57: Christopher Samba, Blackburn Rovers, Topps Match Attax Trading Card Game, 2009/10

Today Mat Jolin-Beech delves into the world of transfer rumours and how the desire for strength in depth at the bigger clubs can lead to some intriguing transactions. We also get some peak Harry Redknapp for good measure so time to wind down the Range Rover window and see what Mat has to say.

As a Manchester United fan, I am used to transfer rumours flying around. Saga after saga, strange rumours, surprise deals and whispers that seem made up. The recent transfer window saw all of these. Saga = Sancho Strange rumour = Brooks Surprise deal = Cavani. Made up = A Ronaldo return (this is bubbling under now).

But go back a few years, a few too many as it goes, back to the Ferguson era and a time where we were not a ridiculous outfit run by a banker and a PE teacher – to 2011/12. Ferdinand and Vidic were still in their pomp. Trophies a regular occurrence at Old Trafford. That defensive wall in front of De Gea was going great guns. But then that wall was cracked. Vidic suffered a knee injury ruling him out for the season.

With the transfer window open, and a defensive crisis leaving only Ferdinand and Jonny Evans as fit centre back options, a swoop into the transfer market was likely. At the time, Blackburn Rovers were a decent Premier League outfit, and one United had recently raided for the future Duncan Edwards - one Phil Jones. That ended well. 

Some stellar performances over recent seasons saw the man mountain Christopher Samba rise to prominence, his strong physical stature proving a rock at the back at Ewood Park. But all was not well for the Rovers. Samba wanted to move. Perhaps knowing he was on the cusp of a big money move and a chance to go higher up the footballing pyramid to one of the top tables in world football he demanded a transfer citing the old adage of “needing a new challenge”.

However, for the powerful Congolese international, Fergie was not desperate enough to splurge 10 million big ones on him. He knew returns from injury for the future of the United defence of Smalling and Jones would come soon enough. So, Samba burned his bridges. He was stripped of the captaincy and never played for Blackburn Rovers again. The only hope he had was a bid from Queen’s Park Rangers – but this was rejected as below Rovers’ asking price.  A move in February 2012 came and he set off to the heady heights of the Russian league with a rumoured £12.2m switch to Anzhi Makhachkala. A cool £100k a week must have helped as well. After less than a year in Russia, and some appalling racism in the form of a banana being thrown at him, Samba was back in England.

Harry Redknapp finally got his “monster” defender to join his Football Manager 2009 squad in his 2013 QPR team. I think all footballers in this period had a stint at QPR. Could you even call yourself a professional if you didn’t? His career then looked to be ending in journeyman style, with stints back at Anzhi, Dynamo Moscow and Panathinaikos, when his contract was dissolved by mutual consent at the latter.

Amazingly, he reappeared in 2017 at Aston Villa, following a failed trial with Crystal Palace. 14 games later, and he finally retired. For a man rumoured to be so close to the top of the modern game, he ended up having a decent journeyman career, but not one that lit up the annals of history. I’m sure his bank manager was happy though.

As a United fan, I’m glad Samba didn’t arrive and that the potential of England greats Smalling and Jones was allowed to flourish and lead us into a new era of trophy laden success. Oh.