Rio Ferdinand has slammed Arsenal legend Paul Merson for questioning Manchester United’s deadline-day signing Marcel Sabitzer.
After learning that Christian Eriksen would be out for three months with an ankle injury, United immediately began looking for midfield reinforcements.
The injury put Erik ten Hag in jeopardy, but Manchester United completed a loan deal for Austria midfielder Sabitzer on deadline day to compensate for Eriksen’s absence.
Sabitzer, 28, is on loan from Bayern Munich to United until the end of the season.
The Austrian spent six productive seasons at RB Leipzig before joining Bayern in the summer of 2021, but Merson questioned his credentials as United began working on the deal, calling it a ‘panic buy’.
‘He doesn’t get into Bayern Munich, he’s a long way off,’ Merson told Sky Sports. ‘I know the two in midfield are established, but if he was that good, he’d be pushing.
‘It’s back to panic mode. There was no interest in him on January 1, but now there’s a panic, Eriksen’s just been injured, and you’re bringing in fourth-rate Bayern Munich players. That’s something I’m not sure about.
‘This lad wasn’t on anyone’s radar before, and he doesn’t make the Bayern Munich squad. If I were a Manchester United fan, I’d be thinking, he’s not in their first team, so why would we want him in ours? Are there already players there who are better than him?’
Ferdinand, on the other hand, strongly disagrees with Merson’s assessment of Sabitzer, saying the comments stink of someone who hasn’t seen the player in action.
‘I am completely satisfied,’ Ferdinand said on the FIVE YouTube channel. ‘If I needed a short-term replacement for Eriksen at the drop of a hat, Sabitzer is the player I’d go after.
‘I saw a lot of this player when he was at RB Leipzig, and he was fantastic. He was an essential part of everything they did.
‘He went to Bayern and hasn’t torn it up or become a regular there, but the players he’s supporting are big household names.
‘He will be a fantastic signing for Manchester United. He’s an experienced player who has appeared in big games like the Champions League.
‘Those comments [from Paul Merson] stink to me of someone who hasn’t seen him play and has no idea who he is or whether he’s left or right-footed because you can’t say it’s a bad signing.
‘He knows how to play football. If you’re a jerk, you won’t be signed by Bayern Munich. He’s a fantastic football player. I don’t think Manchester United could have done any better.’
Manchester United is currently fourth in the Premier League and will play the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night. The away leg was won by United 3-0.
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