirt .
    One week we are speaking about Luka Modric , Edin Hazard , Lucas Moura and Robin van Persie signing for Manchester United , today we are hoping for once described as the ‘ worst ever Manchester Player  ‘ to be that Manchester United player we are all seeking to help further improve the team. To compete with the improved Chelsea and Arsenal if they can retain van Persie’s talent at the Emirates .
    For all the talk of new signing’s this transfer window , not necessarily encouraged by the club , more the media . I would give you Mesut Ozil , Wesley Sneijder and Samir Nasri .All for a variety of reason’s did ‘ not ‘ arrive at Old Trafford in the past .But we were lead to believe they had in fact ‘signed’ for our great club .
    It’s truly heart – breaking the anticipation of the likely ‘ new signings ‘ to be broken  and smashed into smithereen’s  , by one of United’s rivals .As is happening to often now for comfort ,to ensure our club competes both in the Premiership , but more importantly for the financial return the Champion’s league , past the group – stages.
    But you are correct David Gill , “ debt is the road to ruin “.
    Sir Alex Ferguson  “if you don’t like it you can f**k off and support Chelsea.
    .
    At the end of the day , I personally am thinking about stopping commenting on  United ,I explain my case fairly with a civil tongue .To be often abused , for no reason , by I imagine a blogger . Who invariably writes an article , sits back and does not comment on his ‘her article , or defend it . When I have written articles in the past I comment on peoples posts on the article , and thank every – one , for their  input . I think it’s called good – manner’s .
    Twitter for me , I think.

  • Dcutler

    Ozil, Sneijder, Nasri – all rated and all failed during the Euros. I know the premiership is very different, but do you think these players would have made that much of a difference? United’s problems go much deeper. They have an ageing (established) defence, the weakest midfield they have had since 1994, a number 10 who is top drawer and no real centre forward. Not going to start on the keeper – think he is going to be brilliant.

  • Mebratu

    I need an action now. I am fed up abut rumors and Chelsea is really in a good condition interns of the players transfers. In our club we need left side defensive quality player, in the middle defensive plus technical player and one striker. Therefor action is very important.

  • Redscot

    Hi , I see this is your first post on a ‘ disqus ‘ article, which is great !
    Regarding ,Mesut Ozil , Wesley  Sneijder and Samir Nasri  the point I was making Manchester United have been linked heavily  with all three player’s in recent transfer windows .To not come to frution , by signing, although in my opinion ,they were all  wanted by the club. The club also encouraged  the fans , that they were infact ‘ seriously ‘ interested in top quality players,  which the three of those players are. I can only imagine this is to encourage season ticket sales . When there is no serious intent to complete the deals , the saying talk is cheap actions speak louder than words.
    As you will recall , Werder Bremen sold Mesut Ozil to Real Madrid for approx £12 million ,in 2009  Real Madrid sold Wesley Sneijder to Inter Milan  for approx £12 million . These two players are world class that can and would  make a huge difference in the ageing midfield , immediately !
    Manchester United buy young Nick Powell from second division Crewe for approx £ 6 million , work in progress .Hopefully he will be fantastic after a confident start ,pre – season.
    The point I was making overall, to try to stay ‘ on – topic , that Manchester United now are not purchasing proven ,or close to world class players. It’s in my opinion , all most ,looking to develop them , and sell on later , all with the thought of likely resale value for the asset as a key part of the purchasing plan .
    I have long banged the drum , United’s main area of weakness is two – fold , a competent left back to ensure Patrice Evra’s starting spot is not a given . A world class defensive midfielder of the Bastian Schweinsteiger mould to replace what has never been replaced , a Roy Keane type player . But here is a small thought , Manchester United , don’t sign German or indeed Italian ‘ national’s ‘ football player’s do they ?. Apart from currently two younger players and a now sold , Giuseppe Rossi ! We all make mistakes though?
    As I said in my initial post , that will  be that for a while , I’m leaving commentating because I have strong views on the Glazer owner- ship of Manchester United , and the damage they are causing to United , both in the short term and indeed long term .Which is not yet obvious , but will be in due course. As I have explained , along with many others as the flotation in New York is delayed , as were the two previous attempts elsewhere .
    Good luck.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Karthik-PV/1053273643 Karthik PV

    There is a difference-Man Utd broke the transfer record for the likes of Roy Keane, Rooney, Rio Ferdinand while Mancini is paying obscene money for the likes of Santa Cruz,Adebayor and Nasri who did not even get a look in for the first team squad on a regular basis. United breaking records was need-based while Man City are inflating the transfer market for average players with their limitless moneybags

  • David

    Who is putting out this rubbish about particular players being linked to particular clubs?  Not the purchasing clubs, as the price goes up as other clubs might then be interested (or claim to be!).
    Football agents. The worst kind of bloodsucker in business !

  • Freeman

    u r genius karthik…adebayor,rsc arent mancini’s buy…nasri did play well in second half of the season…

    did u forget denilson,berbatob,veron etc??

  • Rooney456

     mancini didnt buy adebayor and santa cruz, it was sparky, you idiot. stay on facts.

  • Rooney456

     i dont see nothing wrong with it. why it is an issue. the real problem is the glazers suckin off the life of man utd.

  • Rooney456

     ozil and nasro arent failed. please take off your blindfold when watching tv.

  • Rooney456

     chelsea is unstoppable in the players transfer. it seems to me that ffp is nothing but a bitter joke.

  • Wulf

    They’re just doing the same shit manU has been doing for 20 years. Buying very expensive players.

BT is not responsible for any external content or links uploaded by users of the site. Nor does the presence of information or links about other parties' products or services confer any form of endorsement of another party's products or services by BT. Please show respect to other users and avoid bad language when posting

Related Videos