CONFIRMED Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille

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Just to be clear: a player under contract can't 'force a move' anywhere. We sold Ndiaye because the club accepted a bid from Marseille. Not because he forced a move. We could have dug our heels in. We could have, I dunno, rejected Marseille's bid?

It shouldn't matter though. A vaguely well-run club wouldn't let their best player go into the last 12 months of his contract.

I guess it's all nasty Iliman's fault though. Never the club's fault. Never the owner's fault.
 
Absolutely bang on. He can hide behind it being his reps who brokered the deal, but they work for him at the end of the day. The stringing on of us giving us false hope, and ultimately delaying the process of identifying replacements, will never sit well with me. In a way I am sort of glad it has played out this way as I don't feel as bad about the whole saga as transfers in the past.
I’ve said on another thread only one I can compare it to is Howard Kendall.

Every other decent player we’ve sold either the club wanted to move them on, or they’ve gone on to genuinely bigger and better things and have made no bones about doing so rather than stringing everyone along.
 
Just to be clear: a player under contract can't 'force a move' anywhere. We sold Ndiaye because the club accepted a bid from Marseille. Not because he forced a move. We could have dug our heels in. We could have, I dunno, rejected Marseille's bid?

It shouldn't matter though. A vaguely well-run club wouldn't let their best player go into the last 12 months of his contract.

I guess it's all nasty Iliman's fault though. Never the club's fault. Never the owner's fault.

Never an agents fault. Never a player not signing a new deal either then?

We keep him he eventually signs for OM for free on a pre-contract in January. It sounds like it wasn't a gamble we were willing to take.
 
Just to be clear: a player under contract can't 'force a move' anywhere. We sold Ndiaye because the club accepted a bid from Marseille. Not because he forced a move. We could have dug our heels in. We could have, I dunno, rejected Marseille's bid?

It shouldn't matter though. A vaguely well-run club wouldn't let their best player go into the last 12 months of his contract.

I guess it's all nasty Iliman's fault though. Never the club's fault. Never the owner's fault.
If you believe this to be true I have a bridge to sell you
 
Fuck Iliman, he should have told the club he wanted out at the end of the season or maybe when he threw his shirt on the floor in front of the kop. As far as I'm concerned he is dead to me for stringing the club along. I hope Marseille get knocked straight out of the Champions league and Ili is stuck playing as a sub in a shit French League
 
if that tweet from danny hall is correct which i believe, that we gave him a huge wage increase, the no 10 shirt given by billy sharp & add to it PL football. im starting to think that ndiaye or his agent privately forced this move through. & i wonder were negotiations from his side were just PR image, because what changed, as there is nothing more we as club could offer him.

but we have got to forget about him as our survival chances have just got alot tougher & moping about him is just going to make it tougher.
 
Considering he only scored 22 goals for us in 4 years, in a mediocre Championship (we didn't exactly piss it did we in the end), if we did get 15-17mil that's about right imo. Nobody knows what kind of clauses we got either.

What did he cost?
I'm hearing 20m, that includes add ons etc, I reckon it'll be iro 12 to14m upfront
 
Just a thought on Illy's motives.

After his fairly average World Cup performances was he worried that if he was found out to be just an average Premier League player his chances of joining Marseille in the future would diminish?
 
I get that and he should’ve handled it better. Ultimately football is a business and shit happens.

I just don’t expect our club to embarrass themselves on social media.
Embarrass themselves???

They came from in for unfair criticism and let the fanbase know how far they’d gone to keep him. They thought the deal was done until Ndiaye did an about turn and broke his word. They’ve given their side of the story against unjust criticism and fair play to them.

The only person who should be embarrassed is Ndiaye.
 
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Sad as I am to see Iliman go I wish him all the best. As long as he’s happy then he’s done the right thing.

Given the way he’s played and trained pre season and the fact that we got so close to a new contract, it would appear to me that the agent and those around him have been somewhat involved in persuading him. The pull is obviously too great.

I’m reading £20m, which no matter how it’s structured is a great deal for United with only a year of his deal left. I can just about stomach this at that figure. United have done well to get that with very little leverage.

End of the day if there is that much pull for him, then it’s no good keeping him here. His heart is in Marseille. Great lad, I think he’s ace but I want players that 100% want to play for us. Not 90%.
Sounds great but realistically what type of players would we then have? What player actually wants to play for us 100%? Are we anyone’s dream team to play for? Do we pay high wages? Are we in a fashionable city? Do we have state of the art facilities? Look at Marseilles stadium and training facilities! that along with it being his childhood club and a lucrative 5 year deal it was a no brainer move for him.

Good luck to him, it’s been an absolute pleasure, watching him play at Bdtbl whilst sat with my young son is something I’ll never forget.

I hope he rips it up, quickly outgrows Marseille and gets a move to a bigger better club.
 
Embarrass themselves???

They came from n for unfair criticism and let the fanbase know how far they’d gone to keep him. They thought the deal was done until Ndiaye did an about turn and broke his word. They’ve given their side of the story against unjust criticism and fair play to them.

The only person who should be embarrassed is Ndiaye.

Putting a goodbye video on twitter for a player that’s decided to leave is embarrassing in my opinion.
 

Just a thought on Illy's motives.

After his fairly average World Cup performances was he worried that if he was found out to be just an average Premier League player his chances of joining Marseille in the future would diminish?
He shone when brought on v Qatar, was excellent on the right v Ecuador, and the coach changed the formation v England which made the entire team look shit.
 
if that tweet from danny hall is correct which i believe, that we gave him a huge wage increase, the no 10 shirt given by billy sharp & add to it PL football. im starting to think that ndiaye or his agent privately forced this move through. & i wonder were negotiations from his side were just PR image, because what changed, as there is nothing more we as club could offer him.

but we have got to forget about him as our survival chances have just got alot tougher & moping about him is just going to make it tougher.
On another thread there is a transcript of an interview with Hecky. He confirms that illi isn’t money motivated and turned down huge money in jan to stay here. He’s a boyhood fan of OM and living out his dream. They are probably the only club who could have taken him from us. Sadly they did.

illi is just living his dream right now. Weirdly i kind of commend that after knowing he stayed with us even when he could have gone elsewhere for lots more. Hes been lead by his heart.
 
What a loveable, likeable lad, and the mentality of a real winner. What a competition and fierce professional. Destined for the very top.

I'm absolutely fucking gutted here. Thought he would've wanted a crack at the Prem, even if only for a year. I thought his winner's mentality would've dictated that. He also seemed very invested in us. OK, not boyhood club invested, but still. I thought he'd leave, just not this summer.
 
Sounds great but realistically what type of players would we then have? What player actually wants to play for us 100%? Are we anyone’s dream team to play for? Do we pay high wages? Are we in a fashionable city? Do we have state of the art facilities? Look at Marseilles stadium and training facilities! that along with it being his childhood club and a lucrative 5 year deal it was a no brainer move for him.

Good luck to him, it’s been an absolute pleasure, watching him play at Bdtbl whilst sat with my young son is something I’ll never forget.

I hope he rips it up, quickly outgrows Marseille and gets a move to a bigger better club.
Yep. Strolling down the Moor or Marseilles promenade, hardly a difficult choice.
 
Paul Heckingbottom himself has stated that Illiman has conducted himself in exemplary fashion throughout this whole saga.

And yet many still want to have a pop at him. Both on here and across social media, where he is being referred to as a "snake" and a "rat" for making a decision about his professional future.

The farewell statement he posted exuded class and a heartfelt affection towards United. Yet many still can't resist being bitter cunts.

Grace and dignity are often rare commodities to be found among this fanbase. Today has certainly been proof of that. There's some right fucking otters pockets who attach themselves to this club.
 
If we sign somebody like Zian Flemming and he knocks in a couple of goals by the end of the first 4 fixtures, nobody will even be bothered any more.

Perspective Blades, we've lost a very good player who popped up like a bonus. We'll be reyt
 
Paul Heckingbottom himself has stated that Illiman has conducted himself in exemplary fashion throughout this whole saga.

And yet many still want to have a pop at him. Both on here and across social media, where he is being referred to as a "snake" and a "rat" for making a decision about his professional future.

The farewell statement he posted exuded class and a heartfelt affection towards United. Yet many still can't resist being bitter cunts.

Grace and dignity are often rare commodities to be found among this fanbase. Today has certainly been proof of that. There's some right fucking otters pockets who attach themselves to this club.
PH also stated that he was willing to play for us over any other club, and for less money. It's unfortunate that the one club in the world that could get him came in, but how anyone can blame him or turn against him is beyond me. He has displayed more loyalty than most footballers and never given anything less than 100%, all while providing us with a higher level of entertainment than any other player I've seen.
 
Paul Heckingbottom himself has stated that Illiman has conducted himself in exemplary fashion throughout this whole saga.

And yet many still want to have a pop at him. Both on here and across social media, where he is being referred to as a "snake" and a "rat" for making a decision about his professional future.

The farewell statement he posted exuded class and a heartfelt affection towards United. Yet many still can't resist being bitter cunts.

Grace and dignity are often rare commodities to be found among this fanbase. Today has certainly been proof of that. There's some right fucking otters pockets who attach themselves to this club.

There is absolutely no need for anyone to sling abuse at him, but that is normally a minority.

Most of the criticism I had seen (and agreed with) was regarding the nature of the exit, and the last minute change of mind when we were on the verge of getting him to stay. It just felt particularly cruel, compared to if he had just made his mind up early and gone, but I suppose Marseille not actually putting in a proper bid until late in the day didn't help on that front. I do think that they, and his agent have been sneaky cunts throughout this and played everyone.

All that being said, I actually felt much better after listening to PH tonight, and his take on things, and ultimately I wish Illy all the best. Olympique Marseille can sink into the fucking sea as far as I am concerned though, obviously years from now after Illy has moved on.
 
No ill feelings from me, yes it’s hugely disappointing that he’s gone but like Hecky said, it was only going to be Marseille that he was going to.

He wasn’t a big time Charlie and didn’t down tools in pre season, and the comments on his insta page from current Blades players and Hecky’s interview tonight tells me all I need too about his character.

He doesn’t owe us anything, to him we were just his employers. If the shoe was on the other foot and a boyhood Blade played abroad with us sniffing, we’d all fully expect them to sign.

Good luck Ili, now let’s move on and support those in red and white.
 
I honestly think his heart has ruled his head here. Hecky's comments seem to back that theory up.

Illy is driven to the very best. That's Messi, Ronaldo, Andy Murray level mentality. I genuinely believe that. This move very much contradicts that ambition.

If I had to guess - the rejection of being released by OM as a kid has fuelled something in him from a young age. It was THE driver, above all else. The desire to right that wrong has now been achieved. Does he keep the same hunger? He's better than Ligue 1. He could tackle the Prem with us, but be on the losing side most weeks whilst doing his star quality no real harm. In Ligue 1, he won't be tested anywhere near as much and could easily make the step up and be a first team regular in no time, IMO. In a side that will be winning most weeks, in a league weaker than the championship. I think that's swayed it a lot too.

In the end, I think he desire to win, and be the best he can be, will win out. He'll scratch the OM itch for a bit, prove that he was good enough for them after all despite the initial childhood rejection, and then he'll use them as a stepping stone too.
 

Paul Heckingbottom himself has stated that Illiman has conducted himself in exemplary fashion throughout this whole saga.

And yet many still want to have a pop at him. Both on here and across social media, where he is being referred to as a "snake" and a "rat" for making a decision about his professional future.

The farewell statement he posted exuded class and a heartfelt affection towards United. Yet many still can't resist being bitter cunts.

Grace and dignity are often rare commodities to be found among this fanbase. Today has certainly been proof of that. There's some right fucking otters pockets who attach themselves to this club.
 

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