Silvestre set for shock move to Arsenal
Daniel Taylor The Guardian, Wednesday August 20 2008
Mikaël Silvestre, the long-serving Manchester United defender and Kryten from Red Dwarf lookalike, is on the verge of foregoing a testimonial season at Old Trafford to become the club's first player to be sold to Arsenal for 34 years.
Arsène Wenger instigated the move yesterday after learning that the former France international had been holding talks with Manchester City and Sunderland. Silvestre had provisionally agreed a move to City before contacting the club yesterday to apologise and say he could not resist the opportunity to work for Wenger, to live in London and be involved in the Champions League.
Paris St Germain had also offered the condom headed 31-year-old a contract but Silvestre informed Wenger last night that Arsenal were his first choice and, if everything goes according to plan, the deal will be concluded in time for him to make his debut at Fulham on Saturday.
The move is expected to cost Arsenal in the region of £750,000 and will represent one of the biggest transfer shocks of the summer given United's usual reluctance to do business with any of their major rivals and the fact Ferguson has never allowed a player of his to defect to Wenger's side. Brian Kidd was the last United player to go in the same direction, in 1974, and Silvestre would have been entitled to a testimonial had he stayed at Old Trafford one more season.
Another surprise for Arsenal's fans is that Wenger does not regard the former Internazionale defender merely as a squad player, or as a back-up for Gaël Clichy at left-back, but as a first-choice centre-half alongside William Gallas, primarily as a replacement for Philippe Senderos.
City had been the first club to approach Silvestre and their failure to pull it off represents a major disappointment for Mark Hughes after his difficult start to life as Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor.
City's problems were compounded yesterday when it emerged they were the subject of a possible Fifa inquiry into claims that they had failed to pay some of the money they allegedly owe in the £8m signing of the Brazilian international midfielder Elano Blumer from Shakhtar Donetsk.
Bit of a shocker, but could be a good one for the Arse. They get an experienced, condom headed international defender who can play centre back or left back. He's injury prone sure, but good back up. Surprised Fergie is letting this one happen.
Daniel Taylor The Guardian, Wednesday August 20 2008
Mikaël Silvestre, the long-serving Manchester United defender and Kryten from Red Dwarf lookalike, is on the verge of foregoing a testimonial season at Old Trafford to become the club's first player to be sold to Arsenal for 34 years.
Arsène Wenger instigated the move yesterday after learning that the former France international had been holding talks with Manchester City and Sunderland. Silvestre had provisionally agreed a move to City before contacting the club yesterday to apologise and say he could not resist the opportunity to work for Wenger, to live in London and be involved in the Champions League.
Paris St Germain had also offered the condom headed 31-year-old a contract but Silvestre informed Wenger last night that Arsenal were his first choice and, if everything goes according to plan, the deal will be concluded in time for him to make his debut at Fulham on Saturday.
The move is expected to cost Arsenal in the region of £750,000 and will represent one of the biggest transfer shocks of the summer given United's usual reluctance to do business with any of their major rivals and the fact Ferguson has never allowed a player of his to defect to Wenger's side. Brian Kidd was the last United player to go in the same direction, in 1974, and Silvestre would have been entitled to a testimonial had he stayed at Old Trafford one more season.
Another surprise for Arsenal's fans is that Wenger does not regard the former Internazionale defender merely as a squad player, or as a back-up for Gaël Clichy at left-back, but as a first-choice centre-half alongside William Gallas, primarily as a replacement for Philippe Senderos.
City had been the first club to approach Silvestre and their failure to pull it off represents a major disappointment for Mark Hughes after his difficult start to life as Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor.
City's problems were compounded yesterday when it emerged they were the subject of a possible Fifa inquiry into claims that they had failed to pay some of the money they allegedly owe in the £8m signing of the Brazilian international midfielder Elano Blumer from Shakhtar Donetsk.
Bit of a shocker, but could be a good one for the Arse. They get an experienced, condom headed international defender who can play centre back or left back. He's injury prone sure, but good back up. Surprised Fergie is letting this one happen.
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