In the summer many people wondered why Sir Alex Ferguson signed a young Frenchman by the name of Gabriel Obertan from Bordeaux. Despite the somewhat surprising nature of the transfer, a £3 million fee looks like a very good deal considering the start he has had to his Manchester United career.
When he arrived at Old Trafford… who? was the most obvious answer when his name was mentioned. But when he first arrived it took a while to make an impact as he was suffering from as spinal injury that kept him out for three months. But the wait was worth it, a couple of successful outings in the reserves primed Obertan for an assault on the first team.
His senior debut came in the club’s 2–0 away win over Barnsley in the League Cup fourth round. An impressive performance followed with his Premier League debut on 31 October 2009, coming on as a substitute in the 2–0 win over Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford. Impressing once more with his awareness to let Anderson take control of a ball, which subsequently led to a goal.
Pundits and experts alike were quick to praise the youngster but it must not be forgotten he spent the season prior to signing for Manchester United with one of Ligue 1’s smaller teams, FC Lorient and failed to make an impact.
But with a number of excellent performances for Bordeaux, it is surprising they let him leave for such a low price. In the summer he was awarded the Most Valuable Player award at the Toulon International Youth Tournament after a series of stunning performances for France.
His transfer even came as a surprise to Bordeaux boss Laurent Blanc, who said, “I was surprised too, but it is an unexpected chance for him to play with one of the best clubs in the world”.
He can play on either wing or as a striker, some have compared him to Thierry Henry but he is set on proving himself at the world’s biggest club, “This is a big opportunity for me to play at such a great club. I am very excited to be here and I look forward to proving what I can do.”
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