Gary Neville questions United’s transfer policy

LONDON — Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has questioned the club’s transfer policy, particularly the £16 million (S$32.8 million) sale of Danny Welbeck on deadline day to rivals Arsenal.

Welbeck, a product of United’s fabled youth development set-up, is one a slew of players let go by new manager Louis van Gaal as the Dutchman seeks to return the record 20-time English league champions to their glory days.

The Red Devils spent an estimated £150 million on new signings Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Angel di Maria, Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao, and they are expected to feature in United’s Premier League clash against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.

While the signings have created a sense of anticipation among the club’s fans and leading figures including director Sir Bobby Charlton, Neville remains baffled by the logic behind United’s transfer policy this season.

“I have to admit I thought the Danny Welbeck sale was a strange one,” said Neville, reported the Daily Telegraph.

“I can’t work it out. Obviously I’m working with him last week and I’m thinking £16 million?

“There are right-backs and left-backs galore bought for £14 million, £15 million, £16 million. I’m thinking how have they got him for £16 million? I can’t work it out. It has helped out a competitor — someone probably vying for those third and fourth places. I am struggling to understand the logic behind the deal in two or three ways.”

United have given Van Gaal the target of a top-three finish in the Premier League this season.

Although the lack of Champions League football is expected to cost them £48 million in revenue, United are expected to continue their spending spree during the next transfer window in January.

But Neville said: “It is not the way I would expect United to go about their business. I always expect it to be a lot more controlled.

“They have overpaid. There is no doubt about that. They’ve had to but what they have proven is that people will still go there. Now Louis van Gaal has to mould them into the team. It won’t be easy.”

Neville’s comments come as former United team-mate and current assistant manager Ryan Giggs insisted the club will never abandon their policy of giving youngsters a chance.

Assistant manager Giggs, who joined as a 14-year-old, made his debut aged 17 and retired as a player last season at 40 after nearly 1,000 matches, said they were proud of their youth system that “separates United from other clubs”.

Speaking at the Soccerex Global Convention in Manchester alongside two other members of the famous “Class of 92” — Nicky Butt and Phil Neville — Giggs told a packed auditorium: “The club will never change.”

Despite the pressure to start winning again, Giggs insists Van Gaal will continue to give the club’s youth players opportunities.

“He has a track record of giving youngsters a chance,” said the Welshman. “Tyler Blackett has played every game this season, then you’ve got (Adnan) Januzaj, James Wilson coming through, so players will always leave but we have to make sure youngsters come through because United fans demand it.

However, Butt was sceptical about the likelihood of another “Class of 92” emerging as football is now a multi-million dollar, results-oriented business.

“Until the owners speak to the managers and tell them it’s a journey they are on together and it could take seven, eight or nine years — and you are not going to get sacked — I don’t think you are going to see six, or five or even three young players coming through in the same age group as we did,” he said. AGENCIES