UNITED PULLED PLUG ON BARTHEZ?
The charismatic keeper was close to ending Sir Alex Ferguson`s search for a new shot-stopper, only for United to conclude the negotiations with Monaco and the player`s agents, without an agreement being reached.
According to France Football, Barthez is still unsettled in the south of France and he may yet end up at a new club next season - possibly in Spain or Italy.
The magazine claims the story unfolded thus. Following a blazing row with trainer Claude Puel, Barthez decided to leave on principle, after being accused of throwing the match with his former club, Marseille.
He decided to immediately try and establish contact with United, after Ferguson had come close to signing him last summer, in the wake of his impressive displays in the World Cup. The desire to move to Old Trafford was not due to a particular affection for the English champions, but because he has a good relationship with Eric Cantona.
During the final week of the season, a number of telephone conversations are alleged to have taken place and Joel Cantona, Eric`s brother, and Pascal Olmeta reportedly agreed to act as Barthez`s advisers. Both players are well known to United with Olmeta a regular at testimonial events at Old Trafford.
A meeting allegedly took place at a Paris hotel last Saturday, with Joel Cantona, Olmeta, Martin Edwards, Jean Luis Campora (Marseille`s chairman) and possibly Eric Cantona present.
However, it was decided that the leaking of the financial details of the contract had left United with no option but to pull the plug on the transfer. The Red Devils are particularly worried about the details of their contracts becoming public after the protracted wrangling with Roy Keane.
And Barthez was believed to be demanding a salary in excess of those paid to superstars such as David Beckham and Ryan Giggs. His arrival would certainly have caused some consternation amongst the players who have done so much to bring the glory days back to the club.
Whilst most members of the squad accepted that Keane`s influence on the side warranted such a wage increase, they may have been less pleased to hear that the French keeper was earning more than them, despite having to scrap with Mark Bosnich for a first team place.
Meanwhile, Bosnich has pledged to work with personal fitness trainers throughout the summer, and to return to Manchester early for pre-season training, in a bid to win his battle to be number one at Old Trafford next season.
