Sir Alex Ferguson had some harsh words of his own for Daniel Levy after the Tottenham chairman pronounced his dissatisfaction with the United manager to the media.
Levy blamed Ferguson for being hypocritical and went as far as reporting him to the Premier League after the Manchester United manager claimed the transfer of Dimitar Berbatov to Old Trafford was imminent.
Lots has been said on this matter with some saying that Ferguson was only receiving a taste of his own medicine. Ferguson has been infuriated by Real Madrid’s pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo and he himself even went as far as reporting the Spanish club to FIFA.
But the scales have been tipped and this time around it’s Ferguson who is being accused for improper behavior.
But Ferguson insists that the issue at hand is more embarrassing for Tottenham than it is for himself.
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“It is going to be very embarrassing for them,” Ferguson told reporters in South Africa. “But you know what Daniel Levy is like. He is different.”
“It’s something to ask David Gill (United’s chief executive) about because I haven’t really spoken to him about it today.”
“I haven’t read it, but I’m sure our legal people will be looking at it before I do.”
Manchester United has already lodged a bid for Berbatov’s services and Ferguson was only confirming that his side had done so. His actions are far from disreputable.
Had Manchester United yet to make a formal offer to Tottenham for Berbatov and Ferguson had made those comments, then I would understand what all the fuss is about.
But all Ferguson did was confirm his side had made an offer for Berbatov and that he was confident the player would be joining United ahead of next season. It’s good to see Ferguson hitting back at Levy.
Why?
Because Tottenham are just as guilty as any other club. Tottenham once did the same to Crystal Palace when they lured England Under-17 captain, John Bostock, to White Hart Lane.
Who is the hypocritical one now?!
It isn’t right for Levy to hit out at Ferguson the way he did, especially considering Ferguson’s comments were possibly taken out of context by the English media. I for one am glad to see the Manchester United manager defending himself.
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about 1 month ago
I'm sorry, but the Bostock case is completely different.. he was not influenced by the media as such to choose Tottenham and the controversy was more about the tribunal than anything else. So, I don't know how Levy is a hypocrite.
SAF, on the other hand has done some deals outside the bounds of law - he feels as if there is one law for him and another for other clubs, so he is a hypocrite, I still stand by that.
about 1 month ago
figures.
you don't get to be at the helm of one of the all time great european clubs for over two decades if you behave like what Fergy has been accused of behaving.
Even if Ferguson DID say what the Sun claims, there is nothing to be reported as far as i am concerned.
But seems trouble for both Sun and Levy, curtosy Legal Dept., Manchester United Football Club! ;)
about 1 month ago
Ferguson is a hypocrite. He's tapped up players before (Hargreaves, Stam etc.) and with Ronaldo he's just getting a taste of his own medicine.
about 1 month ago
Never believe anything in the Scum
about 1 month ago
But there's also the argument that Ferguson never said those things after all and that it was all because of the Sun making it up.
about 1 month ago
Good piece, Jeff. We dont know that Ferguson even mentions Berbatov and has clearly stated that , wherever the Sun got the quotes from, it wasn't him.
Seriously guys, this is the Sun we are talking about. I think Levy has engaged mouth before brain on this one.
Shyam, I dont want to start a United-Arsenal thing here but you should look a little closer to home before you start calling managers hypocritical. Until Wenger gets rid of players like Eboue, it may be a little hypoctitical to blast Martin Taylor like he did.
By the way, for the record, of course United have tapped players up. I dont know of a club that doesnt.
from about 1 month ago
In terms of tapping-up, Wenger hasn't tapped up anyone to my knowledge - and every manager is a hypocrite when it comes to defending his players and it's something which I have learned to accept. I don't think Wenger will say "Eboue is a disgrace" if he breaks anyone's leg - but I do remember that he came out and gave a him a negative remark in the press after his dive against Barca in the CL final.
Btw, Wenger retracted his comments about Martin Taylor, but I still think that the guy is a disgrace, so I don't really see your argument there.
about 1 month ago
Well, I guess we are all biased towards our own clubs. I readily admit I am.
In my opinion, though, Taylors tackle was a bad one but no worse than tackles you see every other week somewhere in the Prem. Just the unfortunate outcome that set it apart.
Like I say, I reckon every club taps up to some extent. I remember United getting Bellion from Sunderland and the Black Cats screamed blue murder because he was tapped up. The same week some lower league club chairman came out in the press and accused Sunderland of hypocrist because they tapped up one of their players. I dont see why Arsenal would be any different.
All about opinions though mate.
about 1 month ago
Thanks Steve. I appreciate it. It appears United are ready to take legal action against Tottenham now.
In my opinion though "Tapping Up" has practically become part of the game. It's a huge shame and I wish it could be wiped out. But tapping up happens all the time whether it is done through a secret meeting between club and a player and his agent or when a manager publicly expresses an interest in another player. It seems the authorities can do very little in preventing this.
There's been so many instances of this in the past... it's NOT just Ferguson, Benitez and Real Madrid who are guilty. After all, didn't Harry Redknapp express an interest in Peter Crouch? And didn't Wenger express an interest in Wright-Phillips when he was still at Man City? But maybe that is different... who knows.
And if FIFA couldn't find anything wrong with Real Madrid's pursuit of Ronaldo, then how can Ferguson be guilty of any wrongdoing?
about 1 month ago
Shyam, there was allegations that Wenger tapped up Flamini when he was at Marseille.
Really, most clubs are just as bad as each other when it comes to tapping players up.
about 1 month ago
It is ironic that Levy accuses Liverpool and Utd of improper conduct though! If I remember correctly Levy was actively persuing a certain Seville manager while he was still in charge at that club. Add to the fact that his own manger at the time (Jol) was still in charge at Spurs!!
about 1 month ago
I never thought about that before Gary. Seems Levy should look in the mirror before going and placing the blame on other people... thanks for bringing that up.
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