Eric Cantona blasts Manchester City

Last updated : 04 August 2011 By Daily Mail

City's lavish spending under Sheik? Mansour was rewarded last season when Roberto Mancini ended the club's 35-year wait for a trophy by winning the FA Cup and reaching the Champions League.

Legends: Eric Cantona and Pele shake hands at the New York Cosmos launch in Manchester on Wednesday

Mancini broke the club record by spending ?38million on Sergio Aguero last month, but Cantona believes City will never have the kind of long-term success United have enjoyed under Sir Alex Ferguson unless they give youth a chance.

'United are the best team,' said Cantona, whose move to Old Trafford in 1992 was the catalyst for a golden era. 'I don't know how City work, maybe they work on the academy, but today they want to spend to build a team, to buy players.

'They've been successful because they won the FA Cup, but if they only do that they will not be as strong as United who are bringing through young talent.'

In the spotlight: Cantona hit out at Man City

Cantona's comments were timely and not just because he is back in Manchester in his role of director of soccer at New York Cosmos for a testimonial in honour of Paul Scholes, one of the homegrown talents who came into the United team shortly before the Frenchman's shock departure in 1997.

The problem of bringing in expensive foreign stars has been highlighted again at City this week by the ongoing uncertainty over Carlos Tevez's future and more unrest surrounding the temperamental Mario Balotelli.

Both players have expressed their dissastisfaction at life in Manchester, but Cantona insisted that happiness on the pitch is more important.

Follow our lead: Cantona, seen her celebrating a strike against City has warned them to stop their lavish spending

'The most important thing for me was to play for the best club in the world with some of the best players in the world,' said the 45-year-old.

'The greatest time you can have is on the pitch. I loved Manchester and the people. Every time I come back to Manchester I go to Old Trafford. It's very special for me and it will be even more so this time.'

Sat alongside former Cosmos star Pele to promote tomorrow night's game,?Cantona disputed Ferguson's claim that Scholes would be irreplaceable.

He added: 'You can replace players, especially at a club like United with a great manager like Sir Alex Ferguson. Every time a player leaves we think the club can't win any more and they still win things because they are very strong.'

Forget youth: Aguero (left) and Clichy have joined Man City this summer

Another departed Old Trafford legend, Edwin van der Sar, had his testimonial last night as former United team-mates including Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand turned out for the goalkeeper's dream team in a2-1 win over the current Ajax side.

While replacing Scholes and Van der Sar will be a problem for United, City's main worry is the future of Tevez.

The unhappy Argentina striker vowed never to return to Manchester but he is due back in training on Monday.

City last night revealed they had granted Tevez, who was already scheduled to miss Sunday's Community Shield showdown with former club United, an extra four days' leave to spend with his family after originally instructing him to return today.

No place like home: Tevez (right) wants a return to Argentina to be close to his family

The 27-year-old was hoping to have his future resolved by now but may have to start the season in England after a deal with Brazilian club Corinthians collapsed.

City still want in excess of ?40m for Tevez and his personal terms wouldalso be a stumbling block for most clubs.

Inter Milan are said to be interested but there has been no bid. Balotelli, who, like Tevez, has spoken of his disillusionment with City life, trained? at Carrington.

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Source: Daily Mail

Source: Daily Mail