Manchester United: Ranking Sir Alex Ferguson's 10 Most Controversial Signings

While building his legacy as one of the greatest club managers of all time, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has never been averse to making a signing that ruffles a few feathers.

His latest splash—Arsenal's Robin van Persie—has certainly provoked debate, capturing the attention of the footballing world.

This list will seek to compile and rank the 10 most controversial signings made during Ferguson's reign at United.

If you disagree with the list, or its order, make sure to let your feelings be known below.

Now let's get to it!

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10. Michael Owen

Rarely has a Manchester United signing taken so many people by surprise.

In the summer of 2009, ex-Liverpool hero turned free agent Michael Owen was seemingly facing a season without football—either that, or having to suffer the humiliation of dropping down a division or two in search of regular football.

The 34-page brochure his management group had distributed to Premier League clubs had the British media poking fun at the striker for his apparent desperation.

A few weeks later, he had signed for the biggest club in the country, to the complete shock of those same newspapers.

Some United fans decried his former ties with great rivals Liverpool, but Owen would soon win them over in a dramatic Manchester Derby.

9. Eric Cantona

Leeds United fans were not too happy with then-manager Howard Wilkinson for selling one of the club's biggest assets, Eric Cantona, to rivals United in 1992.

And although the £1.2 million fee was then seen as a steep figure, the transfer has since proved one of the biggest bargains in footballing history, as Cantona immediately inspired his new club to domestic dominance.

Leeds, meanwhile, turned from title contenders to relegation candidates after the Frenchman departed.

In his time at United, Cantona became one of the most controversial figures in football, most famously kung-fu kicking a Crystal Palace fan having been sent off during an away game.

Few could dispute the fact that he was worth the fuss, though.

8. Massimo Taibi

Massimo Taibi became a controversial Sir Alex signing for a very different reason—he was useless.

Useless in a United shirt I should say, seeing as the calamitous goalkeeper went on to forge a relatively successful career back in his native Italy after leaving Old Trafford.

But having signed for United for £4.5 million in 1999, he only managed to distinguish himself by his mistakes—the most memorable coming in a game against Southampton, when he inexplicably let a tame shot roll though his legs and into the net.

Dubbed "The Blind Venetian" by tabloids, Taibi never recovered and was sold on a year later.

But as you'll soon find out, Taibi wasn't the worst goalkeeper Sir Alex ever had the misfortune of signing.

7. Diego Forlan

Eyebrows were raised around Old Trafford when, in 2001, it was announced that United had completed a £7 million deal to bring relatively unknown striker Diego Forlan to Old Trafford from Argentinian club Independiente.

In his first few games, much attention was focused on the new signing few fans had ever heard of.

And unfortunately for Forlan, perhaps it would have been better if nobody had been watching.

In the 18 games the striker played during the 2001/02 season, the Uruguayan failed to score once, leading to derision from the press and much criticism aimed at Sir Alex for the transfer.

What many people fail to remember, though, is that Forlan went on to score several vital goals in his team's next title-winning campaign, including a brace at Anfield that made the Scousers cry.

6. Wayne Rooney

At only 18 years of age, many criticized Sir Alex for signing English phenom Wayne Rooney.

The £25.6 million deal was the highest fee ever paid for a teenager at the time, and it upset many in British football, not least of all the Everton fans who justifiably believed that they had been robbed of their crown jewel.

Rooney is still booed on his return visits to Merseyside, but the heated reception has cooled considerably since he made the switch in 2004.

Nevertheless, Everton fans still wonder "what if?" whenever they see their former striker single-handedly winning games these days.

Meanwhile, the mega deal has only proved to be a sign of things to come, as seen in the recent £35 million transfer of 20-year-old Lucas Moura to PSG.

5. Juan Sebastian Veron

It's interesting to remember that, at one point in time, Juan Seba Veron was the most expensive player in British football.

And despite his cult status at Old Trafford, he is most commonly referred to as a "£28 million flop" by most footballing pundits.

It would be fair to say, however, that his style of football just wasn't suited to the fast-paced rigours of the Premier League. After only two seasons at United, he moved to Chelsea for £13 million less than the fee paid for him in 2001.

When later criticised for the signing, Sir Alex didn't mince his words defending the player.

"He [Veron] is a f***ing great player," he told reporters (via The Guardian). "And you're all f***ing idiots!"

4. Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba arrived in and departed from Manchester to great controversy.

United were taken to court for their pursuit of the French youngster, accused of "tapping up" the player before the transfer was made official.

And although the club were later cleared of any wrongdoing, unhappy details emerged as a result that drew into question the manner in which youngsters are tracked by bigger clubs.

The second reason for controversy, and still a bone of contention for many fans, is the fact that only this summer did Pogba switch to Serie A club Juventus, citing a lack of first-team football and failing to receive wages that United were not prepared to pay.

Mention his name around Old Trafford today, and expect to be greeted with frowns and expletives.

3. Bebe

Everything about Bebe's £7.4 million move to Manchester United rings false.

Why was such a high price paid for a player who had only ever played in the Portuguese second division?

Why was he signed without Sir Alex ever having seen him play—a long-held rule of the Scot's?

Having now seen the attacker in action, United fans could not hope to claim that Bebe is worth more than £1 million, if that.

He is a definite blot on Fergie's ledger—and one which I'm sure he would erase if he could.

2. Rio Ferdinand

Having made the switch from Leeds in 2002, the hatred and derision that subsequently emanated from Elland Road directed at Rio Ferdinand was something to behold.

At a price of over £30 million, Sir Alex had to pay a hefty fee to pry the player away from his club's rivals, and in doing so made Rio the most expensive British footballer ever at the time.

And, as seen in the picture, Leeds fans were quick to make their fury known.

After a little over a year at Old Trafford, Ferdinand hit the front page once again, this time for failing to appear for a scheduled drug test and consequently earning an unprecedented eight-month ban from unimpressed officials.

Since his controversial early days, though, the central defender has since become one of United's most important assets, playing a major role in all of their subsequent title-winning campaigns.

1. Mark Bosnich

During his second stint at United between 1999 and 2001, goalkeeper Mark Bosnich couldn't prevent his personal demons from ruining what had been, up until that point, a successful footballing career.

Fitness issues were initially cited as the reason for Sir Alex releasing the player on a free transfer, but it later emerged that the Australian keeper had let a cocaine addiction get the better of him.

"There was a stage where I got up to 10 grams (of cocaine) a day when I was really down in the dumps," he later revealed to Australian current affairs program The World Game (h/t Sydney Morning Herald).

It seems that Bosnich is still on unhappy terms with his former club, recently attacking Sir Alex Ferguson in an interview with talkSPORT (h/t Goal.com).

“I know a lot of people are too scared to say it, but it starts with the manager. I don’t think he’s got anyone around him anymore, or that any of the players are strong enough to challenge the decisions he’s making and what he’s doing."

No doubt there is no love lost for either party.