Summer transfer window for a Manchester United fan

David Moyes

There are some ridiculously tough things in the world like becoming an engineer, keeping a woman happy but the one that beats them all is being a Manchester United fan during a transfer window.

Well, the end of the season is always merry, jovial and jolly for me as the Devils more rather than not win a major trophy.

You sense that transfer window is looming as United start to get linked with big names. This year, Ronaldo and Bale filled that category. I tend to forget our previous seasons’ woe in the transfer window and my hopes start hitting new heights.

If you have been a Manchester United fan for the last two to three years, you would secretly know that our team has lacked a world class superstar since Ronny left for Los Blancos in 2009, it’s the same with me and every summer I feel that this is going to be the summer where the void left by Ronaldo is going to be filled. But, unfortunately that summer has never come.

Well, the start of this summer was no different. It all started with the special “Homecoming” rumour, as Ronny started to talk about his dissatisfaction in Madrid and Sir Alex’s statement about the major signing sent the United fans into a vast sea of anxiety.

The tweets started to flow, “Ronaldo to meet United officials in next three days to finalize deal”, “Ronaldo to be unveiled as United player on August 8 after a talk with Fergie”, Ferdinand did not help, he advised the United fans not to miss his testimonial as there was going to be something special, this practically sent the fans into delirium, the thought of CR7 returning was just beyond imagination.

Florentina Perez then put a dagger through the heart of United fans when he stated that a deal with CR7 was close and he also stated that Ronny would retire at Madrid. But then CR7 said that the talks about the contract were nonsense. And the hopes were back.

Since the Ronaldo announcement, it has been a downward spiral. The saga has literally hit a roadblock. And if fans don’t know the speciality about Rio’s testimony is that world’s fastest man; Usian Bolt is going to play in it. The hopes have started dying and the thoughts of Ronaldo’s return are just a distant memory now. The saga was just the starting of another cruel summer.

Now, some sense had started setting in after that senseless saga, and I came back to reality. I promised myself that I would not be drawn to big money transfer rumours. I knew Manchester United would make shrewd signings. Moyes had now arrived, and now came the “Thia-Stroot” saga. The signings seemed more realistic; they were young, they were good value, and they could have had stabilized the weak United midfield.

Thiago Alcantara

Kevin Strootman looked like a done signing even before the rumours stated so, and Thiago signing looked more and more possible with each passing day. ‘Kevin Strootman signing would be announced on 1^st July’ was the rumour everyone had started believing in, but then suddenly the Thiago rumours started to increase and Stroot’s links took a backseat and I did not worry because there was no apparent interest from any other club for the Dutch midfielder and fee was a mere £15m which was not out of bounds for a club like United.

According to me, Thiago signed for the Red Devils at least 20 times during the summer. But suddenly, one dark day, a source from Marca stated that Thiago Alcantara had decided to join the European Champs after a talk with his former boss.

All summer there were rumours of Thiago joining United, but only one rumour of him joining FC Bayern and Bam! There he was posing with the Bayern Munich jersey. It was very much a familiar feeling for me and even Strootman had decided to join AS Roma, even after his agent stated that Kevin was interested in joining a Premier League club (that seemed to be United).

It was one of the most frustrating feelings. I had dreamt of a young partnership featuring Strootman and Thiago, a perfect mix of grit and guile, which would rule Europe for years to come, but again another failure in the window for United.

Similarly, Robert Lewandowski who seemed to be an obvious signing before the summer stated that he would run down his contract and join FC Bayern in the end. I felt ‘Why always United?’ and now here we are being linked with Fellaini, Baines and Garay. None of them arguably are United class in the end.

Baines is the one who should sign. There are rumours that even Fellaini is ready to snub us and join Arsenal. Although, he isn’t world class, he is a talented player. It seems that every Tom Dick and Harry is ready to snub United.

This is just the story of 20 days of this summer, but this happens every year. The target comes perilously close to signing with us but then, due to some or the other reason, turns us down. This list contains Hazard, Neuer, Moura, Thiago and Strootman, etc.

And adding insult to our injury is the fact that our main rivals have made some shrewd signings.

Man city have signed Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, and Negredo, while Chelsea have bought a couple of promising youngsters too.

That is how a transfer window is for a Manchester United fan.

The recent rumours are of Cesc and Bale joining United, but I have paid no heed to them. I used to check the internet every hour to see if United have made any signing, but I have lost the will now.