Manchester United’s unsuccessful attempt to sign Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao has become shrouded in mystery.
The deal for the 24-year-old was called off just before the close of the transfer window, yet a report in Mundo Deportivo quotes Daniel Taylor, chief football writer at The Guardian and The Observer, as claiming “United did not send anyone to negotiate the transfer of the player”.
It was reported earlier that representatives from the Old Trafford club were in Spain and ready to pay Herrera’s €36m release clause to the Spanish League (LFP), something Taylor maintains was untrue.
“Neither in Manchester nor in England do they know the individuals who were in Spain to conduct negotiations, so it’s certain there will be a lot more to talk about concerning this story in the next few days,” the newspaper quotes him as saying.
The alleged emissaries did arrive at LFP headquarters, according to reports, although they later mysteriously disappeared.
It is understood United will try to get to the bottom of what happened, with Mundo Deportivo insisting the Premier League club believes the people in question were hoping to receive some kind of commission from the deal.
