Javier Hernandez Signs Five-year Extension with Manchester United: Fan Reaction

Posted Saturday, October 15, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

On Thursday, Oct. 13, Javier Hernandez signed a five-year contract extension with Manchester United, according to his agent, Eduardo Hernandez. The forward re-negotiated his current deal with the Red Devils after scoring 20 goals in his first season with the club.

I was starting to wonder if Manchester United was going to try to lock Hernandez down on a long-term contract. There were plenty of rumors circulating that he could be on his way to Real Madrid within a couple of seasons, but the extension assures the Red Devils that Hernandez is going to be in Manchester well into his prime.

With Hernandez on the team for another five years, a pattern is starting to emerge at Old Trafford. Rising midfielder Tom Cleverly just signed an extension, and the club has signed 11 other players on the roster to new deals in the past year. This includes new contracts for stars Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, and Ryan Giggs.

I think manager Sir Alex Ferguson is doing an excellent job creating stability on his roster by ensuring a large portion of his team is under contract for the next two or more years. This gives the defending champions an opportunity to continue building chemistry in hopes of catching Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in Europe without business issues getting in the way.

When I look at Hernandez, I see potential. I think he has the ability to excel up front when teamed with Rooney on a full-time basis. I think Hernandez's extension ensures that both players will have a chance to strengthen their partnership on the front line.

However, I think the real advantage Ferguson has gained by signing everyone long-term is that he now has a good idea where Manchester United is going to be financially for the next couple of years. This should help him budget for new players as Fair Play rules continue to impact clubs' payrolls. The team could still use a creative midfielder and a right back, and I'd expect to see Ferguson make some moves over the next year to strengthen the roster.

I think Manchester United have been ahead of the curve in the past year when it comes to managing their payroll, and it's going to help keep the Red Devils on top of the Barclays Premier League. The only question now is whether or not Ferguson's intelligent financial management is going to help bring the team closer to another European championship.

Derek Ciapala has been a fan of Manchester United since the World Cup in 1994. His favorite Red Devils' moment is when they won their 19th English Championship in 2011.