Gabriel Obertan was one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s gambles which failed to pay off.
Arriving in the same summer of 2009 which Cristiano Ronaldo left, there was more attention on Obertan to come good than most.
It did not work out at all and Obertan was sold two years later after just 14 Premier League appearances.
Obertan’s career is still going, with spells at Newcastle and Wigan in England, and stints in Russia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. None of them were particularly successful.
Now 32, Obertan has found a new club as a free agent and the side are genuinely delighted to have him.
‘Huge signing’
Obertan has signed with American second tier side Charlotte Independence, a club where his former Newcastle teammate Sylvain Marveaux also plays.
Head coach Mike Jefferies is very excited to have Obertan on board, and spoke very highly of him.
Jefferies told their club website: “Gabriel is another huge signing for our club.
“Not only does he bring a wealth of experience from top clubs throughout the world, he is a proven difference-maker in the game at high levels. He raises the bar for our group each day with his ability to see and make plays as well as his competitiveness.
“I am excited to integrate him with the team and get him on the field; our fans will appreciate the addition of another top, dynamic attacking player.”
United fans did not really get to see this ‘dynamic player’ at Old Trafford between 2009 and 2011, but we wish him well.
£3 million poorly spent
United spent only £3 million on Obertan, hoping to unearth a gem. And the problem was, the club did not need to.
This was the summer £80 million had been received for Cristiano Ronaldo, and the big signing was Antonio Valencia for £16 million and Michael Owen for free.
Sir Alex Ferguson told The Guardian: “He is an exciting prospect. We like to get young players and develop them, and we will see that in Gabriel over the next two years.”
Two years later Obertan was sold. It was this stretch of time that the Glazer cost cutting in the transfer market was really felt, while City invested heavily. A few years later this caught up with United with the noisy neighbours winning the title in 2012.
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