Evidence To David Gill’s Claims.

One Of A Number Of Players We've Tried To Sign

David Gill scoffed at claims that United can’t compete for big names and said:

“We can compete,” David Gill told an Arabian business newspaper. ”We can compete for top players. People say we don’t, but we have bought well, and our goal at Manchester United is to make sure we develop our own players and also buy good players. Over time, if you follow United, you will know we have rarely bought the world star, we have made them world stars by playing for United, and that will continue.”

However, from the past view years it looks like nonsense considering we only spent 17 million last summer on a couple of players and 20 million the year before. Many speculate that with the huge debt at the club that United have to look for cheap deals all the time and that is why we couldn’t replace the likes of Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Well thats what it looks like from a distance but when you look at it with a magnifying glass you realize it couldn’t be further from the truth. In the summer of 2008 United made an offer believed to be 20+ plus for David Silva. However, it didn’t work out and David eventually joined City. In 2009 United offered Tevez 25 million and a five-year deal at the club but he rejected it. Later in the same summer United tried to sign Benzema for 30 million but Lyon wanted more and Benzema wanted to go to Real Madrid. Also United made a bid for Yaya Toure in 2009 but he rejected it… and went on to join City a year later for wages of 200,000 pounds a week! As-well Fergie confirmed that United wanted to sign David Villa before the World Cup but the striker was desperate to stay in Spain and join Barcelona. Also United were interested in Mesut Ozil but again he was desperate to join Barcelona or Real Madrid, eventually signing for the latter. Fergie also confirmed United enquired about Ribery but Bayern said no chance.

So United have been interested in a lot of players over the last two years. However, all of them decided to join a Spanish club or else join for the money and go to City. So have we missed out on a lot? Karim Benzema has only scored two league goals for Real Madrid this year. David Silva is a good player but would you take him over Nani or Valencia? I wouldn’t anyway. Yaya Toure is a very good player for City but for 200,000 pounds a week he is not worth it in my opinion. Carlos Tevez has been brilliant for City but could only manage 5 league goals in his last season at United – 15 less then Berbatov has this season. Also Chicharito hasn’t been too bad a buy! Ribery is a good player but for the fee Bayern would demand for him then I rather have Valencia any-day. Mesut Ozil is a player who I was desperate to see in a United shirt so ya I guess we did miss out on a very good player there! David Villa is a fantastic player also but, as I said Berbatov, Rooney and Hernandez aren’t too shabby!

So now we can see why Fergie has said that their is no value in the market. When there has been value in it he has tried to sign them, bar Van Der Vaart!

With the taxes in England its difficult for clubs to compete with Barca and Real unless you offer crazy money like City. Fergie also said recently he tried to sign one player in the market, something I will be discussing tomorrow!

So while we haven’t spent big recently United fans can relax and know that if a top player comes along for a reasonable price then Fergie will on it! Honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if United spent 50+ plus in the summer!