Source: Daily_Mail
Sir Alex Ferguson renews attack on agents
Sir Alex Ferguson has reopened his attack on football agents by recalling the day one asked Manchester United to buy him a block of flats to ensure a transfer went through.[LNB]United manager Ferguson, whose son Jason was an agent, has launched something of a crusade against the industry since he blamed Wayne Rooney's representative, Paul Stretford, for allegedly turning his star player's head towards Manchester City in October.[LNB]Now Ferguson has gone a step further by revealing some of the sweeteners agents allegedly asked for in dealings with his club.[LNB] Attack: Sir Alex Ferguson has long waged war against agents like Paul Stretford[LNB]Ferguson said last night that 'one wanted us to get a box of flats' and, in an interview with RTE Radio 1, the 69-year-old told another story of an agent who wanted his client - a striker - to be paid a bonus every time he scored.[LNB]Ferguson said: 'I said (to the United board), 'Can you please remind him that's why we are buying in the first place - because he's a goalscorer'. This is what you're dealing with. It's unbelievable.[LNB]'I get annoyed when managers phone me and say such and such a player - and I'm talking about players who couldn't lace my reserve team's boots - is asking for £1million a year.[LNB]'That's when it's disappointing . . . the way some agents work a miracle by getting these terms for players who are not stars.[LNB] Worth the money: Sir Alex believes the current United squad are worth their sky-high wages[LNB]'At United I think most of my first-team players deserve what they're getting. They're playing in front of 75,000 people every week, they're achieving, successful, good footballers, honest professionals.[LNB]'They produce on the field, they bring people into the grounds, and they deserve it. But there are some players at other clubs who get paid enormous amounts of money and I don't know why.'[LNB]Meanwhile, Dean Whitehead is talking up Stoke's prospects of exploiting the weaknesses he believes exist in Manchester United's back four. Stoke travel to Old Trafford tomorrow buoyed by their 2-0 defeat of Everton and Whitehead is optimistic.[LNB]He said: 'There are a few games they have won which have been close games - against us here is an example. But if you get at them they are vulnerable at the back, I think. So I'm sure we will be working on ways to get at them.' [LNB] Winning ugly: Wayne Rooney the only star as Manchester United lose their swaggerDon't compare me to Solskjaer yet! Hernandez keeping his feet on groundBeckham says yes to Spurs! And he's set to make his debut against UnitedAll the latest Manchester United news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Wayne Rooney, Alex Ferguson, Paul Stretford, Dean Whitehead
