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Manchester United has signed an agreement in principle for the sale of the midfielder to the Chinese club Shandong Luneng
Last updated: 31/01/19 11:10
Marouane Fellaini is on her way to China
Marouane Fellaini has become a symbol of the decline of Manchester United and his style of play does not match their traditions, but he deserves respect before his imminent departure, writes Nick Wright.
Max Allegri and Jose Mourinho's press conferences contrasted after Manchester United's 1-0 defeat of Juventus at Old Trafford in October. First of all, Allegri praised the courage and technique that allowed Juve to dominate possession of the ball convincingly. Mourinho then lamented the absence of injured Marouane Fellaini.
Mourinho's comments provoked ridicule. Fellaini is a symbol of United's decline since his arrival at Everton (£ 23m) in 2013. How did a United manager, who had spent £ 400m in transfers, become so dependent on long balls? Why did he aspire for the Belgian 6-foot-4 when he had Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Romelu Lukaku on the field?
Questions about Mourinho's tactics were justified – United's thrilling demonstrations under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer testify to this – but the sneering critics of Fellaini have always felt unfair. His unsightly structure and agricultural qualities were not always easy to look at, but his efficiency was undeniable, his attitude irreproachable and his versatility invaluable.
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In many ways, it is strange that Solskjaer, the archetypal super-submarine, was the man who sanctioned his departure. Fellaini is probably what United has closer to Norwegian now. Although he only scored 22 goals in 177 games with United, many of those goals were vital and he had plenty of other chances when he stepped off the bench to change the game.
Just look back a few months to find one of the best examples. United was two goals from Newcastle to Old Trafford when Mourinho, with his outstanding job, sent Fellaini at halftime. His mere presence was enough to destabilize the team of Rafael Benitez, while United was fighting to recover a 3-2 victory, granting the reprieve a reprieve from execution.
Mourinho's decision to turn to Fellaini that day speaks volumes about the trust he had in him, and teammates have always thought about it very well. After this match in Newcastle, Paul Pogba expressly advised Mourinho to put Fellaini in front of him. Wayne Rooney once described it as "the best in the world in what it does".
Fellaini played 177 games with United under four different managers
Mourinho will be one of Fellaini's most fervent supporters, but it is revealing to have done the same with many other managers.
"I think it's a player with which one has to work to appreciate what it really brings," said Belgian director, Roberto Martinez, during the summer. "He was born for the competition and as a team player he always sees every action as the end of the world, which makes him a warrior and a person that every coach and manager would like to have on his team. "
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Even the managers who doubted him were conquered. In his first conversation after his appointment to Manchester United in 2014, Louis van Gaal told Fellaini that he was "not my first choice, neither my second nor my third", but afterwards a few months he described it as "impossible to do anything". "From the first training session, he did what I asked for," he added.
Fellaini would play a crucial role in the triumph of the FA Cup alongside Van Gaal the following season. the full 120 minutes of extra victory overtime against Crystal Palace.
Fellaini holds the trophy of the Europa League
A year later, under Mourinho, Fellaini finished the UEFA Europa League 90 minutes of final victory over Ajax, thus guaranteeing United the spot in the Champions League for the following year. Then, at the World Cup in Russia, Martinez used it from the start of clashes between Belgium and the quarter-finals and semi-finals with heavyweights Brazil and France.
This is because, like Mourinho and Van Gaal before him, Martinez saw Fellaini as a player for special occasions. A player whose fighting spirit and unique qualities distinguish him even within a beleaguered Belgian team.
His style did not please everyone and he will always be badociated with a difficult period in the history of Manchester United, but the admiration of players and managers who know him best says a lot. Before his imminent start to the Premier League, respect is the minimum he deserves.
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