Manchester United deal for Fabio Coentrao off because paperwork wasn't completed in time
PLUS: The Red Devils send Nick Powell out on loan to Wigan for some Championship (and Europa League) experience
Elisa Estrada
Manchester United have failed in a bid to take Real Madrid left-back
Fabio Coentrao on a season-long loan - compounding the pain of missing
out on Leighton Baines and Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrera.
United boss David Moyes had hoped to pull off a major coup by capturing Portugal international Coentrao at the 11th hour, but the paperwork was apparently not completed in time and the player will remain at the Spanish giants.
The news will be greeted with dismay by United fans, who have been less than impressed with the club's dealings during the window.
And it leaves Moyes in the tricky position of needing to explain to Patrice Evra why he felt another left-back was required.
One theory was that Coentrao would have operated at left-back, with Evra in a more advanced role, which he played during his early years as a professional.
Nevertheless, Evra's form last season and the early weeks of the current one was not that of a man who needed replacing.
Now the France star will remain in his favoured role, with Alex Buttner also set to stay at Old Trafford as his deputy following talks over loan deals with both Besiktas and Celtic.
Coentrao has yet to make a La Liga appearance for Real this season and was keen to move following the summer departure of former Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, who brought his compatriot to the Bernabeu in 2011.
The 25-year-old Coentrao, who has 36 caps for Portugal, would have provided competition for United's first-choice left-back Patrice Evra.
Manchester United’s Nick Powell signed for Wigan in a rush on Monday night – to make sure he can play in Europe.
United boss David Moyes had hoped to pull off a major coup by capturing Portugal international Coentrao at the 11th hour, but the paperwork was apparently not completed in time and the player will remain at the Spanish giants.
The news will be greeted with dismay by United fans, who have been less than impressed with the club's dealings during the window.
And it leaves Moyes in the tricky position of needing to explain to Patrice Evra why he felt another left-back was required.
One theory was that Coentrao would have operated at left-back, with Evra in a more advanced role, which he played during his early years as a professional.
Nevertheless, Evra's form last season and the early weeks of the current one was not that of a man who needed replacing.
Now the France star will remain in his favoured role, with Alex Buttner also set to stay at Old Trafford as his deputy following talks over loan deals with both Besiktas and Celtic.
Coentrao has yet to make a La Liga appearance for Real this season and was keen to move following the summer departure of former Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, who brought his compatriot to the Bernabeu in 2011.
The 25-year-old Coentrao, who has 36 caps for Portugal, would have provided competition for United's first-choice left-back Patrice Evra.
Manchester United’s Nick Powell signed for Wigan in a rush on Monday night – to make sure he can play in Europe.
Midfielder Powell, 19, has been wanted by Owen Coyle all summer and he got the nod to take the England Under-21 on loan.
But the Latics had to move fast to register him for the Europa League.
Just for fun, here's a video of Fabio Coentrao going to the bench and then being told he wasn't among the substitutes:
Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-united-deal-fabio-coentrao-2246665#ixzz2doMLzH00
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