Greening hits out at United

Middlesbrough-bound Jonathan Greening has accused Manchester United of betraying the youth policy which has brought them so much success over the past decade.  

Sir Alex Ferguson has been widely praised for bringing through talent from within the club's junior ranks.

However, Greening believes the Premiership champions have now moved away from that philosophy in favour of a spend, spend, spend mentality.

The England Under-21 star, who will complete the switch to Teesside alongside United team-mate Mark Wilson in a £4million double swoop, told The Sun: "Signing Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Veron was confirmation for me that youngsters at United are rarely given the same opportunity as players were in the past.

"The club is more likely to spend millions rather than give fringe players the time to establish themselves.

"I have a Champions League winner's medal after sitting on the bench when we beat Bayern.

"But I didn't play a single minute of European football that season. I felt a bit of a fraud when I got the medal."

Wilson, another who has failed to fully establish himself at Old Trafford, added that other clubs have now taken over from United in youth development.

He said: "It has been frustrating watching the likes of Alan Smith (Leeds) and Kieron Dyer (Newcastle) making their mark on the England set-up."