THE majority of the Manchester United fans I know have resigned themselves to the reasonable probability that Real Madrid will, by hook or by crook, lever David De Gea out of Old Trafford this summer.

As such there is a major preoccupation among the United fan-base that they “strike back” in the transfer market, beyond simply finding an equally good keeper to compete with Victor Valdés.

They want to assure themselves of better defensive organisation, better pace at the back, more aggression in central defence via the signing of Nicolás Hernán Gonzalo Otamendi. Who he?

Right now you can see him starring in what’s likely to become a Copa America-winning Argentina side with Leo Messi and Kun Agüero. But he’s also the fella who, in his debut year with Valencia, was named in most judges’ La Liga XI of the season. Talented and fiery, the right-footed, Europa League-winning centre-back is interesting enough in himself.

But there’s a great, great deal more to a move for Otamendi which opens up a real can of worms over De Gea, Valencia’s stability and the role of Jorge Mendes.

Given that Porto, the defender’s last club, don’t get shown on UK television a great deal and given Otamendi has only played 35 La Liga matches it’s feasible you are still wondering: Who is he?

What’s he like?

By modern, certainly Premier League, standards he’s pocket-sized. But he’s the same height as Stevie Bruce … and taller than Fabio Cannavaro.

He’s quick, aggressive, technically adequate, tackles like it’s his reason for living.

The opposite of those big, tall footballers who’ve been aerially superior while growing up and thus don’t bother learning the art of jumping for a ball, his leap and hover, both defensive and attacking, are reminiscent of the man who recommended him to Valencia – their legendary Argentinian centre-half, Roberto “El Raton” Ayala.

Ayala might have been nicknamed The Mouse, but he roared. Three league titles, with Milan and Valencia, a UEFA Cup and an Olympic gold.

What’s more he was smaller than Otamendi.

It’s interesting to compare Otamendi’s height with Steve Bruce who, to my knowledge, was never called “too small” when he was a pillar of Fergie’s resuscitation of United and who scored those crucial “in extremis” headers against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993 which ensured the Reds would win their first title since 1967. Sometimes a player, beyond all the technical analysis, just has something special – a leadership, a quality regarding doing important things at special moments, an aura.

Otamendi is one of those.

He scored three times in Valencia’s last four games securing a draw and a win in their final two matches without which Sevilla, not Valencia, would have finished fourth.

He may regret those goals now. Valencia, fortified by the guaranteed Champions League revenue, are in a stronger position to point to the buy-out clause of 50 million Euros in the defender’s contract when United, and now Real Madrid, come bidding.

Which is where things get complicated. Without drawing you a structural chart of the entire Valencia chain of command you’ll need to know there is a majority shareholder, Peter Lim, a President, Amadeo Salvo, a Director of Football, Rufete, a manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, and a power-broker – Jorge Mendes. But who really calls the shots?

Mendes brokered the deal to bring his very close contact Lim, a Singapore billionaire, to Valencia and Lim used some of his money, but a lot more of his ability to command credit, to haul Los Che back from extinction.

Lim is something of a Manchester United admirer and, with the Neville brothers, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs, is a shareholder in Salford FC.

Mendes is David De Gea’s agent.

Clever, influential, powerful and not someone you’d like to alienate though Mendes might be, it should be the case that when he’s telling Ed Woodward at United: “David wants to join Madrid … let’s find a way to make the deal happen,” Woodward is also saying to him: “We’ll need you to make the Otamendi deal happen but not at 50m.”

You’d think, right? Meanwhile, back in Gotham City.

Aka Valencia, the club with the bat on their club badge. The “Sock! Pow! Kapow!” you can here is the Bat-Club descending into internal warfare.

Immediately Valencia qualified for the Champions League, Otamendi’s agent, Eugenio López, re-iterated to them: “Nico wants to leave Valencia and he’ll do everything within his power to make that happen.”

Subsequently López told Spanish radio: “Nico told President Salvo two months ago, face to face, he wants out this summer. It was Jorge Mendes who convinced us to come to Valencia, we never spoke to Rufete (director of football and nominally in charge of deals). So to hear Rufete say he knew nothing about Nico wanting to leave was a terrible shock. Not only does Salvo know, so does Jorge Mendes – it’s about the chance to improve himself professionally and economically.”

The word around the Mestalla is that United bid for Otamendi in January but were rebuffed. He’s 27, talented, experienced but hungry to win the Champions League – a commanding leader.

Without going completely overboard he’s near enough perfect for United and where they want to go, viz where they are now. Mendes is in the middle. Lim owes him, Nuno is his client, Rufete resents him, Salvo can’t be at war with him.

He’s not Otamendi’s agent but he’s the one who brought the player to Valencia, the one who’s trying to ease De Gea to Madrid, the one who is best placed to persuade Lim to lower the asking price … the one who everyone involved thinks is “their man”.

“I’m not going to negotiate with Salvo, only with Mendes,” López ranted the other day.

But he’s not. He’s in it for himself and Gestifute, his company. And anyone who’s invested in Gestifute. A company which, reportedly, he’s in the process of selling 50% of to Chinese investors.

Whether United get Otamendi and how he performs if he signs may become secondary questions as to how badly Mendes’ impending choices threaten the structure, harmony and strategy at Valencia CF just as they return to the big-time of Champions League football.

Ney mair funny stuff

XAVI in May: “Neymar is an incredible person when you consider his profile in Brazil and the world-class player he is, he’s very humble.

“A really good influence in the dressing room. He’s so gifted that when Leo Messi retires, he’ll be the best in the world without a doubt.

“To make the difference at the age of 22, and to do that at Barcelona, is very difficult. Neymar is going to have a golden age, make no mistake.”

XAVI in June, having left Barcelona and after Neymar’s attempted “trick” in the Copa Final caused Athletic’s humiliated players to attack him. Also after Xavi angrily pushed the drunken Brazilian in the face during a moment on the edge of the open-topped bus tour of the city after winning the treble.

“Neymar has to do some serious reflecting. He’s talented, hard-working and humble but the change has to come from within. He’s Brazilian, he has this “show” in his game and he says he doesn’t want to change it. “In Brazil … perhaps. “But here it’s regarded as a lack of respect. It’s time for him to think seriously.”

Sent off for a direct red card against Colombia on Wednesday night, he is foolish enough to butt heads, albeit with Bambi-force, with Jeison Murillo.

https://twitter.com/barcastuff/status/611479766143778816

He’s now, also, a defendant in one of the various legal cases surrounding his controversial move from Santos to Barcelona.

Xavi’s right. Talent aside, time to reflect. Not the time to let ego or controversy obscure humility, talent or hard work.