The personnel changes announced by United this month – the departures of Ronaldo and Tevez - have prompted flashbacks to my first close season at the club, 14 years ago.
It was a summer of uncertainty in 1995, as two members of the Reds’ 1994 Double-winning side departed in July (followed by a third, my favourite player Andrei Kanchelskis, in August).
The first two deals were, of course, the high-profile exits of Paul Ince and Mark Hughes, who left Old Trafford in quick succession. Having had barely any warning that either was on his way, the fans and staff – club magazine reporter in my case – were bewildered and demanding answers. Fortunately, the then chairman and chief deal-maker Martin Edwards was willing to give me those answers, so I headed over to his South Stand office to glean them.
Dusting off the back issue this morning, I couldn’t help but draw parallels between the events of July 1995 and the present situation. That’s if situation isn’t too grand a word for what may only be half the story - yes, we know who’s going, but let’s wait and see who might be coming before we start talking about Cabinet-style meltdowns.
Some of what Martin Edwards said about the summer leavers in ’95 could easily fit with this year’s departing duo. For Ronaldo to Madrid, read Ince to Milan… “When the offer for Paul Ince came in from Milan, I put it to the manager and he felt that at that price it was worth taking. What it does is build up the kitty for the future." Inter offered £7million for Ince – not even a tenth of what Real will pay for Ronaldo – but at the time it was also the Reds' record sale.
For Tevez to TBC, read Hughes to Chelsea. Mr Edwards explained, “We agreed a new contract with Mark, but when he was dropped for the last league game at West Ham, he was very upset about it. Mark Hughes is the type of player that wants first-team football, he doesn’t want to be on the fringe, and so it suited him to go.”
The echoes may not end there. Then, as now, the press were predicting who might fly into Manchester as replacements. But the mid-'90s hacks were hampered on their flights of fancy by a silly rule that limited the number of foreigners – Welsh, Irish and Scots among them – in any XI.
“(Roberto) Baggio would only add to our list of foreign players,” said Mr Edwards, shooting down the latest big rumour in flames. “Where would he play? Baggio plays up front and we already have Cole and Cantona.”
And United today already have Berbatov and Rooney. While the Bulgarian was bought almost a year ago now, he may prove to be the big-name successor to our outbound stars – similar to how Andy Cole was in 1995, when he arrived six months before Hughes left. Yes, there’s been mix and match in the meantime, but while Ronaldo and Tevez are going, Wazza and Berba are still on board, with a year of familiarisation under their belts.
Finally, of course, there’s a raft of young talent - Macheda, Welbeck et al - waiting to seize their chance. Shades of ’95 again? Back to Mr Edwards:
“One of the reasons the manager was prepared to let Paul go is that he wants to give Nicky Butt the chance and perhaps see how Beckham develops.”
So if you’re close to pressing the panic button because “There are no immediate buys” (another quote from ’95) then please refrain… instead, just watch, wait and don’t be surprised if history repeats itself 14 years on. For 2009/10, read 1995/96. Hopefully.
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