Use pinch of salt in rumour mill

It was foggy last Sunday lunchtime in suburban Madrid, but reporters at Getafe v Rayo Vallecano could still make out the well wrapped-up figure of Phil Neville sitting in the plusher seats directly in front of the press box.

It was not immediately clear what Neville was doing at Getafe’s Coliseum Alfonso Perez, and the Manchester United coach didn’t speak to any of the journalists present. But, by process of elimination mostly, a consensus soon formed that United were interested in signing Saul Niguez, a very promising 19-year-old midfielder/defender on a season-long loan at Rayo from Atletico Madrid.

Saul’s representatives Bahia Internacional were happy to go along with this idea, telling the Daily Telegraph that Atletico was “a selling club” but admitted no actual contact had been made. These reports were soon quickly picked up by the Madrid media with Marca talking up a possible big money move by lunchtime on Monday.