I guess the dozy French has-been hasn't seen our academy plans then?
And we do have a lot of good players at youth level even now but he wouldn't know anything about that with his typical blanket statement about our club.
And exactly WHAT has United's amazing youth academy produced in the past decade? John O'Shea?
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Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has warned Manchester City they will never match his former club until they start to spend on their academy as they have done on their first-team squad.
Once again City owner Sheikh Mansour has splashed the cash this summer, investing heavily on Sergio Aguero, Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic, with the prospect of a hefty bid for Samir Nasri likely to be lodged before the Premier League gets under way in 10 days' time.
Yet manager Roberto Mancini complained towards the end of last season at the lack of players with first-team potential in the City academy, which was a remarkable statement given how productive the Blues had previously been at youth level.
And Cantona, back in Manchester to take charge of the New York Cosmos side that will face United in Paul Scholes' testimonial at Old Trafford on Friday, believes it will become a massive handicap unless that famed youth policy is restored to his former glory.
"United are the best team," said Cantona.
"I don't know how City work. Maybe they are working on the academy.
"But today they want to spend millions to buy players to build a team.
"They have been successful because they won the FA Cup but if they only want to do that, they will not be as strong as Manchester United.
"United work on the long term, with young talent."
Cantona also launched a broadside at Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli, who have this summer both criticised the lifestyle in Manchester.
"They don't like the place?" he laughed.
"It depends upon where they come from. If they come from Milan, maybe. Also it depends why they have come.
"I had a great time here and a great time in the city but the most important thing for me was to play for the best club in the world, with the best players in the world.
"I was a professional player. I didn't try to find a city to enjoy it. The greatest time you can have is on the pitch."
And we do have a lot of good players at youth level even now but he wouldn't know anything about that with his typical blanket statement about our club.
And exactly WHAT has United's amazing youth academy produced in the past decade? John O'Shea?
-
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has warned Manchester City they will never match his former club until they start to spend on their academy as they have done on their first-team squad.
Once again City owner Sheikh Mansour has splashed the cash this summer, investing heavily on Sergio Aguero, Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic, with the prospect of a hefty bid for Samir Nasri likely to be lodged before the Premier League gets under way in 10 days' time.
Yet manager Roberto Mancini complained towards the end of last season at the lack of players with first-team potential in the City academy, which was a remarkable statement given how productive the Blues had previously been at youth level.
And Cantona, back in Manchester to take charge of the New York Cosmos side that will face United in Paul Scholes' testimonial at Old Trafford on Friday, believes it will become a massive handicap unless that famed youth policy is restored to his former glory.
"United are the best team," said Cantona.
"I don't know how City work. Maybe they are working on the academy.
"But today they want to spend millions to buy players to build a team.
"They have been successful because they won the FA Cup but if they only want to do that, they will not be as strong as Manchester United.
"United work on the long term, with young talent."
Cantona also launched a broadside at Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli, who have this summer both criticised the lifestyle in Manchester.
"They don't like the place?" he laughed.
"It depends upon where they come from. If they come from Milan, maybe. Also it depends why they have come.
"I had a great time here and a great time in the city but the most important thing for me was to play for the best club in the world, with the best players in the world.
"I was a professional player. I didn't try to find a city to enjoy it. The greatest time you can have is on the pitch."