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Man Utd: Pundit accuses Ed Woodward of lying about transfers
Rewind back to 2018, and Tottenham were eyeing a Manchester United double swoop. Both Juan Mata and Anthony Martial were targets for the north London giants, who were managed by Mauricio Pochettino at the time. And Ed Woodward found dealing with Spurs uncomfortable, though both players would end up remaining at Old Trafford.
Manchester United lock horns with Tottenham in their Premier League clash on Wednesday night.
And it promises to be a blockbuster occasion at Old Trafford, with both teams looking to progress as they look to achieve their objectives this term.
Over the years, the two clubs have had an easy relationship - with that the case ever since Tottenham were furiously forced into selling Dimitar Berbatov to the Red Devils back in the summer transfer window of 2008.
Yet, despite that, Tottenham tried to raid their Premier League rivals a decade later with Mata and Martial both players of interest.
Mata, though a popular figure at United, was never really a true regular under Jose Mourinho - who had previously sold the Spain international at Chelsea.
Man Utd transfer news: Ed Woodward hated dealing with Tottenham (Image: GETTY)
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And Martial wasn’t to his liking, with the Portuguese believing the forward was too mentally fragile to survive in his side.
According to the Manchester Evening News last year, Woodward was rocked when Tottenham called up to enquire about the pair.
The United chief always found dealing with Levy to be difficult and problematic, having missed out on raids of his own during his spell at Old Trafford.
At the time, the Red Devils were trying - without success - to acquire the services of Toby Alderweireld.
And they’d previously missed out on Harry Kane and Eric Dier, too, with both players of interest to Woodward due to their talent and potential.
Woodward’s heart sunk when Tottenham then came calling for Mata and Martial but, fortunately for him, United were able to hold firm.
Mata would end up staying at the club until this summer, with the veteran then proceeding to join Turkish giants Galatasaray.
And Martial is now a key player for Erik ten Hag, having netted three times already this term.
United will go into the game with Tottenham looking for a third straight win over their rivals, who sit seven points above them in the table having picked up 23 points from their opening 10 matches.
The Red Devils won 3-1 in April 2021, with Fred, Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood all on target.
Man Utd transfer news: Relations with Tottenham have been poor since Dimitar Berbatov joined in 2008 (Image: GETTY)
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"We miss him when he's not available," Ten Hag told Viaplay.
"But we have a squad and another 11 players on the pitch.
“So then we have to construct another team and we can bring players from the bench, who are all good.
"I can't tell [if he will face Spurs]. I know you're from Denmark, and want to know, and I want to express he's played fantastic, in this moment, for us.
“In our team, he really contributes to what we are at this moment. I don't know if he will be available for Wednesday but I hope [so], of course."
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