Manchester United have learnt from Cesc Fabregas ordeal with Frenkie de Jong

In retrospect, it was apposite David Moyes's sole honour as Manchester United manager was overshadowed on the same day at Wembley.

The national stadium's press conference room resembles a university lecture theatre and Moyes was in a lecturing mood after the Community Shield win over Wigan. He said some reporters had written "untruths" about the absent Wayne Rooney, available for England but not United.

United had rejected bids from Chelsea for the wantaway Rooney, injured for United's entire pre-season schedule. Rooney had still been called up for England's upcoming friendly with Scotland.

"You don’t think I am going to send England a fit player, do you?” Ah, something Sir Alex Ferguson would have said. Moyes's grandstanding that day did not wash and some staff at United would later ridicule his attempts at mimicking Ferguson.

More vexing for United supporters than Moyes's obdurate stance on Rooney ("not for sale") was the sudden end to the Cesc Fabregas saga. The club had still not welcomed an incoming under Moyes.

"PA Sources: Man Utd Chief Executive Ed Woodward has left the club's tour of Australia early to carry out some urgent transfer business." The Sky News tweet still lives on, dated July 17 2013. At one point, you wondered whether Woodward had set sail and ended up as marooned as Tom Hanks's castaway.

Moyes was confronted about United's public pursuit of Fabregas at Wembley and replied succinctly: "I think Manchester United should go after the best players in the world."

The mistake Moyes made was he gave chapter and verse on the Fabregas developments, confirming unsuccessful £26million and £30m bids. Ferguson would not have said that. The previous summer, he denied United had agreed a fee with Arsenal for