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Gary Neville attacks Manchester United over Danny Welbeck sale Gary Neville attacks Manchester United over Danny Welbeck sale
(about 2 hours later)
Gary Neville has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United and Louis van Gaal, branding the sale of Danny Welbeck as strange and accusing the club of lacking control. The former captain also believes Van Gaal’s sanctioning of Radamel Falcao’s loan has “tipped them over the edge”. Gary Neville has criticised Manchester United’s transfer policy, branding the sale of Danny Welbeck as strange and accusing the club of lacking control.
Welbeck was sold to Arsenal for £16m on the final day of the summer window and Neville believes that this was too cheap and he also questioned why the striker had been allowed to strengthen a direct rival. For Neville this completed a scattergun transfer policy that also brought in Ángel di María for a record £59.7m plus Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera. Welbeck was sold to Arsenal for £16m on the final day of the summer window and Neville believes that this was too cheap and he also questioned why the striker had been allowed to strengthen a direct rival. For the former captain this completed a scattergun transfer policy that brought in Ángel di María for a record £59.7m plus Radamel Falcao, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera.
“It’s not the way I would expect United to go about their business; I thought it would be more controlled,” Neville, an England coach, told TalkSport. “I can’t work it out and I know I worked with Danny Welbeck last week, but it’s odd. I have to admit I thought the Danny Welbeck sale was a strange one, but that’s just me. “It’s not the way I would expect United to go about their business; I always expected it to be a lot more controlled,” Neville, an England coach, told TalkSport.
“Of all the prices paid this summer, there are right-backs and left-backs galore who have been bought for £14m, £15m, £16m. How have Arsenal got him for £16m? I can’t work it out. It has helped out a competitor because Arsenal are the team they are fighting for fourth. He said he was struggling to understand the Welbeck deal. “I thought the Danny Welbeck sale was a strange one. I can’t work it out. After all the prices I’ve seen paid this summer and, obviously I’ve been working with him the last week, I’m thinking: ‘How is it just £16m?’
“I am struggling to work out the logic, I can’t understand it. It’s odd in two or three ways. Falcao tipped them over the edge – it surprised and shocked everyone. How he [Van Gaal] gets them in that team I don’t know. How they get Rooney, Di María, RVP [Van Persie], Falcao, Herrera, Januzaj and Mata into that team I don’t know. “There’s been right-backs and left-backs galore who have been bought for £15m, £14m, £13m this summer. How have they got him for £16m? I can’t work it out to this day. It really does feel strange that it’s a centre-forward and actually it’s helped out a competitor, someone who will be vying for those third and fourth places with United this season. I’m struggling to understand the logic behind the deal in two or three ways really.”
“In one sense I am excited because they have signed world-class players. People jumped on the bandwagon last year and said they wouldn’t attract players. But they have a massive commercial operation. They have overpaid, there is no doubt about that, but people will still go there. Neville believes that United have not only undervalued Welbeck but overpaid for the players who have joined. He said he was excited, though, by the “world-class” arrivals, and in particular Falcao.
“The fans were asking big questions a month ago and now the Falcao one just tipped them over the edge. Di María was a big signing but the Falcao one came completely out of left field and surprised and shocked everybody.
“How they get Rooney, Di María, RVP [Van Persie], Falcao, Herrera, Januzaj and Mata into that team I don’t know.
“In one sense I am excited because they have signed world-class players. People jumped on the bandwagon last year and said they wouldn’t attract players. But they have a massive commercial operation. They have overpaid, there is no doubt about that, but they have proven people will still go there.
“Now Louis van Gaal has to mould them into the team. He asked for three months but I doubt he expected to see what’s happened at the start of the season. Pre-season probably lulled him into a false sense of security. They have to get the performances right.”“Now Louis van Gaal has to mould them into the team. He asked for three months but I doubt he expected to see what’s happened at the start of the season. Pre-season probably lulled him into a false sense of security. They have to get the performances right.”
United have so far taken only two points from their opening three league matches and Van Gaal has yet to register a win since becoming manager with Queens Park Rangers visiting Old Trafford on Sunday.United have so far taken only two points from their opening three league matches and Van Gaal has yet to register a win since becoming manager with Queens Park Rangers visiting Old Trafford on Sunday.