Ferguson: No more signings this summer

By Gregg Davies
published

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he will not be signing any more players this summer, insisting he will not succumb to splashing out inflated transfer fees. Having seen FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo join Real Madrid for £80 million and Argentine star Carlos Tevez decide to leave the club, the 67-year-old has moved to acquire Wigan winger Antonio Valencia, former Liverpool striker Michael Owen and Bordeaux starlet Gabriel Obertan. But despite reports also linking the Scot with big-money moves for Lyon striker Karim Benzema - who opted to sign for Real Madrid - Inter Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Real Madrid front-man Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero and Gremio whiz-kid Douglas Costa, Ferguson has now revealed he will not be recruiting any of them. "It is the end of our business, so all these stories about who we are supposed to be getting, forget it," he said. "Everywhere in England and in Europe the players' values have shot sky high. I don't think any of the transfers that you see happening are realistic but for some reason it seems to have caught fire this summer. "We have always had to pay a bit extra. But this summer we are not prepared to do that because you have got to understand we have got some very good young players.

"We have a very good squad and there is no need to ever need a jerk reaction to losing Cristiano because we did very well to keep him for six years and it was his moment to leave and we allowed him to do that.

And despite the raising of many an eyebrow among the United faithful following Ferguson's acquisition of Owen, the Old Trafford supremo insisted the 29-year-old's experience will prove invaluable.

"What I have done is bring in some youth with Gabriel and Antonio and brought in an old codger like Michael just to balance things up.

"But experience is vital. Also with Michael you will see the experience he will give us in the penalty box. He will score goals because that is what he has been great at for years and years.

"You always had to be aware of him in his movement of his runs and the most difficult thing was the timing of his runs.

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Gregg Davies
Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.