Firstly, we were a listed company then and were legally obliged to report any transfer to the stock exchange - not doing so could be seen as insider trading. We reported the transfer to the stock exchange within 24 hours of it happening.
Secondly, he was training and playing with England in the interim period. A player needs to have pretty tight insurance whilst playing internationals, as if they get injured their club team needs to be able to claim for the loss. Neither Spurs or Utd would agree to situation where a transfer were agreed but not completed, you either legally own a player and insure them or you don't.
interesting, probably all officially right, but I was at England training sessions ahead of the World Cup ( worked in Germany throughout WC 2006 ) and it was being openly said by some, albeit not Carrick, that he was already going to Man U pending announcement. That’s why I thought it was all done ahead of time.