Manchester United Rumours Archive January 07 2015

07 Jan 2015 15:22:48
Hi Ed002, with Valdes looking more and more likely to sign a short term contract with us, i was just wondering if there was interest in Lindegaard from anywhere?

Thanks in advance.

{Ed002's Note - I am not aware of direct interest in Lindegaard right now but he will, like Amos, need to find another club. I certainly expect Valdes to sign as we have discussed in the past. Then we will see what the summer brings.}

07 Jan 2015 10:57:00
Hi Ed!
just wanted to ask u that is messi really looking for a move to chelsea and are chelsea really trying to buy him ? is it really possible ?? because if it happens then they will have a scary attack for sure

{Ed002's Note - Although his club have not been hawking him around, my expectation is that Messi will be made available and Barcelona will start looking to rebuild around Neymar from January 2016 when they can start bring players in again and I expect that Barcelona will make Messi available from next summer - regardless of who the manager is at that time. A number of questions have been asked of representatives of UEFA regarding the transfer of the financially very high-end players and the impact on FFP. It is clear that exceptions would need to be put in place as the alternative could be lawsuits from players regarding restrictions on trade. In the past Messi has turned down a transfer to one side who had agreed to meet Barcelona's then €250M price tag, and Barcelona and a commercial partner resisted an approach by a commercial organisation on behalf of an English side with an offer to buy the player. I am aware that in Spain there has been speculation about an offer being made during the summer 2014 transfer window, but it is "largely" incorrect. This all started in 2012 when in mid December Anzhi made an offer to Barcelona that matched the €250M euro release clause that existed in his contract, and put up what I am told was a "very" significant personal package. However, Messi was not interested in a move to Russia and Barcelona did not want to sell - so Messi, in early February 2013, extended his contract with Barcelona. In the early summer of 2013 efforts were being made by Adidas to broker a deal that would get Messi away from Nike and to one of their three high-profile clubs. Very quickly Real Madrid were ruled out and with Pep Guardiola moving to Bayern Munich that pretty much saw the end of any chance of a move there (given the strained relationship) at the time. This left Chelsea and I can confirm that discussions were held about making a firm bid - at this point we are late 2013 and early 2014 and Messi was in a verbal spat with Barcelona about getting a further extension - which the club were against. Ultimately, the player was (at least in his eyes) available during the Spring of 2014 and at that point Chelsea and Adidas made his management representatives and Barcelona aware of what they would be willing to pay. Since then he has again extended his contract with Barcelona. I understand that again they see three possible destinations for the player but I am not going to get involved in any further speculation at this time.}

07 Jan 2015 12:30:54
Very surprised we haven't been linked, we could afford it and would be a major statement to tie in with the opening of our Adidas sponsorship.

Ed002, a couple of things, is his clause still €250M, I've read that it's £120m to anyone outside of Spain? Secondly, have we shown interest at all? Seems odd if not, wasn't sure if it was a case of us being already being knocked back.

{Ed002's Note - Ignore anything about clauses. Barcelona can charge what they want for a club outside of Spain. I don't want to get in to money. None of this is anything to do with Manchester United at all.}

07 Jan 2015 12:31:06
Ed002

Very cool write up and thank you and amazing your detailed knowledge. Respect

07 Jan 2015 13:27:34
Costa Messi and hazard is a scary front three! With matic, fabregas and possibly pogba behind!

07 Jan 2015 14:16:59
Ok thanks Ed, thought it'd be a bit bizarre if such a clause existed given that it'd be a relatively low fee for him.

07 Jan 2015 13:05:21
Think Ed002 (thank you very much for your detailed summary of possible Han targets by the way!) might be suggesting (apologies if not) that, to afford such a huge deal - and to make the most commercially out of maybe the best player ever - this might be dictated by sponsors/short sales/ brand image etc.

if Adidas want to get kudos then they'll do their best to get him to one of their clubs; however, Nike might try to keep him (big snub orherwise?) and get him to one of their big clubs? Or one of their future big clubs - maybe the biggest?! (Could get messy!)

{Ed002's Note - Adidas were involved in the discussions and are still very much part of the picture. It is nothing whatsoever to do with Manchester United though.}

07 Jan 2015 17:33:29
Very interesting read Ed002.

Just goes to show that footballers are employees and they are like anyone else in a job (apart from the millions of pounds and jet set lifestyle), if things are going well and you're paid well then you're happy. If things aren't going well then they are just as loyal as anyone and will look for a move.I think it also removes some of the aura surrounding Messi. He's held up as a great guy who's Barca through and through and happens to be an unbelievable footballer but he's just as loyal as the next player when things aren't suiting him.

{Ed001's Note - he has a completely false image. The reason so many youngsters have failed at Barca is down to him. He makes it impossible for almost any young starlet to break through. Just ask Alexis Sanchez, who would suffer personal abuse at the hands of Messi on the football pitch everytime they played together. Messi expects everything to be all about Messi and every other player on the pitch to be all about Messi and getting the ball to him to put in the back of the net. It is quite sad that someone like him has managed to build up such a nice clean cut image. Just shows you can't trust anything presented to you by the media. Oh and it is sometimes best when you don't know the truth, as it is so disappointing.}

Great post Ed001. Couldn't agree more with what you said.

07 Jan 2015 18:43:09
Couldn't agree more Ed001. Before using this site I would have, as I imagine most people do, looked at the way Messi is portrayed and thought that's how a top class footballer should be but since hearing about the way he has acted on a few occasions it's clear it's a false image. It irks me more when you see other players getting stick left, right and centre in the media but they don't do half the stuff Messi has behind the scenes such as prevent others from fulfilling their potential etc.