Herrera recalls 'imposters' that sabotaged his move from Bilbao
Ander Herrera recalls ‘transfer imposters’ who sabotaged his 2013 move from Athletic Bilbao to Manchester United… and claims hoaxers ‘were trying to make easy money’ ahead of his £30million switch from Spain
- Ander Herrera has recalled how his move to Man United was sabotaged in 2013
- The Spaniard was in the process of moving to Old Trafford from Athletic Bilbao
- A group of ‘transfer imposters’ attempted to broker the nearly completed deal
- The move eventually fell through due to the farcical nature of proceedings
- Herrera joined the Red Devils a year later and was Louis van Gaal’s first signing
Ex-Man United star Ander Herrera has recalled how ‘transfer imposters’ sabotaged his move to the Premier League club back in 2013.
The Spaniard had been a transfer target for at-the-time boss David Moyes, however the Red Devils were unable to get a deal over the line despite their significant interest.
Moyes claimed the deal broke down after Bilbao demanded an extortionate buy-out fee but rumours suggested ‘imposters’ had sabotaged the transfer and Herrera has now claimed the stories were true.
Ander Herrera has recalled the controversial story of ‘imposters’ sabotaging his transfer
The Spaniard looked set for a move to Man United from Atletico Bilbao in 2013 but it collapsed
In September 2013, Herrera’s potential move to United collapsed amid reports that hoaxers – claiming to act on behalf of the English champions – had turned up in Spain to supposedly represent the club.
Three people claimed they were Man United officials and had arrived at the Spanish league’s offices in Madrid to pay the buyout clause for Herrera in full. It was revealed that these men were, in fact, hoaxers and the deal quickly collapsed.
Speaking to the UTD Podcast, Herrera confirmed that he was unaware of the individuals and suggested they were trying to make ‘easy money’.
‘I didn’t even know them,’ he said of the legal advisers who claimed to be representing him.
‘I know my lawyers and I know my agent. It is the same agent as when I was 18. They [hoaxers] were trying to make easy money – I don’t know how.
Herrera (L) claims he ‘didn’t know’ about the people claiming to be his lawyers in the deal
Luckily for Herrera, he managed to secure a move to Old Trafford just one year later in 2014
‘I think they wanted to be there if the negotiation was successful, they wanted everyone to think that they were the ones who did it and, maybe after that, they can have more players or more negotiations.
‘But I didn’t even know them, honestly. It was funny because some of my friends say: ‘Your lawyers are in La Liga and they are going to pay the money,’ and I said: ‘No, they are not my lawyers. I do not know them.’
At-the-time United boss Moyes insisted that the deal collapsed for an entirely different reason. He said: ‘I really like the player but we thought the buy-out was the wrong valuation.’
Luckily for Herrera, he got his move to Old Trafford just one year later and became the first signing of Louis van Gaal’s tenure at the Premier League club.
At-the-time coach David Moyes claimed the deal collapsed due to a extortionate buy-out fee
The Spanish midfielder has recently opened up about his stint at Old Trafford and even broke down in tears when describing his ‘painful’ exit from the club.
Herrera also reflected on former coaches Louis van Gaal, Ole Gunner Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho and labelled them as ‘a teacher’, ‘a legend’ and ‘a s***house’.
He left United in 2019 to join PSG, where he won two Ligue 1 titles, two Coupe de France’s and one Champions League runners-up medal.
The 33-year-old has now returned to Spain to play for Athletic Bilbao on loan – the club where he was initially signed from to join Manchester United.
Herrera was reduced to tears when discussing his departure from the club in the same podcast
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