Former Manchester United star SLAMS Paul Merson for deadline day comments😬

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Rio Ferdinand has hit out at Paul Merson after the former Arsenal player labelled Manchester United’s acquisition of Marcel Sabitzer as a panic buy.Ā 

Manchester United was dealt a major injury blow when their key creative talent, Christian Eriksen was injured in their FA Cup clash with Reading. The Danish midfielder found himself on the wrong end of a crunching tackle from Andy Carroll which should’ve been red but ultimately, went unpunished.

This left Erik ten Hag a man down in an already dilapidated midfield and forced the club into the transfer market at the last minute. With very limited options, they managed to pull off a deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Sabitzer on a 6-month loan deal.

Although this isn’t a marquee signing it is a smart pickup under the circumstances.

But not everybody was impressed, speaking on Sky Sports Merson criticised the purchase and claimed that it was a ā€˜panic buy.’

Now following the former Arsenal player’s comments, Ferdinand has hit out at Merson on his podcast, Vibe with FIVE.

ā€œI’m absolutely delighted,ā€ Ferdinand said.

ā€œIf I was to say that I could go and get as short-term replacement at the drop of a hat for Eriksen, Sabitzer is a player who you would have gone ā€˜ooh, If I can get him, I’ll take him’.

ā€œI watched a hell of a lot of this player when he was at Leipzig in the Champions League, he was sensational. He was integral to everything they did there.

ā€œYeah, he’s gone to Bayern Munich and he hasn’t become a regular there, but I think he will be a really good signing. A really experienced player, he’s played in big games, he knows his way around a football pitch.

ā€œThat just stinks, for me, that Paul Merson hasn’t seen him play, wouldn’t know if he’s left or right-footed. You can’t say that he’s a bad signing because you don’t get signed by Bayern Munich if you’re a chump.

ā€œMan United couldn’t have done any better, so well done to their recruitment team.ā€

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