Farewell Gabriel Heinze
So, farewell Gabriel Heinze.
So much for those stories suggesting you would appeal against the Premier League’s decision to block your move to Anfield.
Real Madrid have swooped to bring you to the Spanish capital where you can swap ‘we hate Fergie’ stories with RVN. How much are they paying exactly?
You really wanted to sign for Liverpool so the press conference to introduce you to the Spanish public should make for terrific television.
First question: “Why should we give a tinker’s cuss about you Mr Heinze when the whole world knows you wanted to play for a second rate team from a second rate city in England?”
Yes, you’ll have to work hard with your handlers to come up with a form of words. Probably it’ll be something to the effect that that was then and this is now blah blah blah. But no-one will believe a word of it.
Perhaps, Madrid will be what Crystal Palace was intended to be – a staging post between United and Liverpool but with better weather.
Still, as temporary moves go, rejoice. At least the move stops you from rotting in the United reserves or getting old disgracefully in inferior company down at the Boleyn.
It still rankles that it should have ever come to this. Heinze, you were sensational in your first year at United and always played with an enthusiasm and appetite that made even Dwight Yorke seem surly.
Such was the manner you took to English football that you were made United’s player of the year. Not bad for someone who played at leftback when previously recognised as a centre half at PSG. You could defend. You could score. You were useful when United moved forward. You weren’t quite Dennis Irwin but you weren’t a cart horse either.
Your second year of course was terrible. The cruciate ligament injury seems to have been the beginning of the end. United moved on with the acquisition of Patrice Evra and it was never quite the same for you.
There was a suspicion that you were so desperate to play in the last world cup that you joined up with the Argentina squad when you were not fully fit, paying the penalty when you returned to United.
Incredibly, Evra cemented his place in the first team, leaving you as an international player in one of the top four sides on earth unable to get a regular club gig in England when the team was gunning for the title. It was untenable. Your agent whispered in your ear about the other clubs who would make you king again and you agreed a deal with United to leave.
Pity then that you wouldn’t respect the terms of that agreement because and here you do have some sympathy, you didn’t quite believe a club could dictate terms to a player. You do now. And that’s why you’ll wear the white of Madrid next season.
United are happy. The fans are happy. Are you?
