Fergie ends summer spending

Man Utd boss doesn't expect any more new arrivals at Old Trafford

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 13th July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Fergie ends summer spending

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he will not be making any more summer signings after explaining that he refuses to pay the inflated fees of Europe's top stars.

Ferguson believes that the transfer market has 'caught fire' this summer with players' valuations going through the roof.

The Scot highlighted that he is used to paying over the odds for players but he would not be held to ransom over certain prospective targets.

It means that United fans will have to make do with the arrivals of Antonio Valencia, Michael Owen, who has been handed the number seven shirt, and Gabriel Obertan as the Premier League champions get accustomed to life without Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

"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.

"It is a very unusual summer and difficult to get value because of that."

Good enough squad

Despite recently being linked with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Douglas Costa, Ferguson was confident he already had enough quality in his squad to compete on all fronts this season.

"That's always been the case with Manchester United, we have always had to pay a bit extra," he added.

"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.

"We shouldn't panic because of one player leaving. I think we have a very, very good squad with some good young players in all positions."

Experience

The Red Devils chief also pointed out that he was keen to bring in someone with the experience of Owen to complement the youthfulness of Obertan and Valencia.

"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," he joked.

"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.

"I used to say that to the players, don't let him stand you in the penalty box, and he has always had that knack of losing defenders in the final third."

Prem 2009/10 Win Outright: Man Utd 2/1

Comments (19)

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Andy Mac (Manchester United fan) says...

I agree with Fergie completely. Ronaldo when missing half of last season anyway. Berbatov has now had a year to settle in and will start to show his true class which for all his effort and energy Tevez simple hasn't got. The Owen business is a master stroke.

Posted 08:05 14th July 2009

Peter Duffy (Luton Town fan) says...

well said fergie ...... over priced players, especially those following the cash rather than being a team member in an established successful club often have difficulty in returning their value causing discontent with other team members ..... look how successful galaxy are with becks! i'm sure manchester fans will rather have a team of loyal and dedicated players funded from the club earnings ensuring the future of the club than a few years of glory boys and an unrealistic overdraft ......... manchester will be here for ever, the play boys with their fun money will eventually move on ...... let's hope they don't destroy the magnificent premier league in the meantime because some of the clubs don't look too financially good at this time

Posted 07:52 14th July 2009

Jack Fernandes (Manchester United fan) says...

Amen Fergie ! For all the crazy valuations of the summer, finally someone with some sense. Given the ramblings of discontentment from CR7 over the years, it would have been foolish ( perhaps even irresponsible) for Fergie not to have developed a contingency. A combination of youth ( Welbeck/Macheda) as well as some players who need to step up (Ando/Nani even Berba) should to enough for the EPL. Not sure about the CL. Barca is still the team to beat in Europe. Regardless, it makes sense to bank the 80million and save it for a rainy day when a player of real promise (like Rooney ) comes on the market.

Posted 06:23 14th July 2009

Richard P (Manchester United fan) says...

Like the style Fergie, don't pay over the top prices but happy to receive them! Lets see the youth shine through this season and fill that trophey cabinet a little more.

Posted 05:26 14th July 2009

David Watson (Manchester City fan) says...

It seems strange to blame over inflated prices when you concede that you have consistently paid over the odds over the years(surely this contributes to the current situation) and then also happen to be involved in the biggest ever player transfer which was an exorbitant price. Take some responsibility for your actions!

Posted 02:46 14th July 2009

Waqar Hussain (Barcelona fan) says...

I do agree with Fergie about over inflated prices. Pklayers are valued at some stupid prices this summer. And that mainly becuse of Man City and Real Madrid. Both clubs are so desprate fro success they are wasting there money. I do belive that Utd should buy Douglas Costa. He is a great paler. If Utd dont sign him someone else will now that he has been exposed.

Posted 01:18 14th July 2009

Nicholas Iwuchukwu (Liverpool fan) says...

Fergie is just a clown and a year ago he poached Berbatov on the last day of the transfer and was hailing it as a coup and now being dwarfed by reality, he's crying wolf and calling figures astronomical because he has been put where he finally belongs. A shame it has taken the massive finances of Sheikh Mansour and Real Madrid to quell his excesses which have always gone unnoticed by the British press. The £80 million he has is like a drop of water compared to the new super powers of football and he then goes to bid for Toress. Sheer arrogance thinking Liverpool are vulnerable but definitely not to him even if we are considering the Heinze fiasco where he was disgracefully supported by the F.A but i am so happy the disgrace is coming right from home. Would anyone have beleived it 2 years ago that a top Manchester United player would turn down a new contract and sign for Manchester City and a fan favourite for that matter just after the Ronaldo humiliation. The destruction of both Fergie and Manchester United will be total and grand because they are just cheats and no amount of fraudulent refereeing will save them

Posted 23:37 13th July 2009

Mark Bladen (Manchester City fan) says...

I can't believe it. The statement is clearly a smoke screen for something. My opinion is that there is a fear of any targets being blown out the water by one of the major money clubs and the statement should read, 'we'll wait until everyone else has finished spending!' he can't be happy with what he's brought in. Obertan just screamed bellion at me as soon as I read it. If aguero has not been snapped up by the last week of the window and united don't go in for him, I'll eat my words. But if they don't! City will be the top team in Manchester much sooner than I thought it.

Posted 23:33 13th July 2009

Gareth Bartolo (Manchester United fan) says...

One word,Gutted!! after all the talk and being linked with all top players in europe we end up signing only 2 players. I hate to say this but I believe there is more to this then just Sir alex not being ready to pay over the odds for players! M aybe its desperste times for the Glazers. You dont sell the worlds greatest player,for a world record fee,and replace him with a player you know is on a 50-50 chance oif staying fit!! I hope I am proved wrong. I must say that our 2 signings are top top class and Owen could prove to be another masterstroke by the old man,while Valencia is a player who gives his all for the team. M y other concern is we are a bit short in midfield,where a player like Wesley Schneider can be ideal for us,a direct replacment for scholesy. Guess only time will tell,till then in Fergie we trust!!

Posted 22:02 13th July 2009

Peter Witney (Manchester United fan) says...

Well Owen is a fair replacement for Tevez - both are quality strikers. Ok so Owen is injured a lot, but Tevez hardly played so they should be the same. Not sure abour Valencia and Obertan, but Park and Fletcher can both play in the role so no worries. Not as good as Ronaldo, but if the others play up no worries. I think Utd will do well, winning 4 in a row has not been done before (that I can recall) but I'm sure they'll give it a go! Win another cup and away we go!

Posted 21:18 13th July 2009

David Landers (Manchester United fan) says...

Its been a brutal week as a Manchester United fan. Having just getten over last weeks trio of unveilings at the bernabeau, Benzema in particular, to be hit with another triple whammy today! Tevez joining our city rivals, where he is likely to play no more games than lasy year if adebayor or someone else arrives, fergie to renege on his promise and bank the cash, and then to top it off owen making a plank of himself saying he's not been plagued by injuries, please let it end!!!!!! Massive respect to Carlos tevez, always an honest footballer and hope he finds sucess, might have to look for a better agent first though!!

Posted 20:28 13th July 2009

Patrick Man (Watford fan) says...

I believe that Fergie is right. They have lost a few star players and gained a few which many believe are not fit for Old Trafford but they are in my view a vital addition, and i believe that Sir Alex has picked the right replacements. However another new face at Man Utd would be welcomed.

Posted 20:23 13th July 2009

Greg Emonds (Manchester United fan) says...

I think Tevez was a great player for United, but if you don't perform in training etc then you will be left out and I'm sure other players were keeping him out. He could run around for 75 minutes but not for 90 I feel and not always with an end result either. Money talks at the end of the day so I'm sure that's why He opted for the cash cow of City. I would have liked to see maybe a bigger name signed by now, but Owen if fit will be awesome that's why He has been given number 7, also Valencia looked a class act against United last season so should be a good signing. It will take a bit of time for the new signings to fit in but I'm sure the pre season tour will help them with transition. Sir Alex we have faith in your wise judgement and I'm sure it won't be long before we are praising the new look team once again....United Champions once again !!!

Posted 20:01 13th July 2009

Matthew English (Manchester United fan) says...

Sir Alex Ferguson is playing with fire here! You cannot make do with Valencia, Owen and Obertan for the loss of Ronaldo and Tevez. Why on earth is he gambling on Wellbeck and selling Fraizer Campbell, when Campbell is clearly the better of the two players! Ferguson still needs to buy a midfield general, a beast who will win everything in midfield. We also need a replacement for Gary Neville because in my opinion, Rafael is useless! And finally, Sergio Aquero's services need to be purchased, whatever the price! I'm a Manchester United fan through and through, and absolutely am behind Sir Alex, but to be honest, this is madness! Fergie, open your eyes, or else we'll be finishing 4th next season!!!!!!!!

Posted 19:12 13th July 2009

Heath Purvis (Manchester United fan) says...

Even though i was not expecting a mass influx of players i was hoping for a little more than what has arrived especially on the back of the money we have received for CR. I dont usually get on the back of the Glazers because i believe that actions speak louder than words and ever since they have been involved we have been more than competitive. Also we have to accept that football is no longer about the fans alone and that it is a big business, but i cant help feeling a little short changed if it is true that there are to be no more summer signings. To blame overvaluation of players is a little misleading, i mean, Hargreaves for around 27 million and berbatov for a similar figure were not exactly bargain prices. I understand that Real Madrid have inflated the market for the big boys but we have 80 MILLION for crying out loud. We are in need of a more experienced midfielder especially if Hargreaves is unfit again. I do think that Michael Owen could be an inspired gamble and it may work well for him as well as he wont be the main striker week after week and there is quality up front with him. He hasnt had that for a while now and if he is fit he will score bag fulls with the service he will get from others. The obvious worry is that like Saha (who i also rated really highly) he will spend all his time on the treatment table, we shall have to see. I also think we need another full back as the great Gary Neville has had his day and even though we have the young brazilian brothers, Wes brown ,John o shea and Evra are our front line fullbacks ( and lets be honest o shea struggles against the top sides and i felt he was lucky a couple of times last season not to be rewd carded for 2 bookings).

Posted 19:08 13th July 2009

Rufai Munza (Chelsea fan) says...

The absence of Ronnie is really gonna affect the team for sometime.Its really gonna take time before the team gets settle.

Posted 18:51 13th July 2009

Richard Morris (Manchester United fan) says...

This is terrible. How can we lose £112million worth of players in two of our 'fab four' and rely on an outdated striker, an overpriced winger, and a french young-un who has been playing in french league 2 for the past 6 months? valencia and obertan will be a success at old trafford but i dont think next season. take them at least a year if not longer to become even half as good as ronaldo. Season tickets owners still pay the same price but no longer are seeing two of their best players. Funny how a while ago we apparantly had the whole £110m to spend on transfers, how things change. I thought at least we would get aguero or huntelaar or even young costa. Not forgetting that Scholes, Giggs, Van der Sar, Neville will all be if not close too retirement after this season. All that money for losing our best players only to line the pockets of Gill and the Glazers. I'm not even that unoptimistic but with other clubs spending the money we will get flounced next year in champions league and prem. Surely the dominence of Real and its Galacticos has begun again? And unfortunatley due to the amount of players going to spain The Premier League will now second to the all mighty La Liga. Which lets be honest no-one wants. Final Rant of the day, Owen? 7?! Just says it all. Pathetic.

Posted 18:47 13th July 2009

Kris Jones (Manchester United fan) says...

Honestly thought we would sign another 2 players and the thought of ashley young signing would of been a good replacement for ronaldo, but if the boss says he is happy then he is not often wrong and we do have some good youngsters coming through which is only good for the game in a whole, i really hope we can lift the title again but the odds are already against us not many teams win the league 4 times in a row so even if ronaldo did stay i think it would of been a big ask to win the title again but hopefully we can, we are talking about the theatre of dreams at the end of the day so i wouldnt put it past them.

Posted 18:11 13th July 2009

Harpreet Reddevil (Manchester United fan) says...

We have a good enough squad to win the Premiership and Champions League but to be honest I think this may be a tactic to bring down the price of Douglas Costa, apparently he wants to join Utd, funny how Fergie declares our spending is over for this summer when every paper today reports how United are negotiating the Costa deal; Fergie would not let a player who looks to be a class act, has excellent pace and close control be signed up by someone else. He has said this to bring the prices down and I think other Managers will maybe take a stand and control spending.

Posted 18:03 13th July 2009
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