Fergie 'not worried' by Abu Dhabi money threat

NO WORRIES: For Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson. (AFP)

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday he was not worried by the takeover of city rivals Manchester City by billionaire Arab owners who have pledged to take it to the top of the Premier League.

"I can't be worried," Ferguson told reporters after a meeting of top European coaches at UEFA's headquarters here.

"We have a good set-up ourselves, we've been working for years to build the team we've got," he said.

"There's always challenges in football, some years ago it was Chelsea, some years ago it was Arsenal, and whenever the challenges come you have to accept it, it doesn't change anything," Ferguson added.

Sulaiman Al-Fahim, of City's new owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group, has pledged to take the club into the top four this season, and has already swiped Brazil striker Robinho from under the noses of Chelsea, buying him from Real Madrid for around $61.6 million.

The club is reportedly planning a record $240 million bid for Manchester United's star winger Cristiano Ronaldo, just after Ferguson fended off a lengthy summer courtship by Real Madrid.

The Scotsman was dismissive Friday of any possible approach from the Blues. "Yeah well... they can talk," he said.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger also attended the meeting and told reporters the volumes of cash pouring into the game reflect its pre-eminent global status.

"Football is the most popular sport in the world. It attracts money, that is quite positive," he said.

"It is down to the football world to regulate the impact of money well, that it must not make the game worse but better," Wenger added.

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