How To Solve A Problem Like Heinze?
How will United solve the problem caused by Gabriel Heinze’s apparent willingness to risk infamy and play for Liverpool?
Press reports today suggest the matter is heading for the courts, with the defender turning to m’learned friends to force through the transfer which Sir Alex claims his agent has wanted for the past 18 months.
United too, are ready to dig in, with Sir Alex adamant that the Argentine will not be allowed to move to a close and bitter rival.
But if Heinze is able to prove his case – and he will have Liverpool’s full encouragement - United would be powerless to stop Heinze becoming the first player in more than 40 years to move directly between the clubs.
The row emerged because Heinze is 29 and in need of regular first team action which Sir Alex cannot guarantee. Add his declining form after serious injury, a meddlesome agent and a willingness to put international commitments ahead of United and it is easy to understand why Sir Alex is ready to call time on his Old Trafford career.
United’s favoured option would be to sell the player abroad. None of the “champions” linked to Heinze have shown their hand as openly as Liverpool, hoping no doubt, that the bad blood caused by the north west dust-up reduces the defender’s £6.8 million asking-price. But has the row now become a matter of principle? Would now Heinze consider going abroad even if the possibility arose?
As Heinze is under contract to United for another two years. United could follow the Bayern Munich route and simply refuse to sell the player, just as the Bavarians refused to sell Owen Hargreaves when United began the chase for the midfielder last year. United did much the same when holding onto Cristiano Ronaldo when Real Madrid were ready to do whatever it took to prise him away.
The downside of such action is easy to imagine. United would get less money for the player if he was transferred next year or nothing at all if he saw out his contract. A festering wound would linger, as manager and player remained trapped by mutual distrust. Heinze could find himself forced to play reserve football. The irony of an asset too valuable to trade to Liverpool whom the manager later dumped with the stiffs, would be clear for all to see.
Sir Alex has been canny enough to place all the blame publicly on Heinze’s agent, named in today’s Sun newspaper as Roberto Rodriguez.
This lays the basis for a rapprochement with the player during face to face talks early next month following Heinze’s return from holiday. Both sides could emerge from the discussion, smiling and exuding bonhomie before the cameras. The Heinze and Fergie double act could explain that the transfer row was all a terrible mistake and Heinze was now committed afresh to the challenge of winning more honours with United.
Alas, the player has already announced the terms for such a deal. Some media outlets took his News of the World interview to be little more than the ‘demand’ of a first team place or the player would quit the club. His comments fell short of such an ultimatum but there was only one conclusion to be drawn from his statement that “I don’t consider myself inferior to anyone.”
Heinze said that fans would not understand his move to Liverpool. They do not. How has it come to this? That said, United are not Bayern and Heinze is not Ronaldo. In English football, when the price is right, players desperate for a move usually get their way. Heinze has every right to play wherever he wants. If Heinze wants to go, let him go.
(On Jul 24th, 2007 at 8:30 am)
We should let Heinze go. He has never re capatured the form of his first season, that knee injury has ruined his distribuiton. How many times did you see him give the ball away last season????
We have Evra, O’Shea and Silvestre who can all play just as well as that potentially defecting Argentine!!!
(On Jul 24th, 2007 at 9:54 am)
How about just giving the player his due instead of wanting him to be a slave to the red nosed one!
We praised him when doing well and now he wants to move on so let’s say thanx and goodbye!
Time to move on with those who want to stay and reach new heights…
let’s not get sidetracked by events that will not effect the run to the title.