Call me a cynic if you like but doesn't the Buttland saga smell a bit fishy? We had the deal cut and dried the Player was happy to come here, then a mystery third party intervenes, a Manure tap perhaps?
I thought exactly the same thing when I saw the United interest. Buttner was desperate to join us and everything was set. The fact that it's taken a few weeks for United to pop up suggests to me that they have manipulated the whole situation - they have waited for the dust to settle and then stepped in to sign their man as if from nowhere. It's all too weird.
I would not be surprised if the big clubs are doing the same with Bologna or Ramirez because that situation is also too weird. If Bologna were not happy with our initial offer, all they would have to do is say to Cortese make it 'x'and he's yours. Not play things out in the media to make us / the player look bad.