There’s no need to fear Chelsea’s money any more
THE response from one well-placed source inside United said it all.
City were officially out of the race to sign Alexis Sanchez – but Chelsea were about to mount a late challenge for the Chilean.
There was a shrug of the shoulders, followed by a dismissive response to effect of: “I don’t know where they think they are going to get the money.”
The January deal to sign Sanchez from Arsenal was an emphatic show of United’s financial muscle.
That they had Henrikh Mkhitaryan to send in the opposite direction to Arsenal no doubt facilitated the move. But it was the size of the personal terms on offer to Sanchez which prompted City to abandon their interest in a player Pep Guardiola was desperate to sign.
Chelsea’s interest evaporated no sooner than it emerged as United’s ‘all-in’ move proved too rich for the Londoners’ blood and a clear demonstration of their financial superiority over all but a handful of clubs in Europe.
It was also evidence of a turning of the tables where their dealings with Chelsea are concerned.
Gone are the days when Roman Abramovich’s billions could bully Old Trafford’s hierarchy.
Arjen Robben was snatched from their clutches when Sir Alex Ferguson was convinced a deal had been secured. Likewise John Obi Mikel. United didn’t even bother making a move for Michael Essien in the face of competition from the ‘new money’ at Stamford Bridge – and were again unable or unwilling to rival Chelsea when Michael Ballack was up for grabs in 2006.
How times have changed in the age of Financial Fair Play and Abramovich’s determination to run a self-sustaining operation.
United knew Sanchez was theirs for the taking – and just six months earlier flexed their muscle again when prising Nemanja Matic away from the then Premier League champions.
Earlier that summer they blew them away with the £75m signing of Antonio Conte’s top target Romelu Lukaku.
It is a pattern – and one that is continuing with this summer’s pursuit of Willian.
Mourinho is a long-term admirer of the Brazilian, who is on a shortlist of attacking targets – along with Gareth Bale – he sees as the answer to his problem on the right wing.
It looks increasingly likely the 29-year-old will depart during this window, with Barcelona the latest to be linked.
That will be welcome news to Chelsea, who are sure to prefer to see him head overseas, rather than to a direct Premier League rival but the same could have been said of Matic 12 months ago.
On that occasion United’s money did the talking.
And the fear for Chelsea is that it will do the same again.