When two Manchester clubs come calling, you’d think the decision would be agonizing. For Elliot Anderson, it apparently wasn’t.
The 24-year-old midfielder has opened up about why he chose Manchester City over Manchester United in a transfer that cost City a staggering £116 million, roughly $155 million. Anderson completed his move from Nottingham Forest on July 23, signing a five-year contract with an option for an additional year, and wages that could reach £300K per week including bonuses.
A tale of two Manchesters
Manchester United expressed interest in Anderson before the deal was finalized. Anderson’s candid explanation of why he turned them down: he considers City the premier footballing force in Manchester.
United’s reluctance to match Forest’s asking price, initially pegged at around £120 million, reportedly played a role in their withdrawal from the race. City negotiated the fee down to £116 million and got their man. For context, that figure briefly made Anderson the most expensive British player in history, though the record has since been surpassed.
