Whenever a club shells out a British record for a player, the tension is almost unbearable. An unmistakeable air of excitement gathers amongst the supporters, but for player and manager alike, they both know that they need to hit the ground running. With every pound added to the fee, comes extra scrutiny of every touch, pass and shot. For Juan Veron, at £28.1 million he had smashed the previous British transfer record, but ultimately proved to be one costly failure. Such was Ferguson's faith in the player that he launched an expletive-filled tirade at journalists who dared to question Veron's shaky start to his Mancunian career, decreeing them to be 'idiots'. However, as the months flew off the calendar, it became evident that the former Lazio hardman was struggling to cope with the quicker pace an rhythm of the Premier League. With no time allowed on the ball, Veron struggled in the centre of the park and looked a shadow of the player who had wowed Serie A audiences at Parma and Lazio. After two substandard seasons at the Theatre of Dreams, he was whisked off to Stamford Bridge for a cut-price £15 million, where he continued to flop in inglorious fashion.
''Juan Veron was capable of exceptional football and was talented. But, at times, he found the Premiership a bit difficult. He was a European player and that was where we got our best form from him.'' - Sir Alex Ferguson, 2005.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
