woolleyback blue said:
One thing puzzles me. The rag PR machine is an expert at spinning things to put the rags in a good light i.e. the Thiago snub. Why would they sanction briefing the tame journo's about a Fabregas bid if it didn't have any legs because if you're all right then they are on a second hiding to nothing over it. Not saying they will get him but stranger things have happened.
Because there's a world of difference between a player "snubbing" a club and another club turning down an offer.
You are correct about united's PR machine. It is a highly useful weapon and something which the Glazers have used to great effect. In spite of Moyes' sophistry and carefully worded "I never said at any time that he was [a target]." statement, which in fact conspicuously avoids denying the fact that he was [a target], it seems clear that united were very interested in Thiago, which is of little surprise given the manifest problems they have in midfield. It seems clear, therefore, that they tried to buy Thiago Alacantra, from Barcelona, but very much on the QT.
Why, therefore, when ostensibly attempting to buy another midfielder from the same club, only a few short days later, is their bid now a matter of public record? Why have they departed from their previous policy of doing their business in secret, complete with all their usual....err.... class?
The only logical explanation is that this situation has been designed with a completely different agenda at hand. There seems no other likely explanation.
Whilst Thiago was always a very real possibility, until Bayern intervened, Fabrigas joining united is, imo, in the realm of fantasy: they have offered significantly less than his buy-out clause, Arsenal have first option, he has stated in pretty unequivocal terms very recently that he does not want to leave the club and most importantly the departure of Thiago added to the advancing ages of both Xavi and Iniesta mean that Fabrigas is close to achieving something he has aspired to since his move from Arsenal (and in truth all of his adult life) which is a totemic and central role at the heart of Barcelona's midfield. To me, given what I understand about Fabrigas' personal journey, it would seem utterly preposterous if he decided to leave Barca to join any other club in world football at this moment in time. I am sure he would back himself to really come to the fore at the Nou Camp in the next couple of seasons - and who could blame him for that? The notion that he would give that opportunity up, just when the dream he has harboured for so long could be fully realised, to go and play for David Moyes, is almost too absurd for words.
This is all before one considers Barcelona's position in all this. Given all that I have previously posted about the changing landscape of their midfield, they would be insane to deplete it further. It would make absolutely no sense.
And I strongly suspect united know that.
