Ferguson: Beckham would never be Man Utd player under current system

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says they're forced to go abroad for young talent because of the laws blocking recruitment in England.

He said: "Well, I think there is a weakness in the academy system, as far as Manchester United is concerned. We can't scout a boy on the south coast of England or the North East or anywhere in the east of England - yet you can bring a boy from Brazil. It seems ludicrous.

"We used to go to Newcastle and Belfast and coach them, before the academy started. We would never have got David Beckham under the present situation.

"The reason for the distance restriction was education. They said that a boy from, say, Newcastle travelling to Manchester two days a week for coaching would have his education interfered with. You can understand that. But I don't think we have ever done that.

"You have to ask what would be a boy's best chance of being able to get to the top. Would it be at Torquay, or somewhere like that, or at big clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea?

"And who has produced more players for their countries than Manchester United?"

 
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