Cardiff wonderkid Aaron Ramsey, rather frothily described by the Independent as “the outstanding talent of his generation” has opted to sign for Arsenal over Man Utd. Although Ferguson’s men gnawed away at Arsenal’s early season lead, and the Gunners tailed off to third place, the first transfer blood of this summer looks to be going to Arsene’s men.
The Independent reveals the reason for Ramsey’s decision:
“Ferguson was the only one of the three managers in serious pursuit of Ramsey – the other being Everton’s David Moyes – who did not break off from his summer holidays to meet the Cardiff City player, instead delegating the meeting to a member of his staff. Ferguson is usually such a brilliant recruiter of young players – his trips to meet parents have so often proved the clincher in deals – but it was Wenger who gave Arsenal’s interest the personal touch by inviting Ramsey out on a private jet to Switzerland, where he is working as a television pundit at Euro 2008.”
Ferguson was also under the impression that Ramsey would be happy to be loaned back to Cardiff, but Wenger apparently promised the young starlet that he would stay and progress at Arsenal. All in all, it looks like the Lord of the Ferg was thoroughly outfoxed on this one…