The fact that Gerard Pique has been sold back to Barcelona will be greeted with a certain amount of dismay by many United supporters, because since he first arrived at the club the young Spanish defender has only ever been a bit-part player, but this season when opportunities have come his way he has looked comfortable and so eyebrows will no doubt have been raised at today's news that Pique has been sold to his former club for £5m.
It's not as if the transfer fee amounts to a lot of money, added to which reports claim that United could be about to offload Sivestre this summer too, which if true leaves the Reds with just Wes Brown who is a recognised centre-half for cover for Ferdinand and Vidic.
Clearly Fergie believes that the club can cope without Pique and it remains to be seen if Jonny Evans who spent most of the season on-loan at Sunderland will be recalled. Evans was sent to Sunderland after failing to impress earlier in the season, specifically after the Carling Cup defeat at the hands of Coventry City. It cannot be ruled out that Fergie will also offload Evans and move to sign another central defender.
One thing is for sure, Fergie has made it clear that no player is sold unless he wants them out which is precisely what happened with Beckham and Van Nistelrooy. We are left to assume that for whatever reason Ferguson has given his blessing to Pique moving on, only time will tell if this is a good move or not, but the United manager doesn't often get it wrong where young players are concerned.
Heard long back he might go but never thought Ferguson would allow such a young player with lots of potential to go just like that.
ReplyDeleteThere's a few stories suggesting that Fergie wants to buy Micah Richard's, I don't think that is a goer personally.
ReplyDeleteMore likely, Fergie thinks that he can make do with what he's got at the back, but it's a bit shorted sighted if so.
We need to make the Tevez signing permanent and I for one wouldn't be surprised if that is the ONLY major incoming deal done this summer.
Don't forget that we have Manucho coming in all being well, but I think it's definitely bye, bye to Saha..
United could even end up in a net profit situation from transfers this summer with the Pique, Evans and Saha fees totalling over £15m combined and Tevez costing £10m or so.
Few years back, we bought Rossi and Pique about the same time. Eventually, Rossi was sold last season and Pique, recently.
ReplyDeleteI can see the reason why Rossi was sold (because he's a midget which might be struggled in England) but for Pique, he has the physical needed to be Center Back in England. So the other reason I can think of is to get some cash.
With Ronaldo's continuous rumors of going Spain and all these thing, this clearly indicate how important for us to raise home grown quality player, if not the best. Though there is a saga during Brown's renewal contract, but Brown didn't have any attention to leave the club. I have a major doubt if it's Ronaldo.
When you grew in your club, then the nostalgia and all those stuff is the reason for you to stay. The same reason, why Pique wanting to Barca.
Fair play to Pique, he was not getting games at United, it didn't look like he will get too many games in the future (squad rotation at centre-back is a ridiculous notion), and he can now go to his home club.
ReplyDeleteHowever, maintaining options at the back is a complicated problem for all managers, not the least Ferguson. Let's see if Evans can stay for the long run, but if he is extremely talented, unless he is a true United player through and through and thus is extremely loyal, I see Evans leaving in the future as well for the Vidic-Ferdinand partnership is rather young and not going anywhere any time soon.
Ferguson might want to invest in an Essien sort of defensive midfielder, who adds to his midfield and defensive options.
Regardless, this is a concern for the future for United, whereas the most important thing for United right now should be to replace Van Nistelrooy.
Fair play to Pique, he was not getting games at United, it didn't look like he will get too many games in the future (squad rotation at centre-back is a ridiculous notion), and he can now go to his home club.
ReplyDeleteHowever, maintaining options at the back is a complicated problem for all managers, not the least Ferguson. Let's see if Evans can stay for the long run, but if he is extremely talented, unless he is a true United player through and through and thus is extremely loyal, I see Evans leaving in the future as well for the Vidic-Ferdinand partnership is rather young and not going anywhere any time soon.
Ferguson might want to invest in an Essien sort of defensive midfielder, who adds to his midfield and defensive options.
Regardless, this is a concern for the future for United, whereas the most important thing for United right now should be to replace Van Nistelrooy.