Manchester United owner to spend money on world-class players

LONDON - Manchester United’s American owner Malcolm Glazer has promised that the 80 million pounds earned from the sale of Christiano Rolando will be used in buying “world class players” and not to reduce the club’s 700 million pounds debt.

United manager Alex Ferguson is planning to spend 17 million pounds to buy Wigan’s Ecuadorean winger Antonio Valencia. He also plans to buy Bayern Munich’s 50 million pounds winger Franck Ribery and Lyon’s forward Karim Benzema for 25 million pounds.

The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday that the Manchester United Supporters Trust issued a statement following Ronaldo’s sale Thursday, urging the Glazers to “make a statement of intent that all incoming transfer funds will be made available to Sir Alex Ferguson”.

The Florida-based Glazer made a rare public statement by insisting that he will continue to fully back the manager in the transfer market.

“Only the paranoia of some supporters would lead you to believe the owners are not going to continue investing in the team. A substantial number of world-class players have been brought to the club in the past few years and that will still be the case,” Glazer’s spokesman was quoted as saying by the daily.

“Sir Alex Ferguson is in total control of his squad. He is empowered to make whatever decisions he thinks are in the best interests of Manchester United. That continues to be the case. The fact is that Cristiano Ronaldo decided, after six years, that it was time to move on and the manager said OK. The idea that Manchester United are motivated by a debt burden is just not true. It is not an issue,” he added.