Gabriel Heinze vilified by Manchester United fans for act of 'betrayal' in trying to force move to Liverpool
Gabriel Heinze shared an old team-mates’ embrace with Patrice Evra in the tunnel prior to strolling onto the Stade Velodrome pitch, but they could have been two misbehaving husbands about to sneak back through the front door, awaiting the angry swing of a handbag.
Variety: Gabriel Heinze faced a number of his former Manchester United team-mates as Marseille secured a 0-0 draw against the Premier League leaders Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Mark Ogden 10:41PM GMT 23 Feb 2011
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The two men knew what to expect once they emerged from the steps in the corner of the ground.
Marseille full-back Heinze might have optimistically expressed his hope for a warm reception from the Manchester United supporters who hailed him as a hero before his treacherous attempt to leave for Liverpool in 2007, but
Evra, vilified as the captain of the rebellious French World Cup last summer, had no such misplaced optimism about the reception awaiting him on his first competitive outing in France since the shame of South Africa.
Evra, omitted from the French squad for the friendly against Brazil earlier this month despite serving his five-match suspension for his part in the players’ strike in South Africa, was subjected to piercing jeers from the Marseille supporters whenever he touched the ball.
And Heinze, regularly serenaded with chants of ‘Argentina, Argentina’ at Old Trafford, was taunted with a spiteful rendition of ‘You Scouse B------!’ each time he approached the section housing the 3,500 United fans.
At times, it was two left-backs against the world, but for Heinze at least, that is probably just the way he likes it.
The Argentine’s pre-match admission that his ‘impulsive’ and ‘strong-willed’ nature led him to the acrimonious departure from United in Aug 2007 which he now claims to regret was a rare display of contrition from the 32-year-old. Heinze’s calling card has always been his ferocious competitive streak.
This is the man who shoved a television camera into the face of its operator in South Africa last summer merely because he had collided with it while celebrating an Argentina goal against Mexico.
No wonder Ferguson fought with equal ferocity to prevent Heinze moving to Anfield, a battle the Scotsman won.
Despite their bitter parting, both men spoke warmly of their respect for one another before this game. Ferguson knew that injuries had blunted Heinze’s edge during his three years at United, but the defender’s winning mentality was a prized commodity.
Ferguson’s recollection of Heinze laying down a firm physical marker on his direct opponent at the outset of every fixture was delivered as a compliment and United winger Nani had to wait a mere 14 seconds before being ‘welcomed’ to the game by Heinze with a forceful challenge on the halfway line.
The ageing defender’s questionable position sense and flat-footed movement were the flip-side, however, and Nani benefited from both but was unable to capitalise.
Heinze’s popularity during his three years at Old Trafford was a reflection of the transitional period endured by Ferguson’s for the majority of that time.
Although he was ushered out of the Old Trafford exit door with a Premier League winners’ medal in his pocket earned during the previous season, he had become a fading force at United by that stage, having lost the left-back position to Evra.
It was his first campaign, in 2004-05, when he was voted the club’s Player of the Year by supporters, that embodied Heinze as the spirit of Ferguson’s team when Chelsea’s dominance had relegated United to also-rans.
In good times, flair players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney carry the hopes of fans by sprinkling stardust over silverware, so when an uncompromising left-back emerges as the poster boy, it paints a fairly obvious picture.
During the dark days of Eric Djemba-Djemba and David Bellion, the image of Heinze agriculturally neutralising twinkle-toed wingers was the highlight for most United followers.
Ferguson labelled Heinze as United’s ‘warrior,’ but an ankle injury suffered against Villarreal in Sept 2005 ended his second campaign and visibly blunted his pace when he returned.
The warrior had become a liability. When a defender begins to grapple with forwards and check their runs with shirt tugs and a discreet nudge of the elbow into the ribs, it is often a sure sign of compensation for fading powers.
In contrast to the limitations forced on Heinze by his ankle injury, Evra offered Ferguson athleticism and pace, as well as the tenacity of the South American, so United’s readiness to offload Heinze in the summer of 2007 was hardly a surprise.
His preferred destination was the issue. No player had left Old Trafford for Anfield, or vice versa, since Phil Chisnall in 1964, so by pinning his colours to Liverpool’s mast, Heinze’s actions were viewed as an act of betrayal.
It is one he can expect to be reminded of ay Old Trafford in three weeks’ time.
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