Everybody schedules their tweets nowadays.
All big organisations specifically time their press releases and important announcements around when they will get the most traction.
Commuter time is routinely used by businesses to get eyes on their posts, in the knowledge that most people are simply refreshing their social media timelines on the way to and from work.
6pm was the time selected by Manchester United to finally unveil Alexis Sanchez as one of their own.
After a dramatic week of negotiations in which the Red Devils beat out Manchester City and Chelsea for the Chile international’s signature, Sanchez was confirmed as a United player on Monday evening.
🎹 Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. Introducing #Alexis7…#GGMU #MUFC @Alexis_Sanchez pic.twitter.com/t9RIIx4mE4
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 22, 2018
“I am thrilled to be joining the biggest club in the world,” Sanchez said of the move. “I have spent three-and-a-half wonderful years at Arsenal and I bring with me very positive memories of that great club and its fans.
“The chance to play in this historic stadium and to work with Jose Mourinho was something I could not turn down.
“I am very proud to be the first Chilean player ever to play for United’s first team and I hope I can show our fans all around the world why the club wanted to bring me here.”
But United weren’t the only Premier League side to schedule an announcement for 6pm as their noisy neighbours Manchester City did the same.
At the start of the month, City were believed to be front-runners to sign Sanchez as most expected the 29-year-old to favour a reunion with City boss Pep Guardiola over all else.
But money spoke and Sanchez decided to make Old Trafford his home.
And, to rival United’s player announcement, City revealed that their star player Kevin De Bruyne had signed a new deal at the Etihad at 6pm on the button.
GET EXCITED! 😝
@DeBruyneKev has today signed a new contract at the Club!
INFO ▶️ https://t.co/NGc7Vqh62x #mancity pic.twitter.com/bj1YuseMgG
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 22, 2018
De Bruyne’s new deal will see him stay with City until 2023 but supporters couldn’t help but notice the coincidental timing of both rivals’ announcements.
— Chris (@LictorVindelof) January 22, 2018
Quite a coincidence City announce De Bruyne’s new contract at the same time as United announcing Sanchez’s signing 😄 #mufc pic.twitter.com/bpjPimQAcr
— Matthew Francis (@themafro) January 22, 2018
De Bruyne contract news EXACTLY the same time Sanchez is announced.
Wow, they really can't be doing with us having all the limelight can they? Forever in our shadow.
— Josh Deegan (@Josh_Deegan) January 22, 2018
I find it very sad that city announced De Bruyne's contract extension the same time we announced Sanchez. Didn't remotely work, shows how small they actually are..
— jai (@jaishepherdd) January 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/The12thMen_/status/955508055822798848
Man City's attempt to steal the limelight from the Sanchez/Mkhitaryan announcement with their Kevin De Bruyne contract news was a little tragic….
A coincidence in timing? Don't think so! #MUFC #MCFC
— Subho Banerjee (@s4subho) January 22, 2018
So city weren't bothered about Sanchez but had to announce new contract for de bruyne at the same time, they are a very small club.
— Steve Jones (@lmjibber66) January 22, 2018
Man City's attempt to steal the limelight from the Sanchez/Mkhitaryan announcement with their Kevin De Bruyne contract news was a little tragic….
A coincidence in timing? Don't think so! #MUFC #MCFC
— Kevin Palmer 💙 (@RealKevinPalmer) January 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/jamesppp94/status/955506985260277761
