Reports from Cardiff today have confirmed that Manchester United boss has pipped Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger, to secure the signing of the talented young 17 year old Cardiff City defender Adam Matthews.
The story evokes memories of the last time the club were in a tussle for one of Cardiff’s talented youngsters, midfielder Aaron Ramsey, and that time it was Arsene Wenger who persuaded the youngster to snub Old Trafford and come to the Emirates stadium instead. Barely a couple of years later it seems that Sir Alex Ferguson is set to get his revenge by snapping up the youngster on a lucrative long term contract and for an initial payment of £5m to Cardiff, with further payments to follow for Cardiff as and when Matthews progresses through the ranks at Old Trafford.
Matthews was only promoted from the reputed Cardiff youth academy and into the Bluebirds first team in January 2009 and while he only trained with the first team squad for the rest of the season, only making the bench for the first time in April 2009 for a game with Charlton Athletic, he went on to make his league debut for the club at the start of the 2009 10 season in a 1 1 draw with Blackpool on 15th August. Since then, his performances have shown a maturity and consistency beyond his years and have seen him oust first choice right back, Scottish international Kevin McNaughton, from the first team.
His performances for Cardiff also caught the eye of Wales manager John Toshack who called him up into the senior squad for the first time in the recent friendly with Scotland, although Matthews didn’t earn his first cap that weekend, it is only a matter of time before he does as he is already a regular in the Wales U17 and U19 teams and has already played a game for the U21 side, despite being just 17.
His signing will be a useful boost to United in a position where they perhaps do need to strengthen. While Brazilian youngster Rafael has impressed at right back, Gary Neville is coming towards the end of his career and while the likes of Wes Brown, Johnny Evans and John O’Shea have done a sterling job at right back at times, none of them would be truly classified as a natural right full back and while Rafael is probably the incumbent to inherit Gary Neville’s mantle as the first choice right back in the squad, Matthews will be a young, able and talented back up to the Brazilian, if he cannot improve the defensive deficiencies that have shown up in his game from time to time.
In addition, Sir Alex Ferguson will be delighted to have finally got one back at Arsene Wenger, who is now believed to have given up any hope of securing a deal for Matthews to bring him to Highbury.
The £5m deal will be completed upon the opening of the transfer window in January and it is possible that Matthews may well be loaned back to Cardiff for the remainder of the season for him to gain further experience in the Championship with the Bluebirds.
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