David Moyes: Manchester United can still attract world’s finest even without CL football

Manchester United boss David Moyes is adamant the Old Trafford outfit is capable of attracting elite players even if they fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League, according to The Independent.

Having negotiated a £37.1 million deal for Juan Mata, United’s transfer headache is not yet solved as they continue to be linked with a plethora of stars from European heavyweights and aim to finalise deals for some of the current contingent.

Although failure to earn a place at Europe’s top table would not harm United financially, with their massive £30 yearly revenue boosted by several imminent sponsorship deals, including a kit deal with General Motors, it has been suggested the aura that has attracted players in the past would diminish if they could not showcase their talent amongst the world’s best.

But Moyes believes other factors will mean players from the top drawer would not hesitate to commit their future to the club; “Players will still join Manchester United for what the club stands for, for what it’s been, its history and the players who have come through here.”

“I think the message this sends is that we are going for all the best players in the world at Manchester United and I think Juan is one of those,” he declared.

However, attracting an out of favour player desperate to play in a World Cup year is a different animal to coaxing a central first team player from another European giant.

Having found themselves safely in a Champions League bubble for so long, although United have the financial muscle to challenge their rivals, if they slip out of Europe’s elite and fail to secure a return at the first time of asking, the short sighted, far from loyal crop of players today will begin to think twice whether they can fulfil their dreams at United’s theatre.