Angel Di Maria’s imminent departure got me thinking how hard it is for foreign players to become legends of an English team, especially a team of Manchester United’s statue.
After a solitary season for United, Di Maria has simply got to go. He doesn’t want to be there and Louis van Gaal is not the type of manager who will put up with a player whose heart is not 100 per cent devoted.
After a record-breaking transfer from Real Madrid it is a bitterly disappointing pill for Untied fans to swallow – just the thought of a forward trio consisting of Wayne Rooney flanked by Memphis Depay and Di Maria is enough to send shivers down the spines of opposition defenders. But it just wasn’t meant to be.
So what is needed for an international to make his mark at a big English club?
When you think of United legends, names such as George Best, Bobby Charlton, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Rio Ferdinand come into your head – all of whom hail from the United Kingdom.
Recently some European players have managed to break the barrier and become United legends. Edwin van der Sar of the Netherlands was one of the best goalkeepers the Premier League has seen. Nemanja Vidic was captain courageous as United won the Champions League in 2008. Eric Cantona, although perhaps best remembered for his violent antics, was well loved by the Old Trafford faithful. And who could forget one of the best goalkeepers of all time, Peter Schmeichel, who captained Untied to the famous treble of 1999, and picked up two goalkeeper of the year awards during his time in England’s North.
However, such players are hard to come across, and to have such a profound effect at United they possessed more than just sublime skills.
The English league is unforgiving. Many deem it to be the best league in the world for its fast-paced game. For non-English players it can be difficult to adapt to the conditions and it is for this reason that many cannot keep up.
Nani was meant to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s heir, but he failed to perform to his best. Diego Forlan, the top goal scorer at the 2010 World Cup, struggled at United before finding his footing at Atletico Madrid. Alberto Aquilani was loaned out from Liverpool after just one season. In similar fashion Juan Sebastian Veron failed at both Manchester United and Chelsea before returning to Italy.
But some foreigners have managed to become legends of the Premier League.
Didier Drogba did it at Chelsea, as did Gianfranco Zola before him. Paolo Di Canio lit up the league during his time in England, while Thierry Henry is one of if not Arsenal’s best player of all time.
For United fans, conversations about Di Maria’s agonisingly short tenure at Manchester United will be full of ‘could ofs’ and ‘what ifs’. The devastatingly quick and precise winger filled United fans with hope for the future. While hope remains, thanks to a number of foreign signings in this pre-season, Di Maria will almost certainly play no role in this new-look United outfit.
The conversation should now turn to how Untied can help create a new wave of foreign legends. With a string of imports such as German legend Bastian Schwensteiger, young Italian Matteo Darmian and French midfield dynamo Morgan Schneirderlin, there is certainly hope that a foreigner can turn around United’s fortunes.
Although a Ronaldo or a Ruud van Nistelrooy do not come along very often, there is certainly potential for one young United player in particular to become an all-time legend of the club.
If new signing Memphis Depay can adapt to the fast conditions of English football’s top flight then he cement his place in Manchester United’s rich history.
At just 21 years of age he became the Dutch league’s top goal scorer last season. He is fast, has exciting flare, and is full of ambition. Having also worked with fellow Dutchman and United coach Van Gaal before, there’s no reason that a repetition of the Di Maria saga should occur.
Depay should settle in well and with the experienced head of Wayne Rooney – already a United legend and soon to be all-time top goal scorer for club and country – alongside him, the scene is set for Memphis to star in the red shirt.
Ultimately Di Maria and Manchester United were never destined to be a perfect match, as many foreigners have found before him. But there is still hope for imports, and soon we may see a young Dutchman become one of the best players in the Premier League.
j binnie
Guest
JoJo - "This was a time when people did not get the sack all the time" ?????? Are you kidding??,when Busby finally gave up control in 1969 United hired and fired 6 managers before Fegie arrived in 1986, that's 6 in 17 years. For the record they were Wilf McGuinnes,Matt Busby (recalled) Frank O'Farrell,Tommy Docherty,Dave Sexton, and Ron Atkinson.During those 16 years there was very little won in the way of "prizes" and Fergie was there for 4 years before his, and the club's, first "prize", the FA Cup, was won. !!!!!! jb.
JoJo
Guest
Its not common knowledge Fergie was close to getting the sack, its a common misconception. Fergie has said he knew he had time as did all the guys at United. This was a time when people did not get sacked all the time and Ferguson had the pedigree to back him up with what he did in Scotland.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Good article Sean. I often wonder about the intended legacy van Gaal intends to leave Man Utd with - he has said numerous times this is his final job in management. Given the splurge, I can't help but feel United are trying to fast-track back their status of contenders on all fronts. Problem is that van Gaal will find there is far more competition for the title now than when Ferguson was running around. Back then, Fergie only had to worry about Wenger for a few seasons, Mourinho for a few seasons, Benitez for a season, Ancelotti for a season and Mancini for a season. Now he has Mourinho firmly entrenched at Chelsea, Wenger about to rise again at Arsenal, and Pellegrini looking to spend again at City. Then you realise that Manchester United on paper aren't as strong as those sides, and they have the likes of Spurs and Liverpool both looking to take their place. No question that if United have a good season, they can push for the title. But I feel the reasons for United pushing for the title are as legitimate or tenuous (depending on your perspective), as Liverpool pushing for top four. Manchester United are spending a bucket of money in a bid for instant success, but again, where is the legacy building from a manager who is not looking at a long-term stewardship of the club?
Sean Wales
Roar Rookie
I did not dispute that fact, I was simply exploring those that have done well and others that did not
Sean Wales
Roar Rookie
I agree, it was a huge statement from United entering a new era Disappointing that he wasn't up to it
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
Sean I think it is easy to see in hindsight that Di Maria wasn't a great signing, but at the time most learned folk thought it was a step forward for United. And I think United, more than any other EPL team (or maybe Arsenal....) has had great success with foreign players.
Mantis
Roar Guru
Most "club legends" in the EPL are English...really? What a shock. I bet most of the legends in La Liga are Spanish too yeah?
Fadida
Guest
Exactly Aladdin. What is forgotten is that United at the time were relatively speaking about as successful as Spurs are now. Ferguson inherited a mixed bunch, a club without its current gravitas and financial clout. They certainly weren't run away champions. Can't compare Moyes and Ferguson.
aladdin sane
Guest
haha, if only he'd replaced scholes with pogba! (in an aside, he copped flak for that too - though scholes came out and said that while pogba was talented, he wasn't playing well for ressies and didn't deserve a spot, so maybe fair dues) While it's common knowledge Fergie was close to getting the sack, he did not take over a side that had just won the league by 11 points. people can say whatever they like about ageing squads but you don't go from 89 points one year to 64 the next (while spending 64 million pounds on new players while losing only Ryan Giggs from the first team). That is on Moyes, not Fergie. That's why he got sacked, not because he inherited a poor squad. Moyes has taken Sociedad from 7th to 13th in his first season too. See a trend?
j binnie
Guest
Aladdin -History will show that Fergie's squad failed miserably the following season and there are those who believe that re-building should have been going on before Fergie left,after all he coaxed Scholes out of retirement to fill the mid-field role for a season,sure evidence that he did not think he had a player to replace him.I have never questioned Fergie's talent for management,that would be foolish but I did recognise the facts that many of the players he used,,Scholes,Giggs,Ferdinand and Fletcher (injuries) were all fast approaching retirement age not to mention those who may react to the wishes of a new manager,no matter who he ,the new manager,was..All these factors proved to be an "Achilles heel" for Moyes,one he could not overcome, and if you examine Fergie's first years at United you will find many similarities in what he, Fergie, inherited, and had to overcome to establish his successful dynasty.Was Moyes a failure?.history wil probably say yes, but history will also tell you that Fergie was within days of going the same way way back when. Cheers jb
Sean Wales
Roar Rookie
absolutely agree but the fact that Fergie got another championship out of that squad shows just how good he was as manager. also think that it would have taken a special manager to thrive after Ferguson left, Moyes was instrumental at Everton
aladdin sane
Guest
fair enough, mate. i am of the belief that the squad Fergie left was nowhere near as poor as DM made them look, and disagree with this idea that Fergie threw Utd under the bus so to speak. what he is culpable of is his role in the appointment of moyes, which should never have happened.
j binnie
Guest
Fadida- Glad to read you are still around. Question- What is it you agree with Aladdin about for he simply asked me to clarify why I do what I do concerning United. You seemed to agree but with what? Now to my "response" as you call it,for it was not a response it was simply stating facts,have you any deep thoughts on what I wrote or are you still convinced that that championship winning team that Fergie left was the "bees knees" when it is so very obvious that LVG does not agree with you. I await your reply but do try to make it constructive for that is the aim of a blog site. Cheers jb
j binnie
Guest
Bondy- I would have thought that spending $420,000,000 nett and not getting success would have spelt out it's own conclusion. Suppose it depends on how rich the Glazers are and how much they are prepared to lose for it is not an outside bet that LVG ,with his experience,doesn't recognise the need for 2 world class centre -backs and they don't come cheap in today's market. We can but wait and see ,can't we? Cheers jb
j binnie
Guest
Aladdin - If you had copped the flak I copped on this site when I first suggested the United manager's job could have been a poisoned chalice (that's the words I used) when left to the incoming manager DM, you too would have retained an interest in the goings on at the club. I would have thought that Van Gaal's spending and his retention of the Moyes purchases,Mata and Felliani into his team choices would have more than backed up my thoughts at the time and,as you appear to read what I write, would have vindicated what I wrote, in your eyes. Personally I dont think his spending is finished for IMO Vidic and Ferdinand have never been replaced and if you watch United you will surely appreciate all is not well in their defensive line where players are being used who between them have more than a few years experience at Old Trafford.Evans,Smalling,& co. Also, as I have spelt out before, the use of the word "philosophy" in relation to tactical football means absolutely nothing to me,Managers build teams to win,certainly using their own ideas as to how the game should be played but IMO that is not the meaning of the word 'philosophy" for that same manager may have to change his ideas when relating to the players he has at his disposal. ps I did not count Di Maria in my numbers for Louis signed him and is selling him after a short spell. Cheers jb
Fadida
Guest
Agree Aladdin. Absolutely expected jb's response
aladdin sane
Guest
jb, you always seem to pop up on United articles having a pop at the state that Fergie left the squad in. you have previously informed me you are not a united fan, so what is it you're driving at? what is your actual opinion on the matter? for what it's worth, LVG has clearly and numerously discussed his 'philosophy'. the high turnover of players could easily be attributed to existing players not fitting into said philosophy. this doesn't necessarily mean they're poor players. if reports are to be believed, LVG will also turn over Angel Di Maria and David De Gea - though for different reasons again.
Bondy
Guest
j binnie What if they miss the top four " possibility " , where is Van Gaal then ...
j binnie
Guest
For those interested we see another "Feguson hope", Rafael, departing the scene, Could be that he is a South American but more likely that Van Gaal just doesn't see him fitting the bill.How many of Fergie's championship winning team have now departed United's playing ranks?,Out of the 24 players used (some sparingly) in that championship run ,13 have now departed. Quite a clean out and it could be said the Dutchman is not yet finished and so far the cost has been kept to $450,000,000 (yes millions) spent , against $30,000,000 gained from sales. Not what one would call good business is it? Hope for Louis's sake they get higher than 4th this season. Cheers jb.
Sean Wales
Roar Rookie
Was saying that legends of United are predominately from the UK and when a foreigner becomes a legend of the club they are something special. I think certainly South Americans struggle more in the Premier League then Europeans do that is a good point.