Premiership: Blanc labelled as too slow

Two Inter Milan legends have criticised Ferguson's decision to sign Laurent Blanc.

Giuseppe Bergomi, who played a record 117 European games for the San Siro giants, and former general manager Sandro Mazzola, regarded as one of the best players to represent the club, believe Blanc is too slow to play at the top level.

French centre-half Blanc, 36 next month, was signed by United manager Ferguson to replace Dutchman Jaap Stam, who was controversially sold to Lazio two games into the new season.

He failed to command a regular place in the Inter side last season, but has been at the heart of a United defence which has conceded 14 goals in eight games since his arrival.

"Everyone here was very surprised when United took Blanc from us," Bergomi told The Sun. "It looks like a terrible mistake.

"You can't sell a player like Stam and expect to be able to replace him with Blanc.

"He is now just not good enough to take over from Stam.

Bergomi, 37, played his last Champions League game against United and Stam in the European Cup quarter-final at the San Siro in 1999. He added: "Blanc has been a wonderful player but you have to think his best times are in the past.

"He is very slow and the feeling in Italy is he would always have problems adapting to the pace and style of English football."

Mazzola, 59, was a member of the Italy side who reached the 1970 World Cup final and is now general manager at Torino.

He agreed with Bergomi's assessment. "If you sell someone like Jaap Stam for £15million and replace him with a 35-year-old you are inviting trouble," Mazzola told The Sun.

"Technically Blanc is still okay but he does have a big problem with pace."