The call from Manchester Uniteds director of womens football Matt Johnson came to Jess Parks agent late on Tuesday night.
Manchester United had rejected several offers from City for fellow Lioness Grace Clinton but when the prospect of signing Park came about, negotiations regarding Clintons future turned a corner. United were steadfast in their position stating they would turn down monetary offers for Clinton unless it involved 23-year-old Park.
The two transfers were conducted as separate deals, both for undisclosed fees as both players had a year left on their contract. However, City paid more for Clinton than United did for Park, meaning United came out with a profit. In effect, it resembled a swap deal, with City paying United a sum.
City were reluctant to let her go but Parks deal moved very quickly and United made her feel valued, making her one of the highest paid players in the womens team. Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount introduced themselves to her as the deal was finalised on Wednesday. After eight years, she called leaving City her hardest decision but ultimately wanted more game time.
Clinton, on social media, described her decision to leave United as difficult because of the love for her team-mates and the fans but said she was not on the same page as the clubs future. Head coach Marc Skinner disagreed that it was a failure to keep her.
The next step is about growth, wrote Clinton. I want to continue to develop and learn.
Her statement pointing to her thirst for development suggested United did not provide the tools she needed to maximise her potential, a point Skinner refuted. Its an incredible place for players to develop, he said, citing Parks willingness to move as an example.
Clinton has decided to join a direct rival even though City will not be competing in the Champions League this season. Many fans will be disappointed United were unable to persuade the 22-year-old to stay.
On the other hand, United have learnt from past mistakes. Having previously allowed Alessia Russo, Ona Batlle and Mary Earps to run their contracts into the final stages a situation the club say was unsettling for the squad United were determined not to make the same error.
If people dont want to be here, we have to make sure we find the best solution for Manchester United, said Skinner on Friday. We have to move forward with the players that want to be 100 per cent at Manchester United and (with Clinton) that wasnt the case.
Clinton was under contract with United until 2026 after they triggered a one-year extension option. The club say she rejected the offer of a new deal, it was clear the player wanted to leave and they allowed her to do so, satisfied they had enough depth in midfield.
Before Park came in, United had signed just two players, albeit two highly experienced Champions League individuals in Swedens Julia Zigiotti Olme and Fridolina Rolfo.
Whereas last years strategy was to bring in, according to Skinner, young and hungry players, United wanted to add more experience.
There is no doubting Rolfos pedigree, a two-time Champions League winner with Barcelona. Standing at 5ft 10in (1.78m), Rolfos main strengths are her height and power. Skinner wanted a natural left-footer who could invade space instead of a right-footed player like Celin Bizet having to invert.
Rolfos contract was due to expire next year but her contract was terminated early amid Barcelonas financial struggles, leaving her a free agent. Barcelonas decision was not a sporting one but based on cutting wages. United took advantage of the situation, signing Rolfo on a free transfer. They would not have been able to pay a fee for the Sweden international.
It was a significant coup. Skinner believes a club like Manchester United should be attracting players of Rolfos calibre. She had many suitors so I think it shows a lot about where she thinks we can get to, he told The Athletic after the pre-season Liverpool game which they drew 2-2.
Rolfo turns 32 in November and, although she played as a front-footed left-back with licence to get forward at Barcelona, at United she will most likely compete with 30-year-old Leah Galton on the wing. If United were looking long-term, they would have signed a younger profile. She had an injury going into the European Championship and has been brought back slowly. Rolfo will miss the WSL opener against Leicester City on Sunday but is due back either against Brann in the Champions League midweek or London City Lionesses next weekend.
Zigiotti Olme was one of Swedens standout players at this summers Euros. With Ella Toone or Park in the No 10 role, the former Bayern Munich player will add balance in a double pivot alongside Hinata Miyazawa allowing United more control in midfield. The 27-year-old is technical, strong in duels, has a great engine to move up and down the pitch, a good ball progresser and reader of the game. Rolfo will grab the headlines but Zigiotti Olme will be crucial to Uniteds success.
The club say they are very pleased with their business, maintaining they have balanced savvy investment with disciplined budgeting, allowing the womens teams sustainable development.
But it was a quiet transfer window for United, especially given their involvement in European football. Their bench is thin and Skinner knows it. He would have liked to have recruited two more players, one at right-back and one in the forward line, but they could not get deals over the line. Skinner said that was down to people moving their prices and player availability.
We have to be active in the winter window, he said on Friday, while in pre-season he said: The club is aware we need the depth when you go into European competitionWhen youve got direct competition, you raise your game. The forward line needs refreshing.
To back up Elisabeth Terland in the No 9 position United have 37-year-old Rachel Williams who will miss this weekends game against Leicester because of injury. She signed a one-year contract extension in the summer. Given Galton is injured too, Melvine Malard or Bizet will likely play on the left leaving a lack of cover on the right as Geyse was loaned to Gotham FC but Park, although most comfortable in the No 10 role, could play on the wing and come inside.
We have enough in the front line to adapt and cover the two games per week, hopefully, said Skinner on Friday.
As for cover at right-back, they never replaced Aoife Mannion and although Bizet, Maya Le Tissier and Hannah Blundell could play there if desperate, that would leave gaps elsewhere. Blundell is a couple of months away from returning to match fitness following her pregnancy.
Skinner described the transfer window as crazy. Once again the parameters in the womens game shifted. Arsenal made Olivia Smith the most expensive signing in womens football, breaking the £1million ($1.34m) mark, only for Lizbeth Ovalle to break it a month later, moving from Mexican side Tigres to NWSLs Orlando Pride for £1.1m ($1.5m). That caused inflation in the transfer market and players valuations soared.
Skinner said United were not in that realm to spend such fees. When asked why not when the club have spent more than £200m in the mens transfer window, Skinner said: I have a team I have to win with. I have to not make excuses Im not going to say Im frustrated but at Manchester United, I have the most pressured job in the country, I dont care what anybody says. The players need sustainability and they need consistency, and thats how I lead. Would I like to spend £5m? Of course I would, but its just not realistic.
He understood fans frustration because of the ever-changing landscape. We need to look at what is the right amount of investment to make sure our team stays competitive and wins, he said.
Whereas clubs are investing in their womens team, United are taking a more sustainable, or restrained, approach, depending on how you look at it.
According to the latest set of accounts from the 2023-2024 season, Uniteds total expenditure was the lowest (£9m) among their relevant peers, dwarfed by Chelsea (£20.2m), Arsenal (£15.4m) and Manchester City (£10.1m). But United made a £0.4m profit pre-financing costs and tax, while at the same level Arsenal broke even, City lost £3.2m and Chelsea lost £8.4m.
The concern is if United do not invest now for the long-term they will be left behind.
Pre-season was smoother compared to last years disruption when the womens team had to move out of their building to make way for the mens team. They have now returned permanently to their building which has been upgraded further with expanded gym space, an enlarged and modernised dressing room, a mother and baby room for Blundell, a refreshed player games room including a table tennis table and womens team specific imagery and messages, replacing mens team branding.
The team enjoyed their usual summer training camp to Marbella and started the season with wins in the Champions League second qualifying round against PSV (4-0) and Hammarby (1-0), although those results were tainted by the fact the club chose, for performance and financial sustainability reasons, not to charter a plane home from Sweden.
There has been a high staff turnover with nine members of the womens team leaving for different reasons. The club see the staff departures as a testament to their quality some have taken more senior positions at different clubs though it raises questions about why so many have left.
Goalkeeping coach Ian Willcock, who has been with United since their inception in 2018, left for the Canada national team, reuniting with former United manager Casey Stoney. He has been replaced by Joe Potts who was at Liverpool women for four years.
Skinners assistant Charlotte Healy left after six years at the club to become head coach of Bristol City womens team. Dan Bale, who has known Skinner for a long time, joined in November 2023 and Carl Green, who worked with Skinner at Orlando Pride and Birmingham City, remain as first-team assistants.
The Athletic reported last month head of recruitment Harvey Bussell is set to leave for National Womens Soccer League side Utah Royals and analyst Lawrence Shamieh will return to Tottenham Hotspur, reunited with former United assistant and now new Spurs head coach Martin Ho. Staff and players regarded Shamieh very highly and he is a big loss to Skinners team. Analyst Mollie Derhun is also due to leave.
Physio Ash Pracy departs while head of womens physio Amy Cranston is also taking maternity leave on a temporary basis. After six seasons at United spanning the mens team, the academy, and most recently three years with the womens team kit manager Jon Humble has left to take up the same role at Liverpool.
The clubs overall player wellbeing programme manager and womens teams interim performance wellbeing lead Abby Carrington has joined the Premier League while performance nutritionist Jodie Redgrave has moved to Chelsea and has been replaced by Hanna Zouggari.
Matt Johnson, former director of operations at the clubs foundation, who held the role of interim head of womens football after Polly Bancrofts in May 2024, was finally appointed as permanent director of womens football. In addition to the mens side, Matt Hargreaves, the clubs director of football negotiations, also significantly supports recruitment in the womens team.
One person, with knowledge of the situation, who like other sources in the article spoke anonymously to protect relations, told The Athletic: It affects the players. If all the staff around the team are leaving, it will affect them.
Were doing a lot of work behind the scenes, said Skinner in pre-season. Sometimes change and fresh ideas are excellent for progression.
Given the ownership has consistently stated the mens team is the priority, the womens team, apart from budgets and executive decision-making, has been largely left to its own devices. On the one hand, they can crack on without the same level of scrutiny the mens side endure.
On the other hand, according to sources familiar with the matter, there is a lack of oversight and accountability regarding areas such as, but not limited to, staff and player recruitment, quality of coaching, day to day operations and long term-planning.
Asked what Skinner-ball looks like, he said: Our fans just want that invasion, a mixed style with absolute intensity and invasion. Then Ill be happy.
The tight-knit group of players is their biggest strength. Given their stature, facilities and squad, this team is a rough diamond waiting to be polished. United have always just about had a squad decent enough to cope with whatever adversity comes their way but they will be tested more than ever this season.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Manchester United, Soccer, Sports Business, Women’s Soccer
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