Ferguson fears £17m recruit is a year off pace

Daniel Taylor
Friday September 28, 2007
The Guardian

Anderson, Manchester United's £17m summer recruit, may come with a big reputation and an even bigger price tag, but the Brazilian is facing a prolonged spell in the reserves after an unflattering start to life with his new club.

Sir Alex Ferguson had angry words with the entire team after Wednesday's Carling Cup defeat at home to Coventry City, but he was particularly aggrieved about Anderson's ineffectual display and is concerned at how the new arrival is struggling to make a favourable impression.

Ferguson made it clear from the outset that he did not expect the 19-year-old to acclimatise straight away to life in a new country and that he was signed, in effect, with the long-term intention of him taking over from Paul Scholes, who will be 33 in November. None the less, Ferguson is entitled to be dismayed that his expensive recruit has been unable to make a positive impact in his first four months at Old Trafford.

Anderson suffered the ignominy of being substituted at half-time in his only Premier League appearance, the 1-0 victory over Sunderland on September 1, but Ferguson expected the attacking midfielder to play an important role in the experimental and youthful side he chose against Coventry. Instead, Anderson was one of the weaker players, often off the pace and, most disappointingly for his manager, showing little desire.

Ferguson admitted being "flabbergasted" and "shocked" by the performance of his players after Coventry won 2-0. Even stronger words were used in the dressing room and Anderson was not spared from the harshest criticism.

While not singling out Anderson, United's captain for the night, John O'Shea, clearly had the Brazilian in mind when he said: "The lads know they should have done better. For some reason, the technique and ability we know these young players have just wasn't there, which was a big disappointment."

In mitigation, Anderson has not been helped by a pre-season hamstring injury, but it has been made clear to Ferguson that the teenager may need a longer bedding-in period than had initially been anticipated. Ferguson has told his colleagues it may be a year before the player, a full Brazil international, is ready to seriously challenge for a first-team place, an astonishing admission given the amount of money it took to sign him from Porto.

Anderson is having English lessons to help him adapt to life in Manchester but he did himself no favours with Ferguson when, along with Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo, he allegedly employed the services of an escort agency and became the victim of a kiss-and-tell story in the tabloids. All three players have been reprimanded and reminded of their responsibility to avoid bad publicity.