After seeing players previously described as "donkeys" in Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain play a pivotal role in Juventus' successful progression to the Champions League final, you'd think Eamon Dunphy would be a bit more careful about what he said as he was on hand for the RTE panel around Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid on Wednesday night.
But shortly after the final whistle, he made a point regarding Diego Simeone and the job he has done in changing the mentality around the entire place from a selling club into one that competes at the highest level every year.
A fair point, absolutely, as Simeone has done a fantastic job, but the example used to reinforce the point was way off as Dunphy claimed that Atletico sold Diego Forlan to Manchester United.
As the camera panned back, Duffer's raised eyebrows said it all.
Oh dear.
You could tell as he said it he knew it may not be correct.
Duff's reaction probably wasn't a delayed reaction to what Dunphy said, but it does paint a fantastic picture.
Man Utd bought Diego Forlan from Independiente in Argentina, right under the nose of Middlesbrough by the way, before selling him to Villarreal, who then sold him to Atletico, who sold him to Inter Milan in 2011.
Viewers were quick to jump on Dunphy's error, and the fact that he said Carlo Ancelotti won La Liga with Real, which isn't true:
@ballsdotie It wouldn't be Dunphy on TV without at least 1 factual howler. You can hear when he's about to make one, there's always a slight hesitancy!
— Alan Morrissey (@AlanMorrissey) May 10, 2017
'They sold Diego Forlan to Man United.' Eamon Dunphy picks out a non-existent transfer from 15 years ago to prove Atleti are a selling club.
— Mark Farrelly (@MarkFarrelly131) May 10, 2017
@ballsdotie I believe Dunphy has cracked the space-time continuum and sees both the future & past simultaneously. pic.twitter.com/eWzH8aP1vZ
— Michael McCarthy (@Mlmcc86) May 10, 2017
@ballsdotie "Winning leagues doesn't save managers" at Real Madrid- Damien Duff. Name checks Mourinho, then Dunphy says "Ancelotti"... who didn't win it
— Alan Morrissey (@AlanMorrissey) May 10, 2017
@ballsdotie Ancelloti won the league at real too apparently
— Dos Kellios (@DosKellios) May 10, 2017
@ballsdotie He thought ronaldo was finished too?
— David Rohan (@DavidRohanDubs) May 10, 2017
Just extraordinary spoof from Dunphy who, in the space of 30 seconds, confirms Simeone's departure and claims Atlético sold Forlán to United
— Gavan Casey (@GavanCasey) May 10, 2017
@RTEsoccer Dunphy just said Athletico Madrid are a selling club because they sold Forlan to Man United.Utd bought him from Independiente
— Sean Doc (@docdevious) May 10, 2017
@Dunphy_Official FYI Eamon Ancelotti did not win the league with Madrid and Atletico did not sell Forlan to united #makeitupasyougoalong
— Cian Buckley (@ciantbuckley) May 10, 2017
Eamon's value to the spectacle is not in question, but he should really think before he blurts out stuff like that on live TV.
