4
RESTORING FAITH
With Manchester United no longer
a member of the Champions
League inner sanctum, attracting
big-names to Old Trafford has
become an increasingly difficult task. United’s
mid-term swoop for Sporting and Portugal
attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes was
as much about symbolism as giving the team
a creative upgrade. But the 25-year-old has
not come cheap: a £47m basic fee, plus another
£20m in possible add-ons.2
THE EMERGENCY CALL
Hit by a defensive injury crisis,
Bayern Munich went borrowing at
the Bernabeu, securing a six-month
loan deal for Real Madrid’s out-of-
favour Spanish international full-back Alvaro
Odriozola. But not everyone in the Bayern
boardroom was in agreement. Pointing to the
fact the 24-year-old had only appeared in a
handful of games for Real this season, some
would have preferred a move for Shakhtar
Donetsk’s Brazilian right-back Dodo.3
THE PREMIER LEAGUE
SHOPPING EXPEDITION
Totally rejuvenated by the arrival
last summer of new coach Antonio
Conte, Serie A title contenders
Internazionale only used pounds sterling in
January, acquiring Tottenham Hotspur playmaker
Christian Eriksen for a cut-price £18m, veteran
Manchester United left-back /wing-back Ashley
Young for £1.35m and Nigerian international
winger Victor Moses, whom Chelsea have loaned
out until the end of the seasonInter buy...Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen Upgrade...Bruno Fernandes