The end of the summer transfer window is undoubtedly football’s wackiest day. It is the day where clubs scavenge for any players who flutter their eyelashes and flash their exaggerated price tags.
Tomorrow morning many managers will rise with a consumerist hangover and ask ‘did I really spend that much on him?!’
As the home of two of the world’s powerhouse clubs footballing eyes are often firmly fixed on Manchester as the transfer window nears its end.
Both City and United have a history of lavish deadline day signings that have had fans salivating.
As a salute to the day raises blood pressure across the land MM looks back on 5 of the most significant Manchester deadline day deals.
5. Craig Bellamy – Manchester City to Liverpool
Welsh bad-boy Craig Bellamy secured a move back to former club Liverpool on 2011’s deadline day.
One of City’s highest earners was often subjected to the bench throughout his time at the Etihad and the pacey Welsh striker could barely believe his luck when the Anfield side released him from his Manchester City limbo.
The 32-year-old was a stand-out success on his return to Anfield scoring 9 goals in 33 appearances for the Merseyside club.
4. Matija Nastasic – Fiorentina to Manchester City
Matija Nastasic was a surprise signing by Manchester City on transfer deadline day in August 2012 after being brought in to replace the error-prone Stefan Savic as a back-up defender.
The young Serbian was signed because of his potential by Roberto Mancini but, since then, has become part of the first-choice centre-back partnership with club captain Vincent Kompany.
Nastasic has quickly become a fan-favourite after adapting to the Premier League and was involved in 38 games for City last season.
3. Dimitar Berbatov – Tottenham Hotspur to Manchester United
September 2008 saw Sir Alex Ferguson splash the cash on Bulgarian forward Dimitar Berbatov after chasing him throughout the summer window.
Barbatov was rumoured to be joining fierce rivals Manchester City but after Sir Alex personally drove to pick the Bulgarian up at the airport there was only one place the striker was headed.
A record £30.75million was the fee agreed with Tottenham and the stylish striker supplied the Reds with 56 goals during his tenure.
However, during his final season ‘Berba’ was forced to watch most of the action from the bench after falling out-of-favour at Old Trafford.
2. Robinho – Real Madrid to Manchester City
Whether Robinho was a success on the pitch during his time in Manchester is somewhat irrelevant.
The acquisition of the Brazillian’s signature was a statement of intent from Manchester City designed to turn heads and raise eyebrows.
After being taken over by the mega-rich Sheikh Mansour, The Citizens flexed their financial muscle by splashing a whopping £32.5million on Robinho in a shocking deadline day deal.
While his time in the blue half of Manchester only lasted 18 months the deal represented a major shake-up of the dynamics of power in both English and world football.
1. Wayne Rooney – Everton to Manchester United
It’s easy to forget that Manchester United bought Rooney from Everton way back in 2004 now the striker has been at the club so long.
The deal was completed on deadline day 2004, for a fee of around £27million, after Sir Alex Ferguson persuaded the Evertonian to join the Red Devils rather than Newcastle.
The world-class striker has just entered his 10th term at the Manchester club and is making his way steadily up the club’s record charts notching 197 goals in a red shirt so far.
Despite a couple of tumultuous periods with the club the England star has Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time club record of 249 goals in his sights.
A few more prolific seasons will cement ‘Wazza’ in United folklore and ensure that very few deadline day deals will be as shrewd as Sir Alex Fergusons capture of the young scouser.
Image courtesy of Gordon Flood, with thanks
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