LMF^^ said:
Firstly, Ferguson never made a bid for Kewell. Secondly, Kewell is not a natural successor to Beckham, because Kewell plays on the left and Beckham plays on the right. Thirdly, our natural successor to Beckham was a certain Ronaldo.
I guess that you are still dreaming at this moment in time?
Kewell stated that he prefers to play on the right. When Houllier brought him in,
he initially had Kewell playing as a right wide man.
“I think because I'm left- footed everyone assumes I'm going to want to play on the left side, but that's not the case. I like to play in the middle and on the right. But I'm not going to restrict myself. I'll just play wherever the manager wants me to." –
Harry Kewell
Source:
The Times (UK)
“HARRY KEWELL has dramatically snubbed a pounds 6.8million move to Manchester United telling the Premiership champions:
"[Ferguson] I'm not interested in playing for you."
I can reveal the Liverpool-bound striker initially REFUSED to speak to United despite being given permission by manager Peter Reid to hold talks with the Old Trafford hierarchy, who had agreed a fee with Elland Road chairman Professor John MacKenzie.”
Source:
The People (UK)
“Australian soccer star Harry Kewell's future at Leeds looked doomed when he reportedly turned down a STG7 million ($A17.5 million) move to Manchester United.
Kewell was ready to reject the move because he believes he will only be a bit-part player at Old Trafford.”
Source:
The Age (AU)
Wenger out to usurp Ferguson in chase for Kewell
“THE already convoluted plotline to the Harry Kewell transfer saga was given another twist last night when it emerged that Sir Alex Ferguson made an eleventh-hour attempt to persuade the forward to reject a move to Liverpool in favour of a more lucrative offer.
In a move wholly in keeping with one of the most intriguing transfer deals in years, Ferguson telephoned the player on Monday evening when negotiations between Leeds United, Kewell’s former club, and Liverpool were at an advanced stage, to sell the attractions of a move to Old Trafford.
Ferguson, a past master at convincing wavering players their future lies at Old Trafford, reportedly used all his persuasive powers on Kewell, suggesting to the player he was making a big mistake in moving to Anfield and that the prospects of Kewell ending his career with a brimming trophy cabinet were better served by joining United.
Had Ferguson succeeded in convincing Kewell to change his plans, the player would now be facing the intimidating prospect of inheriting David Beckham’s No 7 shirt. As it is, the Australia forward ignored Ferguson’s overtures, preferring instead to succeed Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan as possessor of the Liverpool No 7 shirt.”
Source:
The Times Online (UK)
“Kewell snubs Man U”
"They had clubs lined up, bids from Chelsea and United, and it was put to Harry that if he wanted to be remembered as a Leeds legend, he had to accept their deal…we had a STG9 million ($A22.42 million) bid two days before the deal with Liverpool was done." - Bernie Manic
Source:
The Age (AU)
“Having missed out on first choices like Ronaldinho and Harry Kewell, Ferguson is now running out of time to bring some class to his squad - not easy when every club in the world knows you are sitting on a war chest of at least £30m.”
Source:
BBC Online
Harry Kewell turned down the chance to join Manchester United because he wanted to join a club that was “on the up.”
The Leeds midfielder has joined Liverpool for £5m (€7.2m) on a five-year deal that has sparked controversy.
Mandic told BBC 5 Live’s Sportsweek’s programme: “Harry wanted to go to club he felt were on the up.”
He added: “Manchester United had a huge amount of success over the years. Liverpool have started to splutter and drop off since 1990. I think United are destined to go into a downturn.”
But he could have been earning “30% more” according to Mandic.
“I think United, if you look at cycles, are destined to go into a downturn whether this year, next year, whenever.”
Mandic dismissed the notion that Kewell may not have held down a regular place in the United side.
He said: “I think Harry, considering the money being offered, would have been guaranteed a first team place. You don’t pay that sort of money to an individual or a club to sit on the bench. That wasn’t an issue.”
Source:
BBC Online
“Kewell's agent Bernie Mandic was United's guest of honour at Wednesday's Champions League semi-final at Old Trafford against Real Madrid, The Sun said. Under the deal, Kewell's salary would almost double to $180,500 a week and his debt-ridden club Leeds United could find it hard to turn down a serious offer.
"He has always enjoyed a close relationship with Leeds supporters, but Manchester United are offering so much it might be hard for him to resist."
Source:
The Sun (UK)
“LONDON, April 25 AAP - Manchester United is set to sell David Beckham and buy Harry Kewell, according to newspaper reports today.
Beckham is poised to move to Spanish giant Real Madrid for STG8 million a year, while United is in talks for a STG6 million deal for the Australian midfielder, papers say.
Kewell's agent Bernie Mandic was United's guest of honour at Wednesday' s Champions League semifinal at Old Trafford against Real Madrid, The Sun said.
Under the deal, Kewell's salary would almost double to STG70,000 per week and his debt-ridden club Leeds United could find “
Source:
The Associated Press (UK)
"Having turned down a move to Manchester United, the three times Oceania Player of the Year made his Reds debut in front of the Kop against Chelsea on August 17, 2003."
Source:
Liverpool FC Official Website
It was a highly publisized fact that Kewell snubbed Manchester United because he didn't like Ferguson; He never liked Ferguson and thus rejected his advances despite offering more money. Liverpool fans were delighted because a) thought they had picked up a quality player at a bargain price, and b) they had brought in a player who genuinely wanted to play for liverpool, the shirt, its history etc.
If Kewell had gone to Manchester ferguson would have had him playing on the right as a replacement for Beckham. If you can remember before the injuries and other bullshit, Kewell was considered the next big thing, a world class player who could only go on to achieve greater things (he didn’t in the end, but that’s another story).
So Firstly, Ferguson made a bid for Kewell but was rejected by the player himself. Secondly, okay maybe he isn't a 'natural successor' to Beckham as he isn't a right footer player, but he preferred playing on the right and Ferguson was at that time eager to strengthen his midfield. Bringing in a player as versatile as Kewell who is a left footed player but prefered plying on the right or in a central attacking position seemed like a good option, and there's no doubt that had he moved to man u, fergie would have had (intitially anyway) playing on the right to fill the whole left by beckham. Thirdly, the successor became ronaldo, who would go on to become one of the greatest players the world has seen. But at the time (this is 2003 remmember) he was just a blimp on the horizon...
