Fergie admits defeat in Hargreaves move
Hargreaves was picked for England's squad to face Spain after returning from injury
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Friday, 02, Feb 2007 09:04
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that Manchester United's hopes of signing Owen Hargreaves could be over.
The Premiership leaders failed to land Hargreaves during the January transfer window because the midfielder has just returned from breaking his leg in September.
Bayern Munich unveiled Ottmar Hitzfield as their new coach this week who may see Hargreaves, 26, as crucial to kick-staring their season.
Ferguson said the situation has now changed following Hitzfield's arrival at Bayern to replace Felix Magath.
"Everybody has got his own ambition to improve their club and, particularly when a new manager comes in, I am sure they will give him support," Ferguson said.
"Because it is Ottmar Hitzfeld and he has had a great experience with Bayern in the past, they are always likely to listen to him and that is an obvious worry for us.
"But we don't know until we get talking to him, if that does happen."
United have been chasing Hargreaves since the Canadian-born midfielder's impressive displays in England's World Cup campaign last summer.
While Ferguson hinted United would try again in the summer to land Hargreaves, he admitted he was disappointed in not having him for the club's crunch games this month.
"I think with Hargreaves, if we'd have got him, we'd be bringing in a young English centre-midfield player," said Ferguson.
"You've got to remember Paul Scholes is 32. Although I think Paul can play for quite a time, you know.
"But none the less I think we're doing the right thing if we'd have got him, we were doing the right thing in protecting our future. Unfortunately we didn't get him."