Moyes' hopes of face-saving move for Coentrao scuppered by Real Madrid
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Manchester United’s last gasp attempt to bring in a new left back failed because they had left a complex two player three club operation too late in the transfer window.
Real Madrid wanted Fabio Coentrao off their wage list for a season having failed to sell him and his agent Jorge Mendes wanted to move him to United.
Reds boss David Moyes hoped to sign the Portugal defender on a season-long loan deal after failing to land Everton left back Leighton Baines.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Marouane Fellaini seals £27.5m transfer to Manchester United
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Marouane Fellaini seals £27.5m transfer to Manchester United
Missed out: Fabio Coentrao will not be joining up with Wayne Rooney at Manchester United
But for Madrid to sanction the move, they had to have time to bring in Granada left-back Guilherme Siqueira in his place, and he had already gone out on loan to Benfica.
Siquiera had been left out Granada’s team during the last two week's of the season and was on stand-by to replace Coentrao.
But with it appearing that Coentrao would be going nowhere Benfica moved for the attacking full-back and closed his loan deal.
Deal breaker: Real Madrid wanted Guilherme Siqueira (right) to replace Coentrao but he already joined Benfica
When United finally moved for Coentrao, Madrid tried to undo Siquiera's temporary switch to Portugal and there was hope for United when it appeared both Coentrao’s move to England and Siqueira’s transfer to Madrid had been cleared by the league.
But Benfica resisted and there was a lack of will on Madrid’s part, delighted at the business they had done with selling Ozil to Arsenal for £42.5million, and having already told coach Carlo Ancelotti he was keeping Coentrao.
But Benfica resisted and there was a lack of will on Madrid’s part, delighted at the business they had done with selling Ozil to Arsenal for £42.5million, and having already told coach Carlo Ancelotti he was keeping Coentrao.
Ancelotti had told Madrid president Florentino Perez that he wanted Coentrao to stay and had even gone public on the player remaining at the club at the weekend. There were too many parties wanting to block the deal for United to push it through despite the efforts of Mendes.
Red faces: United's move Ander Herrera descended into farce
Coentrao will now be included in Real Madrid’s Champions League squad, leaving United without the man they hoped would compete with Patrice Evra at left-back.
United's move for another La Liga target, Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao, descended into farce when three imposters strode into the Spanish league's headquarters pretending to be officials of the Old Trafford outfit.
The trio left an hour later, apparently unable to complete the paperwork required to complete the deal.
Yet United knew nothing of their existence. And as it turned out, the Herrera deal collapsed shortly afterwards anyway, with Moyes believing a £30.5m clause in the player's contract was too high.
The trio left an hour later, apparently unable to complete the paperwork required to complete the deal.
Yet United knew nothing of their existence. And as it turned out, the Herrera deal collapsed shortly afterwards anyway, with Moyes believing a £30.5m clause in the player's contract was too high.
Reunited: Fellaini with manager Moyes after signing for Manchester United
Marouane Fellaini seals his £27.5m transfer to Manchester United
So, even though the 24-year-old was keen to make the switch, United backed off, although Moyes remains a fan and could revisit the deal in January.
It was only minutes before the deadline closed that Marouane Fellaini was given the green light to rush through a £27.5million transfer from Everton - £4million more than United would have paid had they exercised an option in the player's contract which expired at the end of July.
Fellaini will bolster United's midfield options, which have seemed an obvious weakness for a number of years.
He also provides a goal threat, having scored 12 times last season, including the winner against United on the opening day of the campaign.
In a midfield where no-one other than Shinji Kagawa managed more than two, it provides the potential for obvious improvement.
However, with Herrera remaining in Bilbao and Real Madrid flatly rejecting a big-money offer for Sami Khedira, Moyes did not make the improvements he would have hoped for.
It was only minutes before the deadline closed that Marouane Fellaini was given the green light to rush through a £27.5million transfer from Everton - £4million more than United would have paid had they exercised an option in the player's contract which expired at the end of July.
Fellaini will bolster United's midfield options, which have seemed an obvious weakness for a number of years.
He also provides a goal threat, having scored 12 times last season, including the winner against United on the opening day of the campaign.
In a midfield where no-one other than Shinji Kagawa managed more than two, it provides the potential for obvious improvement.
However, with Herrera remaining in Bilbao and Real Madrid flatly rejecting a big-money offer for Sami Khedira, Moyes did not make the improvements he would have hoped for.
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