It was May 28, 2008, that the name of Morgan Schneiderlin first reached my ears.

I was called into St Mary’s, into a fairly non-descript office, to speak with Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde, who had teamed up to take control of the club.

It was laying the groundwork for the announcement the next day of Jan Poortvliet as manager.

But in amongst all the talk of an imminent new appointment, was chatter of a potential new signing.

It was a young French player.

Lowe was excited.

He gave the impression he had been looking at players even before his return, and was desperate to sign this one.

At just £1.2m he was, apparently, a bargain.

He was a young midfielder, ready to move abroad for the first time from his current club, Strasbourg.

His name was Morgan Schneiderlin.

At that time it meant nothing much, and the natural first instinct was to wonder why Saints would spend what precious small resources they had signing a youngster in a team that was going to be full of youngsters.

Lowe’s enthusiasm for this player really was remarkable though. He was utterly convinced that Schneiderlin was going to turn into something very special indeed.

Duly, Lowe did get his way and a young Morgan Schneiderlin pitched up at St Mary’s.

• Morgan Schneiderlin's Saints career - in pictures >>

Little did we realise then that this deal would prove, even in eyes of Lowe’s biggest critics, to be a lasting gem for the club.

The Schneiderlin we saw take those first tentative steps into English football was a very different one to the player who has joined Manchester United.

What was blindingly obvious immediately was his wonderful range of passing.

Schneiderlin was technically gifted, had an eye for a pass, and the ability to execute it.

What became increasingly clear during his first season at Saints was that he was not physically strong enough to be able to consistently use his ability to the full.

The Championship is a harsh learning ground of English football, and to come into a young team, as a young man on your first time living and working overseas, proved tough for Schneiderlin.

That team was too inexperienced for the level at which they tried to perform and we all know what happened as they were relegated to League One.

The best thing that happened to Schneiderlin’s career was the appointment of Alan Pardew as manager after the administration and Markus Liebherr takeover had happened.

Pardew quickly indentified that Schneiderlin could be a huge player for him. His quality was far in excess of much else in League One.

 

 

But Pardew knew his new charge was going to get kicked off the park every week if he didn’t get his man toughened up. So that is exactly what he did.

Pardew understood the position well, and saw Schneiderlin more as a defensive midfielder who could build the play from the back rather than creative free spirit as had been previously envisaged.

The plan worked as during the season we saw the emergence of a new Schneiderlin, one not intimidated physically by his opponents or surroundings.

It now did not really matter who the manager was, he had seen the light, understood what he needed to do and was on his path to the very top of the game.

Schneiderlin was a mainstay of the Saints side that won back-to-back promotions from League One and the Championship.

Once finally in the Premier League, the level his talents have always deserved, he has gone on further.

He has become imperious.

 

That tough tackling and defensive steel his position demands is rarely matched with the touch and flair that Schneiderlin brings to his role.

It was only a matter of time before he moved on to one of Europe’s big clubs. His talents demanded so.

Though there was friction last summer as Tottenham came in, not moving to White Hart Lane was a blessing. Schneiderlin is better than that just as, in truth, his abilities have outgrown Saints.

He should play in the Champions League, his talents should see him become a regular for years to come with France.

Manchester United have recognised that and have made a shrewd investment.

Schneiderlin is easily good enough to play for a club of that size and, even if those incredible new surroundings take some adapting to, he has proven already he is capable of developing in whatever way is required.

Schneiderlin leaves St Mary’s not with pelters from fans for desertion, but with warm thanks for his services. He has done his time, it is right for him to move on.

It’s been an incredible seven years.

It turns out that £1.2m signing was pretty good after all.