United has 'supposedly' lost its transfer aura - but when was it ever present?

United have seldom tried to bring in a player for whom the move wouldn’t be a step up. And almost every time they have tried, they have failed. Kluivert, Gattuso and Sneijder rejected Old Trafford for other destinations. De Gea was signed as Neuer publicly preferred Munich. Even a young Ronaldinho didn’t find United attractive enough and went on to sign for Barcelona. On the contrary, mega superstars left United to join Real Madrid.

The only ‘big’ signing that paid off!

Thus, even when United had the presence of Sir Alex to lure top talents, the club never actually broke the bank to bring in a marquee signing from a club which could equal or better United’s standard. Possibly the biggest, the most glamorous star signing, eventually turned out to be Sir Alex’s biggest transfer dud – Juan Sebastian Veron (£28 million) could never replicate the form that he showed at Lazio and Parma.

Leaving aside Robin van Persie, a couple of fringe players and free transfers, United have neither signed true superstars from the likes of the Milan teams, Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern and nor have they tried to lure genuinely good players from domestic rivals Liverpool, Chelsea or Manchester City.

Even while choosing Sir Alex’s successor, United followed the same transfer policy. Instead of splashing the money and bringing in a true managerial superstar like Jose Mourinho, United raided the domestic market to bring in David Moyes. The reason being that it went hand in hand with the club philosophies of stability and longevity, which to be entirely true, does make sense.

But then the transfer activities that the club has made post Moyes’s appointment do baffle the mind a little. The public pursuit of Fabregas and Alcantara don’t quite fit in with the long running transfer ways of the club. Okay, given Alcantara’s age maybe he fits, but still, like many others, he chose not to make Old Trafford his home.

If United’s choice was Moyes with a view of continuing with the old traditions and philosophies, wouldn’t it have made more sense if United had triggered the release clause when the opportunity was present? Now, an irate Everton have the upper hand on Fellaini.

With about 11 days left for the transfer window to close, it will be interesting to see whom Moyes brings in – if indeed, he does bring in any new blood at all. A marquee signing like Fabregas will of course be welcomed by the club and the fans alike, but the fans sure take a certain pride in the club philosophy of ‘not signing, but making superstars’.