ALEX FERGUSON BLASTS CITY

SIR ALEX FERGUSON has launched a savage attack on Manchester City over their controversial billboard of Carlos Tevez.

The United boss branded City arrogant and showed contempt for Tevez, who has been heralded with a huge poster on a main road in the centre of Manchester.

Fergie also claimed City new boy Emmanuel Adebayor called United to try and engineer a move to Old Trafford instead. But the former Arsenal striker was turned down flat.

Ferguson said: "The billboard is City, isn't it? They are a small club with a small mentality.

"All they can talk about is Manchester United, that's all they've ever done and they can't get away from it. That's stupid. That arrogance will be rewarded in the right way. It's a go at us, that's the one thing it is. I don't look upon City as my biggest challenge.

"They think taking Tevez away from Manchester United is a triumph. It is poor stuff. I thought he would go to City a long time ago. Now I don't have to deal with certain players who are miserable because they are not playing. I have good professionals here.

"What's Mark Hughes got, 10 strikers? So if he picks a squad to go to Chelsea he has to leave seven behind, or five at least. He has to deal with that. It will not be easy."

Fergie also revealed striker Adebayor - desperate to sign for a club playing Champions League football - called United and Chelsea in the hope they would hijack his move to Eastlands from Arsenal.

The United chief added: "At the last minute, from what I can gather, I know Adebayor or his agent phoned us after he had agreed a deal with City and then did the same to Chelsea.

"You ask why he is going to Manchester City and it can only be for one reason. He was desperate to get to Chelsea and he was desperate to get to us.


"I am not saying they are different to any other player but when someone offers you more money, that is a big attraction. That is the reason those players have gone there. I can't say I'm enthusiastic about the season because of everything that has gone on but there is an edge being put on us because of all the buying City have done.

"Do you know what City's biggest triumph is? It's getting those players there. I don't know if they will do anything. It's not easy to get in that top four so the biggest success is just to get the players there. They might not get beyond that.

"The top four has been established a long time. Liverpool or Chelsea won't die. City's spending is only demoralising if you panic.

"The one who has the challenge is Arsene. I know he doesn't have the money and how he uses that £25m will be very interesting. The test might not come from City. Tottenham, Aston Villa and Everton will all have a say."