Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has boldly claimed that David Moyes' deadline-day signing of Marouane Fellaini in 2013was a 'panic buy'.
The Belgian midfielder, who is now 28,followed Moyes from Everton to Man Utd, penning a £100k-a-week contract after both clubs agreed on a £27.5m fee.
He struggled to become a first-team regular during his debut season, appearing just 16 times in the Premier League, but Louis van Gaal gave the towering midfielder a new lease of life in his second season, cementing his position in the centre of United's midfield.
Giggs, who was a teammate of Fellaini before his retirement, believes the signing was more of a 'panic buy' by Moyes, claiming that it was a signal of unrest at Old Trafford.
The former winger told theTelegraph: Signing Marouane Fellaini so close to the deadline that August, the club's only major deal in a summer when we needed two or three big names, suggested that things were not running smoothly.
Ryan Giggs says Marouane Fellaini was a "panic" buy by former manager David Moyes
More: https://t.co/1puJyzmSwh pic.twitter.com/xJ5PzeSP9o
"United had signed players late in the window before - Dimitar Berbatov in 2008 springs to mind - but this time was different. This time it was more of a panic.
"Sir Alex [Ferguson] might not necessarily have had a first-choice XI but he knew exactly what side was needed for each game, and would have that planned weeks ahead. David did not have that information.
"He started with a blank sheet of paper and for most of the first season we were chasing our best XI, or the right team for the game in question."