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?"