Manchester United and Man City could both be made to regret one transfer decision
Manchester United and Manchester City have both missed out on a World Cup-winning, tenacious, experienced, successful centre forward.
Jenni Hermoso, Salma Paralluelo and Olga Carmona may have stolen the Women's World Cup headlines, but Esther Gonzalez's contribution to the triumph should not go unnoticed.
The 30-year-old's departure from Real Madrid was confirmed shortly before she left for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, meaning she was a free agent all tournament. In her first World Cup, Gonzalez appeared in five of the seven games, netting only once but regularly providing solid competition for Hermoso, finally able to showcase on the world stage what she has to offer.
And Manchester failed to take note. Remarkable, considering it's no secret that both clubs could do with a lethal striker.
Gonzalez is a menace for defenders with an ability to disrupt opposition momentum. United may be still secretly licking their wounds after the exits of Alessia Russo and Ona Batlle, though they have made some significant signings of their own since.
Their Russo-shaped hole can be filled by the likes of Geyse, Ivana Fuso and Martha Thomas. But none of the aforementioned players are as dogged as Gonzalez, and they don't all bring Champions League experience.
To be fair, former Barcelona star Geyse is top-class and will bring a free-flowing, creative, expressive style. Think of Gonzalez as more of a Disney villain; robust and programmed to win. Both are gifted players and their partnership would have been superb.
The Spaniard is still hungry for success, and I fear she could have brought something to United that they currently lack. If things aren't going quite to plan, United struggle to inject any real energy into the
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