Jamie Ireland
It seems the big haired Belgian’s dream move to Old Trafford was pretty much doomed after David Moyes’ sacking and such a poor first season in Manchester.
The Daily Express reports that senior officials admit they have signed a dud and are willing to listen to offers for the former Everton midfielder of around £15 million.
For Fellaini to be the only signing that Moyes and Ed Woodward could get through the door last summer, for the season to pan out the way it did, then yes admitting a mistake was made is the first step.
Even before his move, the player that Fellaini had developed into in his last season at Everton was never going to work or fit into United’s style of play.
He had been converted from a holding midfield role, into a sort of unorthodox number 10 role, playing just behind striker Nikica Jelavic.
The reason he looked like such a colossus that season was because the system was built around him. The back five of Everton would look to pump long balls for Fellaini to either control or deflect on for a runner.
Although he was effective, this is not the United style of play, and it is certainly not the style that van Gaal will be looking to use, hence his eagerness to offload him.
For me, it’s all well and good for the higher-ups at United to admit they made a mistake, but the mistake cost the club £27.5 million.
And on the playing side of things, the lack of real reinforcement to the squad cost Moyes his job and United European football for next season. Not such a small error.
