It is safe to say that this January has been one of the busiest winter transfer window in a long time. While we saw some big money moves like that of Phillipe Coutinho and Virgil van Dijk, Manchester United surprised everyone by swooping in out of nowhere and snapping up Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.
The Chilean was given a grand welcome and his arrival was announced through a classy welcome video. Hence, it is only natural to go back down the memory lane and recall some of the best transfer dealings made by United in their recent history.
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Juan Mata:
Juan Mata had been a star for Chelsea ever since he moved to England early this decade. His superb playmaking skills and the touch of Spanish creativity to his game had delighted the Stamford Bridge faithful. However, as many top players have failed to do so, similarly, Mata was unable to convince Jose Mourinho to hand him a regular starting place.
The Portuguese insisted that Mata should adapt to the role of a winger whilst he trusted the likes of Oscar to play through the centre. The Spaniard, unhappy with the situation, accepted a lucrative offer from Manchester United in January 2014. Under David Moyes, the Red Devils had undergone a disastrous start to the season and banked their hopes on Juan Mata to revive their season.
Ever since then, Mata has enthralled Old Trafford with his consistent performances. The former Valencia man is a fan favourite and his brace against Liverpool at Anfield remains one of the best individual performances by a United player away against Liverpool.
Now, though, he has developed into more of a squad player, Mata still works extremely hard on the pitch to pull the strings for the team in the midfield and wide areas.
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Patrice Evra:
Patrice Evra is one of the best signings that Sir Alex Ferguson made in the latter half of his managerial career at Manchester United. Playing for AS Monaco until 2006, Evra had attracted interest from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid too.
However, the opportunity of playing under the tutelage of Sir Alex meant that Patrice decided to choose to move to Old Trafford rather than the other superpowers. Evra was undoubtedly the best fullback during his era as he bossed the left wing with his supreme pace and crossing ability.
He could go past players with relative ease, which made him a threatening factor going ahead. Evra was uncompromising in defence and tracked back in time, whilst using his tactical awareness and tackling ability to thwart attacks from the left flank.
During his eight and a half year stay at Old Trafford, Evra was capped 273 times in the Premier League and was a true leader on the pitch. He was involved in some controversial incidents that hampered his career midway through his stay though; particularly his feud with Luis Suarez.
However, he always had the back of the gaffer and enjoyed a memorable stint with the Red Devils.
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Nemanja Vidic:
Probably the best defender in the league during his time at Old Trafford, Nemanja Vidic formed a remarkable partnership with Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the defence. The Serbian joined Manchester United on 5th January 2005, although the Red Devils were avid admirers of the player for a long time before then.
Known for his astute defending skills, aerial ability, and leadership qualities, Vidic was a respected figure among the masses. He commanded respect among his teammates and was the team’s official captain for quite a long time. Vidic excelled playing alongside Rio Ferdinand, as both the players had similar skill sets and their ability to remain concentrated for long portions of the game helped Sir Alex form the best defensive partnership in the country.
The centre-half had the knack of scoring vital headers that gave his team advantage at crucial moments. Vidic appeared 211 times for Manchester United in the league and was an important member of their Champions League-winning campaign in 2007/08.
A favourite of the manager and the fans alike, the fans grew emotional during his last home game against Hull City on 6th May 2014. They even made a chant on him which went like;
Nemanja, oh oh-oh
Nemanja, oh oh-oh
He comes from Serbia
He will f*****g murder ya
Nemanja, oh oh-oh
Quite a farewell, eh?