Mikael Silvestre Signing
Mikael Samy Silvestre, born Chambray-les-Tours, France, August 9, 1977. Mikael Silvestre started out at Rennes before joining Inter Milan where he would become a tower of strength to the club. As things turned out, he was brought by Manchester United by Alex Ferguson for a transfer fee of £4 million at the front end of the 1999-2000 season and was given his Premiership debut in 3-2 victory against Liverpool at Anfield on the 11th of September 1999.
Mikael Silvestre made an excellent addition to the Manchester United team as the highly versatile performer could be used at left back as well as in the middle of defence. As a Manchester United player, the unflappable defender accumulated 249 Premiership appearances and won the Premier League in 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2000-03, 2000-07 and 2000-08, the FA Cup in 2004, the Football League Cup in 2006, and the UEFA Champions League in 2008. With the signings of fellow defenders Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra midway through the 2005-06 campaign, however, he became marginalised and eventually moved on to longtime adversaries Arsenal in August 2008. The Frenchman would stay with The Gunners until the summer of 2010 when he decided to sign with German Bundesliga team Werder Bremen. He later appeared for Major League Soccer outfit Portland Timbers and Indian Super League team Chennaiyin. A France international, Silvestre made his senior debut for the country of his birth in a 1-0 friendly fixture triumph against Germany at Stade de France on the 27th of Feburary 2001 and proceeded to play in 40 games for his nation. Mikael Silvestre: “When you can start a game for Manchester United you don’t start moaning about which position on the field.”
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