- David Moyes first signed Marouane Fellaini from Standard Liege in 2008
- The £15m move to Everton was packed with drama from the four-seater plane to the battle to find a working fax machine to finalise the deal on time
- Fellaini's fee 'took Everton out of their comfort zone' but 'I wanted him'
- Moyes signed the Belgian to Everton for the same reasons he wanted the midfielder to make the move to Manchester United
- Being the only United signing of that window put unfair pressure on him
- Marouane's last two games have been first class: 'He’s now proving what I always believed; that he can be an important player for United'
Marouane Fellaini is now showing why David Moyes signed the midfielder to Everton and Manchester United
Fellaini breaks his goal duck at Man United with this strike in their 2-2 draw with West Brom
The Belgian international celebrates the goal in a match that for many marked his true arrival at United
This
was August 2008, and Liverpool were drawn against them in the
qualification round of the Champions League. So I went along to Anfield
to watch, and then flew out to Belgium that weekend to see Marouane in
action again. He was excellent. Perfect for us at Everton.
But
not until transfer deadline day did we get to sit down with Standard
Liege. It was Bill Kenwright and myself, a couple of agents and these
guys from Belgium. Eventually Dave Harrison, our secretary, joined us as
well.
We
went in there at around 2pm wanting to spend no more than £11million or
£12m. But hours went by and we were getting nowhere, and the price was
slowly creeping up. Bill kept having to check if we were still doing the
right thing; if as a club run very prudently we could actually afford
it. By 7pm we were still at a stalemate, but by 9.30pm we had a deal -
£15m.
I’m
always very careful when I’m spending the club’s money. I treat it like
it’s my own and I always try to sign players for what I feel is the
right price. We had spent decent money on Yakubu the year before but
most of our signings — players like Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Mikel
Arteta and Leighton Baines — came for fees closer to three, four or
five million. A year later we signed Seamus Coleman for 60 grand from
Sligo Rovers.
Fellaini evades Jon Obi Mikel in an impressive performance for United in their 1-1 draw with Chelsea
The 6ft 4in star troubles the world class defence of Premier League leaders Chelsea on October 26
Marouane’s
fee took Everton out of their comfort zone. It was big money for the
club. But I knew he was what we needed. I wanted him. And I was so
determined to get him I made damn sure we signed him that night by going
to Brussels myself. It was an insane race against time. First in the
car from Mayfair to Luton Airport, then this bumpy, terrifying ride
across the English Channel in this tiny aircraft and finally the hunt
not only to find Marouane but a hotel fax machine that actually worked.
I’ve
watched him in the last two games and he has been first class. He’s had
an influence on the games, which is what you look to your bigger
players to do
When
we arrived at a hotel that still seemed to be under construction it was
chaos. We couldn’t find the lad. And when we eventually did — he was
with his dad and an agent — we discovered the fax machine in the hotel
business centre didn’t work. I remember Dave screaming down the phone to
the FA, trying to explain that the bloody thing was broken. It was a
complete car crash.
We
were rescued by someone in the hotel who then said there was a machine
in one of the executive rooms that worked, and with minutes to spare the
paperwork was faxed through and Marouane was ours.
He
arrived at Everton and, of course, the first thing everyone clocked was
the hair. I’ve always been quite strict when it comes to the appearance
of my players. I don’t want to see earrings in training, things like
that. With Marouane’s hair, I actually wondered if it might take a bit
of the pace off the ball when he went up for a header. But I soon
realised it was part of his personality. Part of who he is.
Moyes signed Fellaini, here after a
match against Liverpool in 2012, from Standard Liege to Everton in 2008 -
it was a fee that took the club out of their comfort zone but, Moyes
writes, 'I knew he was what we needed'
The qualities that made Moyes sign
Fellaini to Everton when the same reasons he brought him to Manchester
United for £27.5m on a five-year contract - the midfielder was Moyes
only signing of the summer window
When
we signed him he was still very young and very slightly built. But he
worked incredibly hard to develop his upper body and gain the strength
you need in the Premier League. In fact, he worked hard at all aspects
of his game, and he became a real asset for us. He could score goals. He
has great energy. He’s a terrific runner and, while he’s not the
quickest player in the Premier League, he will cover as much ground as
anyone.
Moyes and Fellaini embrace after Everton beat Man United in the 2009 FA Cup semi-final on penalties
Technically
he’s very good. He has fantastic chest control, for instance. And he’s
very professional; hard working with a great attitude. He will do
anything you ask and all you’ll ever hear from him is a ‘thank you,
coach’ at the end of a training session. He’s a very quiet lad. If
anything a little shy.
It
was all these qualities that convinced me to bring him to Manchester
United, and he was very excited to come. It was a big move for him.
I
remember his father, a former professional player and a huge influence
on Marouane, being in tears at Carrington on the day we signed him. He
was so proud his son was joining this great football club.
Just
like the first time I signed him, the deal was done right on deadline.
But, of course, he wasn’t meant to be our only signing at United that
summer. He was brought in to compliment the squad and the other players
we were hoping to bring in; to do a certain job in certain games.
Unfortunately
for Marouane, he was the only player we brought in and because of that
he was seen as the big signing. It meant he was under more pressure than
he perhaps should have been. And when the season didn’t start the way
we all wanted it to, he came under a great deal of scrutiny, even if
most of the attention was on me.
I
felt it was unfair that he was having to carry that extra pressure and
expectation, and deal with extra criticism, simply because David Moyes
had signed him.
I
think he’d be the first to admit he maybe didn’t always play as well as
he could have done when he got the chance. But it was a big change for
him, even if he did have previous Premier League experience, and he had
come into a team that wasn’t playing with as much confidence as we would
have liked. I think that affected him as well.
Moyes finalised both deals at United and Everton for Fellaini right on the stroke of the transfer deadline
On their return to Goodison Park with United, posters marking their achievements adorned the stadium
It’s
also true that players can take time to settle at a new club. I
remember people telling me it took Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic a
while. Players who became great players for United.
Marouane
should have been given time too, because he’s now proving what I always
believed; that he can be an important player for United.
I’ve
watched him in the last two games and he has been first class. He’s had
an influence on the games, which is what you look to your bigger
players to do. And I think he’s played an important part in helping
United gain some momentum going into today’s Manchester derby.
There
were times last season, when things were tough, when we spoke. But I
told him then that he would become a top United player if he continued
to work hard.
Fellaini has helped United take some momentum into Sunday's Manchester derby with City
Moyes says Fellaini's last two games have been 'first class' and he's 'proving what I've always believed'
It
was hard when I left, because we had a great relationship and I think
he was upset. I did feel bad, responsible even. I’d convinced him to
come across in the belief that was I going to be there for a long time,
and now suddenly I was leaving. But in football everyone realises these
things can happen, and Marouane knows his job is to deliver for United.
He
can perform several jobs in a team but I think it helps him to have
someone like Daley Blind sitting there in that more defensive midfield
role. At Standard Liege he had Defour or Witsel sitting deeper and
allowing him to get further forward, and at Everton he had players like
Phil Neville.
At
United last season we lacked that kind of midfielder, and while
Marouane has the physical ability to cover the ground he’s definitely
more effective in a game if he’s accompanied by a defensive midfield
player.
So
I’m delighted he’s settled down now and he’s beginning to be
appreciated for what he is; a damn fine footballer who was definitely
worth the effort as well as the money.
BELGIAN FINDING HIS FEET AT OLD TRAFFORD
Marouane
Fellaini suffered the harshest criticism as Manchester United’s form
crumbled last season. But, after a steady World Cup in Brazil and an
injury-hit start to life under Louis van Gaal, the Belgian is looking
the real deal again. He scored a good goal in a decent performance at
West Brom, but topped that with an all-action display against Chelsea,
as shown in his touch map.
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