Ryan Giggs and Phil Bardsley’s £100m Pitch to Elliot Anderson

Ryan Giggs standing on a sun‑drenched fairway in Portugal, trying to hijack a £100m transfer with a quiet word. That is how close Manchester United came to changing the course of Elliot Anderson’s career – and perhaps the balance of power in their city.

The United legend and former Old Trafford full-back Phil Bardsley made a late, personal pitch to the England midfielder earlier this summer, hoping to steer him towards the red side of Manchester and away from a record-breaking move to the Etihad.

They failed.

Giggs, Bardsley and a £100m conversation

Bardsley lifted the lid on the chance encounter, recalling how the pair spotted Anderson on the golf course and moved quickly.

"I was in Portugal earlier in the summer playing golf with Giggs and we saw Anderson on the golf course and had a chat with him to try and persuade him to join United," Bardsley told Casinolyze.

At that point, Anderson was still weighing up his options. United were in the race, City were pushing hard, and Nottingham Forest knew they held one of the most coveted midfielders in Europe. The price kept climbing. United’s enthusiasm did not.

"He was still unsure what he wanted to do but north of £100m for a defensive midfielder like him?" Bardsley said. "If I’m spending that money, I want a player who will add 30-40 goals to my team a season. That’s what I’m looking for at that fee. That’s value for money."

United’s hierarchy clearly agreed. Once Forest’s demands moved past the £100m mark, they walked away, leaving City with a clear run at a player who had just starred for Thomas Tuchel’s England at the 2026 World Cup.

City’s new “king” and United’s rethink

Anderson’s move from Forest briefly made him the most expensive British player in history. He wasted no time stoking the rivalry, calling Manchester City the "kings of Manchester" during his first appearance for the club.

For United supporters, that line will sting. Not just because of the price tag or the destination, but because one of their greatest ever players had tried, in person, to pull him in the opposite direction.

With the deal slipping away and the numbers spiralling, Michael Carrick pivoted. United turned to different profiles, different price brackets. Chelsea’s Andrey Santos arrived. So did Aston Villa captain Youri Tielemans, a seasoned Premier League operator with medals to back up his reputation.

Bardsley believes that is where the real value lies.

"Signing Youri Tielemans for £35m is a great bit of business. He is a proven Premier League player, he can deliver and he’s won trophies," he said, underlining the contrast between United’s measured outlay and City’s headline-grabbing splash.

Value, risk and the new midfield market

The Anderson fee has become a lightning rod in the debate over modern transfer valuations, particularly for midfielders who do their best work away from the spotlight of goals and assists.

"I think Manchester City and Tottenham certainly overpaid for Anderson and Sandro Tonali," Bardsley added. "I knew it was getting to a stage with Elliot where he’d be £100m plus and I just didn’t feel comfortable about going to that sort of price for him as a player. Listen, he’s outstanding. I really like him."

That last line matters. This is not a question of talent. Anderson’s performances for club and country have already marked him out as one of the most complete midfielders of his generation. It is a question of what £100m is supposed to buy – and whether a deep-lying midfielder can ever be judged by the same metrics as a forward expected to score 30 or 40 goals a season.

City have answered that question emphatically. They see Anderson as a cornerstone, not a luxury.

Anderson’s choice and City’s new era

Despite the flirtation with United, Anderson’s mind was set once City made their move. Fresh from his breakout World Cup under Tuchel, he wanted the biggest possible stage and the strongest supporting cast.

"Once I knew City wanted me, I was absolutely determined to make this move happen," Anderson said after signing a five-year deal. "You want to test yourself at the highest level. Being at City means I have that opportunity."

The rise has been rapid. From Forest to a British-record fee and a place at the heart of the champions’ midfield, all in a blur.

"It’s happened quite quickly, but I think I always believed I could get to this point, and this is where I want to be," he added, underlining the ambition that has driven him to the Etihad.

For City, the timing is crucial. This is a club stepping into life after Pep Guardiola, with Enzo Maresca charged with sustaining domestic dominance while reshaping the squad in his own image. Anderson is the first major signing of the Italian’s reign, the first big statement that the project will not slow just because the architect has changed.

Maresca, fresh from his stint at Chelsea, inherits a dressing room used to winning and a fanbase that expects nothing less. Anderson arrives with glowing references from former colleagues and the kind of tactical intelligence that should fit seamlessly into City’s intricate patterns.

The first tests come quickly. Arsenal await in the Community Shield next weekend, then Bournemouth visit the Etihad as City begin their Premier League title defence.

United, meanwhile, will watch a midfielder they once courted try to extend their rivals’ rule over the city he has already crowned "kings of Manchester". The question now is simple: did they dodge an inflated fee, or just let the next era of City’s dominance walk straight past them on a golf course in Portugal?