Gabriel Heinze told he can’t sleep with the enemy

If it seems like this year’s summer transfer season has slogged on for an eternity it is because it has. For months we have all been treated to breathtaking drama like whether Arjen Robben will end up at Real Madrid and how much it will take for Chelsea to call Daniel Aves their own. The end, or at least temporary end until the winter transfer talk heats up, is in sight with the window closing in ten days. Today brought about an end to one of the season’s sagas.

Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze was told once and for all that he will not be allowed to join Liverpool. The Argentine had claimed that Liverpool had met the price stipulation in his contract that would have allowed him to leave Manchester United. His current club said that the price only applied to foreign clubs and certainly not to one called Liverpool.

The Premier League agreed with Manchester United so Heinze must remain under Sir Alex’s watch. At least until a foreign club like Lyon dig up enough change from under their sofa cushions to purchase him.

What have we learned from all this? Almost every article I have read about the Heinze situation has mentioned that players from Manchester United simply don’t go to play for Liverpool and vice versa. Every article invokes the name of Phil Chisnal, the last player to go from Manchester United to Liverpool. That was in 1962. That is 45 years ago. That says something about the rivalry.

Put on your thinking caps and help me with this one. What other football rivalries exist in the world where it is an undeclared or declared rule that a player who plays for one club is not allowed to go on to play for another?

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Category: English Premier League, World Football