Manchester United's deadline day was an 'embarrassing soap opera', says Arsenal legend Martin Keown

Reluctant stay: De Gea did not want to remain at Old Trafford
(Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
James Benge3 September 2015

Manchester United’s deadline day dealings over Anthony Martial and David de Gea were an embarrassing soap opera, according to former Arsenal defender Martin Keown.

Aside from spending £36 million on the teenage forward United found themselves dragged into a war of words with Real Madrid after de Gea’s much-anticipated move collapsed at the last minute.

Both clubs have released statements criticising the other in the past days after the Spanish side were unable to process the necessary paperwork to complete a deal before Monday’s deadline.

It leaves De Gea, who has not played for Louis van Gaal this season, in a limbo state ahead of next summer’s European Championship.

And whilst Keown expects United’s player of last season to return to the side he suspects that the damage done by the manager’s handling of the move may have already seen the club miss out on one of their primary transfer targets.

“Banishing him to the reserves will have done nothing to encourage him to stay,” Keown wrote in the Daily Mail. “The international break now means things can start to settle down but De Gea, who stayed professional throughout the saga, must surely play on his return.

“You also wonder whether Van Gaal’s treatment of De Gea and fellow Spanish keeper Victor Valdes had any influence on why one-time target Pedro ended up at Chelsea.

“We do not see what happens in the dressing room but it is a concern when former players queue up to criticise Van Gaal’s ruthless treatment. Once a relationship is broken, there seems to be no going back.”

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As for new signing Martial, Keown warned that the deal for a 19-year-old already drawing comparisons with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was a major risk.

“It felt like United were rolling the dice on deadline day,” he wrote. “It is hard to imagine that kind of soap opera happening under Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill. It was embarrassing.”

“The signing of Anthony Martial is a huge gamble. He has been compared to Thierry Henry and if he is half as good then he will be a decent player.

“Van Gaal likes a pacey ball-carrier — he had Arjen Robben at Bayern Munich and tried and failed to make Angel di Maria that man at United — and Martial fits the bill.

“He might even be the answer to their striker dilemma but it is still a big risk to take on an uncapped youngster.”

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