Lessons that Manchester United can learn from Manchester City

By Ian Herbert

It’s seven years since the deadline day which left the football world reflecting on what was generally agreed to be the breathtaking decadence of Manchester City: the club who signed Robinho from Real Madrid for $49m and had Manchester United so anxious about Dimitar Berbatov being gazumped that Alex Ferguson had him picked up by taxi and ushered through the Old Trafford East Stand in the darkness.

This summer, just like the last one, has deconstructed the flawed notions about City, the arrivistes, and United, the ones with all the dignity.

It has been United, with their summer influx of six more players and another $229.5m layout who have splashed, lacking pre-calculation at times. Their pursuit of Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos was based on an assessment of which of Rafael Benitez’s players might be most likely to be attracted to Old Trafford, rather than the decision that he was the prime defensive target. And while the coaching staff at Lens will tell you United have been scouting Anthony Martial since he was a 15-year-old, the $55m outlay looks a gamble at best; a desperate attempt to inject some pace at worst.

City, pursuing and securing the targets they began setting last autumn and walking away only from Paul Pogba when the asking price raced above $112.30m are the ones who have displayed the rigour.

United and City shared common views on some things this summer. Both had an interest in Pedro – City marginally more, though not enough interest to buy him. United wanted more pace than he gave. City preferred Kevin De Bruyne in part because, at four years younger, he had more resale value. City dropped Pedro when it was clear De Bruyne was theirs. United dropped Pedro when Chelsea came in and bought him. This superior planning again poses the question: why don’t United also have someone at the top of the club working permanently on acquisitions?

- The Independent