• Premier League

Fergie claims €45m Lucas fee is madness

ESPN staff
August 9, 2012
Lucas Moura has a lot to live up to at Paris Saint Germain © Getty Images
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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed Paris Saint Germain's decision to shell out €45million on Lucas Moura suggests the "game's gone mad".

United had looked in pole position to land one of the brightest stars in Brazilian football, but they were trumped by a huge offer from cash-rich PSG that persuaded Sao Paulo to sell.

The arrival of Lucas will take PSG's spending this summer well over the £100m mark, with Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic also brought in for huge fees, and Ferguson has suggested there is no way United can compete until UEFA steps in.

"I find it quite amazing that a club can pay €45million for a 19-year-old boy," Ferguson said. "To make a mark on everyone - to tell everyone that PSG are here - they've signed Thiago Silva from Milan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"They must have spent about €150million in the last month. As you know, the only deterrent to that is UEFA.

"When somebody's paying €45m for a 19-year-old boy you have to say the game's gone mad."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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