Cesc Fabregas nearly joined Man Utd before signing for Chelsea (Image: Getty)
David Moyes has explained why Cesc Fabregas’ transfer to Manchester United collapsed. Former Spain international and current Como boss Fabregas is best known for his time with Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premier League, where he established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world.
But prior to his return to London with the Blues in 2014, the playmaker almost found his way to another giant of English football – the Red Devils. Fabregas’ move to boyhood club Barcelona from Arsenal had not gone to plan as he found himself playing second fiddle to the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta in his second season.
That made him restless and in search of a return to the Premier League, where he had first joined Arsenal as a teenager and become captain. Ahead of the start of his third season in La Liga – the 2013/14 campaign – newly-appointed United manager Moyes began talks with the player over a potential move to Old Trafford.
Moyes had the unenviable task of succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson, who had retired that summer after winning the title in 2012/13, and identified Fabregas and Gareth Bale as his first major transfer targets. But the Scottish manager failed to land either, as the 2010 World Cup winner said his decision hinged on whether he would start the first game of the 2013/14 season for Barcelona.
Fabregas featured under new boss Gerardo Martino, meaning Moyes was unable to get his man. The Scottish manager would struggle at Old Trafford and was ultimately sacked less than a year into his tenure.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Moyes said: “My plans [at Manchester United] were to not do anything different to what Sir Alex Ferguson did but I couldn’t be Alex, I couldn’t manage like him. I wasn’t going to come in and change the philosophy of Manchester United, I was just going to continue everything I thought he’d been doing right.
Fabregas was left frustrated during his time at Barcelona (Image: Getty)
“At the time, I remember when I’d met Sir Alex, he asked whether I’d be interested in Cesc Fàbregas, and I said, ‘Definitely.’ That was probably the main signing we were trying to get in the summer, and I’d spoken to Cesc, and he had said that if he started the first game for Barcelona, he wouldn’t come but if he didn’t, then he would come.
“So, I was going to have to wait to find out. Gareth Bale was the other one [we were trying to sign]. My interpretation with Manchester United was that they had great wingers, great wide players with traditions from George Best and you name them all through the years.
“So, I thought Gareth Bale would be the one and, to be fair to the club, they’d offered more money and had tried to get him, but he had his heart set on Real Madrid. We’d taken it right to the wire to get him.
David Moyes failed to sign his top two transfer targets (Image: Getty)
“I didn’t have a backup to what I wanted after those two players, but I’d brought in Marouane Fellaini – he was the only one that came in. My thought with Marouane was because I’m thinking they’ll be going away to Stoke City and games like that – and to be fair to him, he had a good career at United.
“We also tried to bring in Leighton Baines, as a backup for Patrice [Evra] at the time, which we didn’t get. When I didn’t get the first two signings, it made my start terrible because the window wasn’t great.”
Plenty has been said about Moyes by former United players on why he failed to galvanise the dressing room and was eventually sacked, including his lack of a winning mentality.
Arsene Wenger was hurt by Fabregas’ Barcelona move so he joined Chelsea instead (Image: Getty)
He went on to manage Real Sociedad, Sunderland, and West Ham in two separate stints, leaving the Irons in May of this year after winning their first European trophy in 58 years 12 months prior.
Fabregas, meanwhile, parted ways with Barcelona at the end of the 2013/14 season having scored 13 goals in 55 appearances across all competitions. The midfielder wanted to return to Arsenal but manager Arsene Wenger refused to take him back over the manner of his departure in 2011, paving a path to rivals Chelsea.
Things worked out for him at Stamford Bridge, however, where he played for four seasons, winning his first two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and the Europa League.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1972823/cesc-fabregas-man-utd-transfer-moyes-tbk