You can't make someone do something they don't want to, and you can't make them love you if there is no love there (when you arrive at a girl's door at 3 am and she likes you, "it's romantic", if she doesn't like you "it's stalking")
So, not knowing all the circumstances, I suspect he had intentions of getting some magical deal in Europe earning him heaps of coin, driving fast cars, eating at exotic European restaurants, and surrounding himself with a harem of super models, however, plans fell through.
Knowing he was back on the market, another suitor came along offering him heaps of coin, travel in rattly old trams, eating at exotic Melbourne restaurants, and surrounding himself with a harem of the finest super models from Frankston. Got him on the rebound.
We don't really know if Taipans were slow out of the blocks, or if United had better marketing.