This Could Be Interesting…
I have been watching the story surrounding Nemanja Vidic develop with some interest in recent months.
We have been hearing for quite some time now that his wife isn’t happy in England (doesn’t like the weather) and we’ve been hearing that Real Madrid are all set to make him an offer of more money and sunnier climes. An offer he (and Mrs Vidic) will find too good to refuse.
There’s clearly some subtance to all these rumours and the fact that Vidic hasn’t played for the last few weeks has, I believe, more to do with off-field matters than these strange and mysterious injuries he seems to pick up just when he is about to be picked to play.
Indeed, some of Fergie’s body language when questioned on the subject of Vidic’s return suggests a man who has lost some patience with the player.
The fact that we have bought young Chris Smalling and are still being linked with yet more central defenders seems to suggest that Fergie is already planning for a post-Vidic era.
However, I read yesterday a report which made me go, “Hmmm” (I’m not very articulate).
Manchester City are reportedly going to make a bid for Vidic in the summer.
If this is true then it will be very interesting indeed because with City’s bottomless pit of money, they will be able to outbid even Real Madrid both in terms of transfer fee and wages.
The problem is, of course, that Manchester City “enjoys” pretty much the same weather as we do at Manchester United. As the cloud flies, the grounds are only a few miles apart.
A move from Manchester United to Real Madrid is perhaps understandable and quite forgiveable, especially when you have a wife who apparently suffers from Vitamin D deficiency which causes her to moan incessantly. A move from Manchester United to Manchester City would be the complete opposite.
I would love to be a fly on the wall in the Vidic household if these rumours come true.
Nemanja: Hi honey, I’m home and I’ve got something to tell you.
Ana (excited): We’re going to Spain!?
N: Well, Real Madrid have put a bid in and United are happy with it. Real are also offering me 20% more wages than I am currently on.
A: Well, let’s go! Bye bye rain, Hello sunshine!
N: There’s something else though, Ana. Manchester City have also come in with a bid which United have accepted.
A: So what? Come on Nemanja, get your sombrero on, we’re off.
N: City have offered to double my wages.
A: Well, I did read in a magazine that exposure to too much sun can give you skin cancer and this rain is doing wonders for the roses.
Latest News: Vidic has NOT travelled with the team to Italy for tomorrow’s game against AC Milan. Apparently he has picked up “some kind of leg injury”. You know, one of those leg injuries that come wrapped in inverted commas.
If I would be the manager, I would never sell Vidic for 20m only…he must surely be worth 35m….if Rio was worth 30m at that time, then 35m is a fair deal for Vidic now…
I suppose the difference is that Vidic is now 28 years old whilst Rio was just 23-24 when he came to United.
I do think Vidic’s best years are still ahead of him, however and £20 Million whilst representing a decent profit on what we purchased him for (around £7 Million) might be a little on the low side.
Fergie is now insisting that Vidic is going nowhere which is always the best thing to do. It makes the player feel that he is wanted and lets buyers know that it will take something a bit special to prise him away.
If Real Madrid and Manchester City are the two potential buyers then that can only be a good thing for Manchester United. Those two are so stupid with money that they will drive the price up well beyond £20 Million.
(Remember, City are the club who bought Lescott for something in excess of £20 Million!)
Personally, whilst I like Vidic, I think he is far from the finished product as far as defenders go and we could do better with £20 Million+.
Were it not for his injury this season then I think Everton’s Phil Jagielka would have been more than an ideal replacement, for example.
I would prefer Kjaer…
Yeah, good young player! Will be interesting to see how he gets on in the World Cup this summer. We have been linked with him already so you never know!