The Anyone But United brigade have been in full voice over the last couple of weeks. The same people who constantly redefine the boundaries as to what is boast-worthy succe s in an attempt to exclude Manchester Uniteds achievements have been claiming some sort of victory from the Red Devils decision to make Alexis Sanchez the highest-paid player in the Premier League.
According to a lot of opposition fans and pundits, Sanchezs 350,000 a Kody Clark Jersey week contract at Old Trafford makes him a mercenary. There clearly had been some imaginary line drawn in their heads which was breached the second United offered more than the 250,000 weekly salary previously agreed with Manchester City.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown was one of the more vocal detractors. Sanchez has got to be the biggest mercenary in football, he wrote in the Daily Mail.
Manchester City have wanted to sign Sanchez since the summer and, if no deal is done in January, they will be waiting for him at the end of the season. City would be the natural place for Sanchez to go to develop his football. He has worked with Pep Guardiola before.
But for Sanchez, this is clearly not about going to the best team, working with Guardiola and taking his game to another level. He has probably thought that he will not get a better offer if he waits until the summer, so he might as well Michal Kempny Jersey take the best deal on offer now. It has been all about the money.
Apparently, he cant po sibly have been signing for United for the lure of the club and its potential alone. No, Citys 12-point lead and swashbuckling football make them the only acceptable destination nowadays.
The bile imbued in Uniteds direction when things go the other way is extraordinary. Sure, Sanchez has left Arsenal in the hope of securing more major trophies and the Blues are on the verge of a runaway league title win, but beyond that there are simply no guarantees of succe s.
Every time they have looked set for a period of domination, they have been unable to make that next step. City have been the best team for all of half a season, but for some that is enough to suggest no player could ever want to play for the 20-time English champions in preference.
Why is everyone claiming he cant be making Dennis Maruk Jersey the move to United for football reasons? Forget the fact United are the biggest, most succe sful club in the country. Forget the fact Jose Mourinho and the Old Trafford board have shown their serious intent with their forays into the market of late. Forget the fact United are just eight months removed from winning a major European trophy.
There are far too many football fans for whom hating a rival is 90 per cent of their motivation for following their own club, and never has that been more obvious than in some of the contempt on display for anything Manchester United do.
City have spent the last 10 years outbidding clubs for major talent in order to expedite their challenge for the top awards, but the second United counter with a similar approach, it is lambasted.
United won the Europa League last season and there were many supporters of other English clubs claiming some sort of moral victory in seeing Reds fans celebrating, as though the achievement was something to be ashamed of.
If youre Manchester United, youre not allowed to celebrate a trophy that wasnt the number Braden Holtby Jersey one target of every other club at the seasons beginning, and youre certainly not allowed to claim any satisfaction that wouldnt have ranked high in Sir Alex Fergusons list of achievements.
These make-believe parameters which are dreamt up by opposition fans apply more to Manchester United than to anybody else, it would seem. And the mercenary tag thrown Sanchezs way is just the latest mockery of modern football.
No footballer could po sibly see United as a major draw anymore could they? Not since they havent won a title in four whole years That would be unthinkable.Give me a break!
Some say it is the idea that he backed out of an agreement with City for the bigger riches on offer with United which sticks in the craw. But the moment there was a concerted effort coming from Old Trafford, Sanchez made his preference clear.
Whats more, United were able to present the kind of offer Arsenal were looking for. The Gunners had put the block Jonas Siegenthaler Jersey on Citys 60 million move last summer because they couldnt bring in a replacement, so United came up with a swap-deal offer involving Henrikh Mkhitaryan to bridge the gap. It made sense for all three parties on a footballing level in a way that the City deal never had. Why is that so difficult for onlookers to palate?
Its more than seven years since Sanchez admitted in an interview: Id like to play in English football, especially for Manchester United. I like their fast game and the pride the fansshow in their team.
How long had Yaya Toure been saying the same about Manchester City before signing for them, or Sergio Aguero even? Had Philippe Coutinho been telling all and sundry since 2006 that he dreamed of playing for Liverpool before his 2013 switch from Inter?
The truth is, too many people thought the page had been turned for good when Ferguson stepped aside in 2013. Fans of clubs who had mi sed out time and again thanks to the legendary Scots succe ses at Old Trafford thought theyd seen the back of Manchester United. So, when they continue to flex their muscle, even against a background of Nathan Walker Jersey le s regular achievements on the pitch, it gets under peoples skin.
When Manchester United sign a major talent from under the noses of the latest flavour of the month, it is a shining example of the power they still have. And dont people just hate that?!
