This summer I got the tip-off call while trying to negotiate no excess baggage charges for our cameramans huge bundle of equipment in Curitiba airport, en route to Rio. Manchester United had got their man.
Though I was asked not to bust all the details, I was told that United and Athletic had sorted out how any excess tax would be paid on the buy-out clause move for Ander Herrera, that funds had been switched between bank accounts and that a programme of press releases had been agreed between the two clubs and intermediaries.
Athletic would speak first. There was a flutter of understandably misjudged media speculation when they announced that theyd turned down a bid from United. Instead of this meaning that the move, which I had written would happen, was off, it was a message from Athletic to their members: the player was wrenched away, against our will, at maximum price. Buy-out clause. Or else hed not have been able to leave.
Ander then gave his first MUTV interview, willing to show off his English right away, and devoured the tour of Carrington buzzing from an immediate introduction to Sir Bobby Charlton.
A number of years of scouting had come to fruition: first by Sir Alex Fergusons team, then by those working for David Moyes, and finally with Louis van Gaals express approval.
These constitute the interesting points. Transfers like this are immensely complex, involving negotiations comparable in size to those around the purchase of a major building or a corporate takeover. Its not for the unwary or the inexperienced and it was a pending task for a man like Ed Woodward, Uniteds executive vice-chairman, to complete effectively and efficiently. This he has done.
Secondly, Im not as interested in the player United have bought anyone who has paid attention to Spanish football over the last five years should know Anders talents and personality inside out as I am in the player he may become. There is something special in this footballer: brains, organisation, technique and a will to win. I dont think he hit a plateau at Athletic but now, just short of his 25th birthday, is the time for a growth spurt in his career.
Louis van Gaal is more than capable of teaching him new things, squeezing the absolute maximum out of his talent and making him a winner. Let Ander be himself, let him have time to adapt and grow, as David De Gea was given, and let him become the player he threatens to be. United fans, naturally, want wins and confidence from the start. The rest of us can afford to sit back and watch the relationship between Van Gaal and Herrera and hope that the former bestows some of his greatness on the latter.
Attached here is a piece I wrote for ESPN last month, analysing how it was that this move came together and the role David Moyes and I had in saving United several million Euros. No commission, thanks.
