Rooney staying, Berbatov going, Dembele departing from United’s radar

It’s the final few days of the summer transfer window. Bryan Swanson is adjusting his tie, Dharmesh Sheth is waiting in his wings, and a flock of SkySports reporters are anxiously standing in front oftracksuit-wearing, probably unemployed supporters as they nervously pray that the twitter rumours isn’t just fantasy.

There’s something quite compelling as you pledge several hours of your life to listen, and stalkishly stare at what Natalie Sawyer is going to say next. You go into the day with a plan, perhaps a contingency plan, but for us United fans its more an opportunity to mock the panic-buying, over-spending clubs who have nothing more than a project and ambition.

Sometimes, though, Sir Alex Ferguson likes to delve in the final day of business. Dimitar Berbatov, who once had to put up with partnering Robbie Keane, turned down rivals Manchester City in 2008. A move to United followed soon after; but now, four years later, Berbatov seems on his way to Italy. As a former AC Milan fan, he may be slightly disappointed that their interest was nothing more. Anyhow, the Bulgarian is set for Fiorentina or Juventus. All the best, Dimitar.

Once upon a time Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov were strike-partners. They were simpler times back then. Manchester City boasted such talents of Martin Petrov, Chelsea had Avram Grant as John Terry’s assistant manager, and we, Manchester United, had the best footballer on the planet in Cristiano Ronaldo.

Back then Berbatov wasn’t lacing his boots for the measly prospect of Aldershot away. He was, and still is, a player of such distinct brilliance. It wasn’t about the victory, but more about the manner of the victory and the game itself. Lethargic, slow, and lazy they’d say. A hindrance, a player that plays his own way, rather than playing to same ferocity of his teammates. Quite frankly that was the beauty that he offered.

An individual that, despite his individualism, took great pleasure in letting his teammates paint the final stroke of his footbaling art. For all of the snubbing, potential for controversy and ill-treatment, Dimitar Berbatov is one of few to stay solely on the back-pages. With impeccable balance, fantastic link-up play and a first-touch even Mike Summerbee would enjoy Berbatov, the part-time smoker/part-time striker, is the only bit of debonair we have. The fact that Berbatov is going for the same price as Jay Spearing is nothing short of an insult. There you are, the only mini-tribute of Berbatov you’ll see without the words maverick and enigma.

Back to Rooney. Well, he’s going by all accounts. Manchester City, 40 million pounds, have you not heard? Oh wait, it’s Everton on loan, not City. What’s that I can hear? PSG, 50 million pounds, with wages even Zlatan Ibrahimovic would drool over? Do you get the message? He’s not going anywhere.

Rooney demanded ambition, and sufficient spending to match our moneybag rivals. Well, he got the spending, and a certain Dutch striker that can easily keep him out of the side, gash or no gash. That formidable partnership will be put on hold for a few months, but luckily for us it’s only August.

Lastly we have Moussa Dembele. One eloquent, man-mountain of a performance against United warranted him to be the final piece of the jigsaw. It was Fellaini the week prior, and I do hope it isn’t Guly do Prado the next. Thankfully Tottenham put us out of our misery. Dembele wasn’t ever the central-midfield solution. I don’t say this because he won’t be playing in gingham this season; I say it because he has never performed to such heights for a sustained period of time.

We wait, or more pray, that one more will walk through the Old Trafford doors before Friday. Hopefully Ferguson doesn’t bow down to public pressure and delivers an unknown entity, an undiscovered talent. Marquee isn’t the United way. The scouting department is there for a reason, and if we sign another player in the upcoming days, then lets just hope it’s just a bi-product from that military scouting operation.