Wenger right to sell Nasri, says Ferguson
The loss of Nasri to Manchester City, so soon after Cesc Fabregas left for Barcelona, is one of the key reasons why the Arsenal support has started to become disenchanted with their illustrious French manager.
Ferguson will be doing his best to heap more misery onto the Gunners tomorrow but, having operated in the same highly pressurised Premier League environment together for 15 years, Ferguson has some sympathy with his old adversary, with whom there has been a distinct thaw in relations.
And in Nasri’s case, Ferguson does not believe Arsenal had any option, other than to accept the £24 million on offer from City.
“We are all in the same boat,’’ said the United chief.
“When a player gets to the last two years of his contract you have an issue. One: you persuade him to sign a new contract. Two: he doesn’t want to sign a new contract. Three: When he gets to that last year it is almost inevitable you have a problem.
“We have had issues at times with players getting into the last year. We are not alone. When a player is not going to sign a contract you can threaten to keep him for another year and not get anything for him or capitalise and get the money.
“It is sensible to take the money.”
Ferguson recognises the clear difference between that situation and the one that ended with Fabregas leaving for Barcelona.
United faced much the same problem with Cristiano Ronaldo, whom Ferguson managed to keep at Old Trafford for six seasons before accepting a world record £80m fee from Real Madrid to allow the winger to follow his childhood dream.
“The issue is how long do you think you are going to have European players?” he said.
“We like to think they will stay forever. Some have been very good that way.
“With Cristiano he always had this dream of wanting to play for Real Madrid.
“Fabregas wanted to go back to Barcelona. You cannot become bitter about these things because it is the modern world.”
Despite this, Ferguson does not believe Arsenal are a team to be taken lightly. He was impressed by their performance in Italy on Wednesday, when victory over Udinese secured their place in the Champions League group stages, and feels there is enough talent at Wenger’s disposal to remain wary.
“Arsenal have still got forwards who can hurt anyone,” he said. We have to be at our best no question.”
Indeed, having tipped Arsenal to overcome Udinese, Ferguson sees no reason for the air of pessimism that continues to hang over the Emirates Stadium.
And the Scot wonders exactly who those hard-to-please fans have in mind as a potential replacement.
“I would like to know who is going to replace him [Wenger],” said the United boss. “The work he has done in the 15 years he has been at the club is the best in Arsenal’s history.
“Yes, he has not won a trophy for six years but what does that mean? The quality of his side has not been reduced.”
Rather, as Ferguson points out, the standard of opposition has improved, first through the vast riches lavished on Chelsea by Roman Abramovich, now the even deeper pockets of Sheikh Mansour at Manchester City.
“Chelsea’s involvement has created a lot of the problem in terms of trophies to win because they and ourselves have been dominating the Premier League,” said Ferguson.
“Now Manchester City have come on the scene.
“When Arsenal and ourselves were going head-to-head, it went on for about eight years. The competition is far greater now.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
