The war of words between Real Madrid and Manchester United over the failed David de Gea transfer shows no signs of abating – and now it’s getting personal.
Speaking to radio station Cadena SER, Real boss Florentino Perez decided to focus on his counterpart Ed Woodward, painting him as inexperienced, bumbling and indecisive.
Perhaps most damning were Perez’s comparisons of the ‘new people in charge’ to the old guard, who he suggests actually knew what they were doing.
“It’s the inexperience of the new people in charge. I know Manchester United very well,” he explained. “I have worked with them before [without problems], with Peter Kenyon and David Gill and with Sir Alex Ferguson. I think United now lack experience with these things.”
Central to the Real chairman’s criticisms are that United take far too long to close a deal, instead dragging negotiations out to such an extent that they risk jeopardising the outcome.
“We still have a good relationship with Manchester United but we experienced it with [Fabio] Coentrão, as did Athletic with Ander Herrera.
“We thought they would have learned from what happened in the past. But it was the same with [Nicolas] Otamendi and Pedro. It is always the same club [United] – and it’s not for nothing.”
Ouch. The suggestion from Perez is clear, regardless of the ins and outs of the De Gea deal, Manchester United – and Woodward in particular – only have themselves to blame for various deals coming to nowt.
Although the comments could be perceived as sour grapes, the Real man has touched upon criticisms that have been levelled at Woodward by his own support – and they’ll only serve to strengthen those claims.
