Man Utd files: Red Devils launch influencer crackdown after Ryan Giggs’ attempt to land £116m transfer target

EXPECT ELLIOT Anderson to get some stick on his Manchester derby debut at Old Trafford on Sunday. Anderson, of course, billed City as the “Kings of Manchester” in his unveiling interview in July, having dismissed interest from United. Anderson joined City in July Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Anderson was United’s ideal midfield target Credit: Reuters United claimed that they walked away from a deal as Anderson’s valuation was too steep. Only it was common knowledge for months that Anderson’s preference was City. Ryan Giggs, who seems to have teamed up with Rio Ferdinand in the latest ex-pros’ podcast double act, admitted he “peppered” Anderson about the prospect of joining United during a round of golf on holiday in May. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! Although Anderson ended up at City for £116million, sources familiar with the negotiations say it was much higher with the agents’ fees factored in. Figures involved in the deal bragged about the commission they were set to pocket weeks before the deal was concluded. United believe Anderson was keener to join them than everyone thought but that may well have been face-saving. CARR SERVICE It was well past 11pm by the time Michael Carrick turned up for his post-match press conference after United beat Sabah in the Champions League. Carrick passes through the directors’ lounge en route to his final media engagement and he lingered a little longer on Thursday night. The United head coach’s wife, Lisa, son Jacey and daughter Louise were all in attendance and Carrick spent a few moments with them. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK United and City executives were on the same flight back from the Champions League draw in Monaco last month. PLANE SAILING Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox had both left City by the time Hugo Viana was installed as former DoF Txiki Begiristain’s replacement. In the Etihad directors’ box for last year’s derby, Berrada, Wilcox, director of communications Toby Craig and performance director Sam Erith were all sat next to each other. The quartet were all colleagues at City. BOARD CONTROL JJ Gabriel had another week to savour. Before his Uefa Youth League hat-trick on Thursday, his image was affixed to the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year plaque at Carrington. We rarely venture to the Jimmy Murphy Centre, which used to host press conferences, since United opened their new £50m hub last year, but media members congregated there ahead of open training on Wednesday. Gabriel’s face adorns the Jimmy Murphy plaque Charmingly, Gabriel and his agent shared the picture that The Sun took of his latest recognition on his Instagram account. NO CAM DO United have clamped down on access and accreditation passes for non-media members for their Champions League games. The club used to casually allow fans with cameras into their Carrington training complex for open training and press conferences, while accreditation passes were also often granted for home and away Uefa games. But there was no sign of any influencer-style figures or unqualified individuals at United for this week’s Champions League opener against Sabah. During the Europa League round-of-16 tie against Linz in March 2020, a United press officer actually egged on an accredited influencer as he sang songs in the press box. The game was played behind closed doors in United’s final fixture before the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown. Some United supporters who had made the trip were lingering outside the stadium. A supporters’ group complained about the preferential treatment afforded the influencer types. Carrick addresses journalists on Wednesday Credit: Getty Carrick at his post-match press conference on Thursday Credit: Getty TOUT OF ORDER United released the outcome of their ticket-touting clampdown on Friday. The club revealed that 468 cases were resolved after supporters provided relevant information that proved they were not guilty of touting and no further action was taken. 206 accounts received a final warning where “misuse was identified beyond simply sharing account details, but we were satisfied it wasn’t done for financial gain”, United said. 499 cases resulted in a season ticket ban for at least one season. 73 cases resulted in a season ticket ban that was not appealed. 113 season tickets were banned after repeated requests for information received no – response. CAM DO Young United midfielder Jaume Camacho-Sidos attained a perfect set of 9 Grade 9s in his GCSEs. Camacho-Sidos, 16, was born in Spain but raised in Abu Dhabi before he moved to England and joined the United academy. He is represented by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation group. Comment now