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5 things Manchester United fans should know after missing out on Renato Sanches

By Rucker Haringey

Benfica's midfielder Renato Sanches vies with Braga's midfielder Rafa Silva during the Portuguese League football match SL Benfica v SC Braga at Luz stadium in Lisbon on April 1, 2016. Benfica wins 5-1. ( Photo by Pedro Fiúza/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Benfica's midfielder Renato Sanches vies with Braga's midfielder Rafa Silva during the Portuguese League football match SL Benfica v SC Braga at Luz stadium in Lisbon on April 1, 2016. Benfica wins 5-1. ( Photo by Pedro Fiúza/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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Portuguese football manager Jorge Mendes stands in front of the press during the release of the book ‘The Special Agent’ written by Miguel Cuesta and Jonathan Sanchez in Lisbon on February 2, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA (Photo credit should read PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images)
Portuguese football manager Jorge Mendes stands in front of the press during the release of the book ‘The Special Agent’ written by Miguel Cuesta and Jonathan Sanchez in Lisbon on February 2, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA (Photo credit should read PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images) /

1. Jorge Mendes is not their friend

United fans shouldn’t have to be told that one of the world’s foremost football agents isn’t going to give them special treatment, but inexplicably it seems to be necessary for a large portion of their fan base. Jorge Mendes is only looking out for himself and his clients. He doesn’t care about United above any other club.

Well perhaps he likes them more than clubs with less financial resources, but it’s not an emotional connection. He wants to get the best deal for his clients whenever he can. That’s almost always going to mean finding the biggest buyer for the player or manager he represents.

Sure, the idea of Mendes helping United seemed reasonable when Mourinho and Sanches were potentially going to be a package deal, but that was only going to be a marriage of convenience. In other words, Mendes would have supported that because it would have been best for his two clients. He wasn’t going to orchestrate a package deal out of some sort of romantic love for United.

Related Story: Jose Mourinho should halt Manchester United negotiations

The real lesson for United in all of this, is that they aren’t nearly as special as their fans believe. They have some slight advantages due to their history, and financial resources, but otherwise they’re just like every other club. Perhaps they should start acting like that if they want to produce like a world-class power once again.

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