THE TIMES
January 23, 2003
Sunderland cry foul as United intensify pursuit of Bellion
By George Caulkin
BOB MURRAY, the Sunderland chairman, last night accused Manchester United of “despicable, shabby and arrogant” behaviour and having “broken every rule in the book, whether written or ethical”, over their pursuit of David Bellion, the French forward. Sunderland have reported United to the FA Premier League over their approach for Bellion, which Murray said has “totally, mentally and physically” unsettled the player.
Bellion, who was signed by Peter Reid on a free transfer from Cannes in the summer of 2001, falls out of contract at the end of this season but has refused offers of a new three-year deal and a pay rise of 500 per cent.
Sunderland claim to have evidence of an illegal approach through Bellion’s representative, Mike Morris. Sunderland paid Morris £200,000 in agency fees when Bellion arrived from Cannes two years ago and he has continued to represent the player.
Peter Kenyon, the United chief executive, officially made contact with Murray at the beginning of December about the possibility of signing Bellion at the end of the season, when — because he joined the Wearsiders as a teenager — any prospective transfer would go before a tribunal. Sunderland have also had firm inquiries about Bellion from Arsenal and Liverpool.
At that point, Murray said, “David’s attitude changed”. He has not played for the club since their 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion on December 21 and has suffered from “mystery” injuries, including to his heel and hamstring. “The doctors couldn’t find anything on the scans,” Murray said and Bellion was subsequently sent to the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall to discover the extent of the problems.
“He (Bellion) was picked up by his agent’s driver last Thursday, taken to Luton airport and flown back to Cannes without permission or prior notice,” Murray said. Bellion has since told Sunderland that his mother is ill, but Murray is convinced that United are not innocent parties in the matter. “The relationship between the two clubs is at an all-time low,” he said. “We’re third from bottom of the Barclaycard Premiership fighting for our lives, United are the biggest club in the world and they pull this one on us. Their behaviour has been despicable.”
“I couldn’t think of how worse to treat a fellow Premiership club. I attempted to speak to United’s plc chairman (Roy Gardner) yesterday to talk about their unprofessional attitude and he never returned my call.
“David Bellion has been left between a rock and a hard place. He’s back in Cannes, the team who gave him a chance in this league want him back because of his great pace and Manchester United just want him on the cheap in a tribunal in the summer. I’ve had a number of conversations with Peter Kenyon and a meeting with him, which has resulted in absolutely nothing happening.”
As a result of the impasse, Kenyon was back in contact with Murray late yesterday in a bid to complete the signing of Bellion immediately. Kenyon offered £500,000 to be paid now and another £500,000 depending on appearances. It was turned down, with Murray pointing to his recent signings of other players of comparable age; Stephen Wright, from Liverpool, for £3 million and Matthew Piper, from Leicester City, for £3.5 million.
“With due respect, David Bellion is not going from Leicester to Sunderland, he’s going from Sunderland to Manchester United, the richest club on the planet,” Murray said. “But they want David on the cheap. Why don’t they just do that all the time and close their academy? As it stands, it looks as though we have lost a player for seven months when we’re desperate for him.”
Sunderland would expect a fee of around £5 million for Bellion, but with relegation a distinct possibility, Murray admitted that they “would take him back, because we need him”.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, apparently regards Bellion, whose time at Cannes coincided with Patrick Vieira’s spell at the club, as a young replica of Thierry Henry.
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i want CISSE !
January 23, 2003
Sunderland cry foul as United intensify pursuit of Bellion
By George Caulkin
BOB MURRAY, the Sunderland chairman, last night accused Manchester United of “despicable, shabby and arrogant” behaviour and having “broken every rule in the book, whether written or ethical”, over their pursuit of David Bellion, the French forward. Sunderland have reported United to the FA Premier League over their approach for Bellion, which Murray said has “totally, mentally and physically” unsettled the player.
Bellion, who was signed by Peter Reid on a free transfer from Cannes in the summer of 2001, falls out of contract at the end of this season but has refused offers of a new three-year deal and a pay rise of 500 per cent.
Sunderland claim to have evidence of an illegal approach through Bellion’s representative, Mike Morris. Sunderland paid Morris £200,000 in agency fees when Bellion arrived from Cannes two years ago and he has continued to represent the player.
Peter Kenyon, the United chief executive, officially made contact with Murray at the beginning of December about the possibility of signing Bellion at the end of the season, when — because he joined the Wearsiders as a teenager — any prospective transfer would go before a tribunal. Sunderland have also had firm inquiries about Bellion from Arsenal and Liverpool.
At that point, Murray said, “David’s attitude changed”. He has not played for the club since their 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion on December 21 and has suffered from “mystery” injuries, including to his heel and hamstring. “The doctors couldn’t find anything on the scans,” Murray said and Bellion was subsequently sent to the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall to discover the extent of the problems.
“He (Bellion) was picked up by his agent’s driver last Thursday, taken to Luton airport and flown back to Cannes without permission or prior notice,” Murray said. Bellion has since told Sunderland that his mother is ill, but Murray is convinced that United are not innocent parties in the matter. “The relationship between the two clubs is at an all-time low,” he said. “We’re third from bottom of the Barclaycard Premiership fighting for our lives, United are the biggest club in the world and they pull this one on us. Their behaviour has been despicable.”
“I couldn’t think of how worse to treat a fellow Premiership club. I attempted to speak to United’s plc chairman (Roy Gardner) yesterday to talk about their unprofessional attitude and he never returned my call.
“David Bellion has been left between a rock and a hard place. He’s back in Cannes, the team who gave him a chance in this league want him back because of his great pace and Manchester United just want him on the cheap in a tribunal in the summer. I’ve had a number of conversations with Peter Kenyon and a meeting with him, which has resulted in absolutely nothing happening.”
As a result of the impasse, Kenyon was back in contact with Murray late yesterday in a bid to complete the signing of Bellion immediately. Kenyon offered £500,000 to be paid now and another £500,000 depending on appearances. It was turned down, with Murray pointing to his recent signings of other players of comparable age; Stephen Wright, from Liverpool, for £3 million and Matthew Piper, from Leicester City, for £3.5 million.
“With due respect, David Bellion is not going from Leicester to Sunderland, he’s going from Sunderland to Manchester United, the richest club on the planet,” Murray said. “But they want David on the cheap. Why don’t they just do that all the time and close their academy? As it stands, it looks as though we have lost a player for seven months when we’re desperate for him.”
Sunderland would expect a fee of around £5 million for Bellion, but with relegation a distinct possibility, Murray admitted that they “would take him back, because we need him”.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, apparently regards Bellion, whose time at Cannes coincided with Patrick Vieira’s spell at the club, as a young replica of Thierry Henry.
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i want CISSE !
