Deadline Day Funny Story

source

Today is deadline day for most clubs around Europe where they buy and sell players. Most of the players want to go as it is an improvement on salary and it also shows their value that someone actually wants them. Clubs spend a small fortune, but can also make a ton of money if they buy correctly.

This is a true story about a player playing for Portsmouth in the Premiership in the 2007/8 season under the manager Harry Redknapp. On the last day for signings Manchester City put an offer in for Benjani Mwaruwari who was a striker with Portsmouth. As Harry put it he wasn't very good but a nice lad who could bring down planes with his wayward shots at goal.

He had a fairly decent season up until then but was really erratic and not someone you could rely on for a steady stream of goals. The one goal he scored came off the back of his shoulder and was totally unintentional and a fluke. Sven Goran Erikson was the City manager at the time and wanted Benjani offering £9.5 Million for the player.
<center
source
This was a lot of money for a small club like Portsmouth and Harry knew the player was overvalued by City so a deal had to be done. Harry needed to get rid of him quickly making sure the deal happened and called Benjani in to the office. The problem was Benjani was happy where he was and wasn't interested in leaving the club.

After much persuasion with the clock ticking Benjani agreed to fly to Manchester and was dropped off at the airport so he could go and complete the paperwork and become a City player. Many hours later Sven phoned Harry saying where is Benjani as no one had seen him yet. Harry was concerned as this was a good deal for the club so rushed up to the airport to double check and found Benjani still sitting in the terminal.

He really didn't want to go and had purposefully missed two flights already. Harry said he had to basically drag him onto the plane making sure he would make the deadline and become a City player. This is just how some of the things that happen behind the scenes that we don't know about and bring a reality of what the deals done mean to the smaller clubs. Back in those days harry could purchase 2 or 3 players from the money he was being offered for one that wasn't really that good.

I just like the story and find it amusing that one manager thinks he has a dud and the other one thinks he may be getting a rough diamond that needs a little polishing in order to be a super star. If it is not your money you don't mind gambling and according to Harry this was a massive gamble taken by Manchester City.