One Turkish reporter believes the connections between Fenerbahce president Ali Koc and Glazer family may have played a key role in the deal which brought £4.3 million goalkeeper Altay Bayindir to Premier League giants Manchester United.
Securing a bargain move to Old Trafford in the final month of the summer window, the very affordable release clause in Altay Bayindir’s Fenerbahce contract certainly did his chances of a dream Manchester United switch no harm.
Bayindir was, after all, available for a fraction of the fee Feyenoord wanted for Justin Bijlow, for instance.
Speaking to BTV, however, Serdar Ali Celikler believes that there is another key reason why Bayindir suddenly finds himself wearing the number one shirt – albeit literally, rather than metaphorically – for one of world football’s great institutions.
Manchester United sign Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce
“If it wasn’t for Ali Koc, Altay Bayindir would not be able to transfer to Manchester United,” Celikler argues, praising the Fenerbahce chief for making good use of his Old Trafford connections.
“Ali Koc’s relations with the Glazer family opened the door to Altay for Manchester United. It is Ali Koc and his close relations which finalised this transfer.”
Bayindir’s arrival may be – touch wood – one of the final acts of transfer-market influence wielded by the living, breathing, energy-sucking leeches otherwise known as Joel and Avram at the helm of Manchester United.
While some are hedging their bets in favour of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS – with others suggesting that a Sheikh Jassim victory is imminent – hopes are rising once again that there will be a long-awaited resolution to that drawn-out takeover saga within the coming weeks.
Takeover talk back on
“I was told that not much would happen in the process in August and September,” Bloomberg’s David Hellier tells Fabrizio Romano and Ben Jacobs, backing up The Sun’s own claims that an October resolution could be on the cards.
“But it is believed the process will progress within the next few weeks.
“My feeling is that Sheikh Jassim will succeed in taking over the club in the end.”
We have been here before, of course; this entire saga enough to spawn a Groundhog Day sequel. But, after months of relative silence, it appears things are moving forward again. Better late than never, as they say.
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