Rarely can the closing days of the transfer deadline have been so heavily impacted by a player moving on a free transfer. It bucks all the trends – just think back to January, when Chelsea splashed £50M on Fernando Torres and Liverpool swooped for £35M man Andy Carroll. But, as other more lucrative deals proved to be mere rumours, it was Owen Hargreaves’ surprise move to Manchester City in a one-year deal that grabbed major attention as the summer transfer window closed.
The shock around English football came in part from the fact that City, having beaten Tottenham 5-1 at the weekend and with all their riches, were interested in Hargreaves. By all accounts, their summer spending was finished and there was already plenty of competition for places. For Hargreaves, though, it was major upgrade, with previous rumours linking the former England international with a move to West Brom.
The other eyebrow- raising element was whether or not Hargreaves, who has been struck down by an injury jinx since 2008, could possibly return to the form that made him a key cog for Manchester United and England – or even somewhere close to that form. He missed so much football while at Old Trafford, managing just 39 appearances in all competitions despite arriving back in the summer of 2007. That means a lot of ground to make up if he is to compete at the highest level.
And this is the lingering doubt. Former team-mate Wayne Rooney, no less, questioned these prospects, admitting it would be "difficult for him" while also wishing him well. The range of injuries is well documented, starting with the persistent tendonitis in his knees and continuing with the hamstring problem that derailed his latest comeback attempt early in November last year. Hargreaves, himself, must have doubts over how his body will hold up.
However, for City, it is a gamble worth taking. Boss Roberto Mancini is already blessed with midfield options and has nothing to lose by rolling the dice on the Canadian-born midfielder. If Hargreaves struggles to regain full fitness, City will plough on with Nigel de Jong, Gareth Barry and Yaya Toure occupying central midfield berths – hardly a major setback.
But if Hargreaves has luck on his side and can prove he is the player of 2006-2008, he will be the bargain of the season. It is a big "if" yet his medical at City clearly gave Mancini reason to be optimistic. A healthy Hargreaves, who is now 30, would likely displace Barry in the first choice line-up and form a devastating defensive shield alongside De Jong. Even in a limited role, he would add value.
Given the extent of his layoff, it is easy to forget the quality of Hargreaves’ resume. Two Champions League winners’ medals – with Bayern Munich in 2001 and United in 2008 – puts him in elite company, while league titles in Germany and England adds to the sense that Hargreaves is a winner.
Voted England’s Player of the Tournament at the 2006 World Cup, he quickly became one of the team’s most valuable performers, banishing the months of criticism that had preceded the tournament. Playing in Germany with few English fans monitoring his progress first hand, he was an easy target. That World Cup run changed all that.
And if that player can be resurrected at City, the rest of the league will be cursing themselves for missing the chance to make the deal. Of course, not every club has the margin for error to take a chance on Hargreaves but City’s fortunes allow them that luxury. If the midfielder picks up further injuries, it will not harm the team’s title aspirations.
Of course, moving across Manchester makes Hargreaves public enemy number one at Old Trafford and he can expect a noisy reception when he returns in a sky blue shirt. But if he stays fit he could become an unexpected hero in City’s trophy surge – and that would further justify all the spotlight on Hargreaves’ move this week.
