http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTkvORQO-l4
When was the last time Manchester United made a genuinely exciting, top drawer creative signing? You would have to look back to the purchase of Dimitar Berbatov nearly four seasons ago. You would need to go further back still, to Wayne Rooney in 2004, to find a big signing who went on to actually satisfy and exceed expectations in the long run.
These days United seem further back in the queue when it comes to buying marquee names and instead trade in the mid range markets. They are much more likely to spend £15-20m on a Young and a Valencia than £40m on a Neymar or Bale.
Accordingly, there has been recent speculation about the signing of Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa. While Japanese international midfielder, 23, has caught the eye this year in Dortmund’s title charge and chipped in with some important goals (an impressive 21 in 48 appearances since joining the club in 2010), he again falls into the category of solid if unspectacular.
He has a great work ethic, is very mobile and clearly has an eye for goal but some Manchester United fans will be asking why SAF isn’t going for the more ‘Hollywood’ option of Dortmund’s real protege, Mario Gotze. Are Manchester United settling for second best due to budgetary constraints or is Kagawa actually the real diamond in the pack? What do you think?
