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For any new player coming into a club, one of the essential aspects is the connection he makes with the fans. The player could be an instant hit, or it may take a few years to be liked by your supporters. Once the fans are behind you, an improvement in the game is always noticeable.
Over the years, Manchester United has hosted some memorable names in football. From Eric Cantona to Cristiano Ronaldo to Juan Mata, all are adored and loved by the fans. There are instances in football when a player comes back to play against the former club and he is jeered or booed by the supporters, but the fans in Manchester greet all their former players with respect as they do for their current players.
The supporters these days are more sensible, and they look beyond the performance of a player on the pitch. It could be that the player is going through a rough patch, but if he is involved in off-field activities with the fans and interacting more with them, it could go a long way to create a healthy bonding among them.
Since Sir Alex Fergusson retired, the situation around Manchester United has not been good with a string of mediocre seasons, but the Old Trafford crowd has always backed the players and the managers to bring the glory days back. Though the fans love all the current group of players, few are more close to them than other.
Here are the three Red Devils who are a darling in the eyes of the supporters.
#3 Ander Herrera
Ander Herrera came to Manchester United in 2014 from Athletic Bilbao at a reported transfer fee of €36 million. He has won the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Europa League for the Red Devils. The Spaniard was also named the club's player of the year in 2016-17 season.
Despite all the accolades he has won, what stood out among the fans is his love and passion for the club. He is not skillfully gifted, but he is a club player who obediently follows the instructions of the manager. It's been hard for Ander to get a first-team place with the likes of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic in the ranks but whenever his services were called upon he has given his all for the badge.
#2 David De Gea
David's performances with Athletico Madrid attracted the attention of Sir Alex Fergusson at a time when Edwin Van Der Sar was in his last years at Manchester United. The Spaniard came to United at a transfer fee of €25 million in 2011.
De Gea's initial days at Manchester United were not like what he has wished. He made several mistakes which drew criticisms from the fans as well. But gradually he proved his worth helping United winning the 13th League title next season which was also Ferguson's last at Old Trafford.
Since then, the Spaniard has been arguably United's best player. He won Sir Matt Busby Player of the year on three occasions which is a first in history. Rumours of him returning to Spain never faded away with a deadline day glitch stopping him from leaving the Theatre of Dreams.
It's straightforward for a player of his abilities to move elsewhere in search of trophies, but he showed his loyalty to the club and the fans and is still producing great saves for the Red Devils.
#1 Juan Mata
Juan Mata won the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea before joining Manchester United in 2014 at a reported fee of €44.73 million. The Spaniard was David Moyes' one of the two signings at Manchester.
Mata was an instant hit with the fans providing the much-needed creativity in the attacking third which United lacked. The Spaniard's skill and vision have made him one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. After a couple of seasons under Louis Van Gaal, Mata reunited with his former boss Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.
Under Jose, Mata has often been seen playing from the right wing which is not his ideal position, but the Spaniard gave his all irrespective of the job he was asked to do. But what stands out is his connection with the fans.
Juan has been quite active on social media and maintained a blog himself where he addresses the supporters. He is also involved in numerous charity activities for the club and always the first person to apologize to the fans after a defeat.
