Saha: I'm furious

Louis Saha blew the row over his transfer to Manchester United wide open today with an astonishing attack on Fulham.

The French striker fiercely criticised Fulham owner Mohamed Fayed for blocking the £8million move and admitted that he is "disgusted" at the decision.

In the outburst, which must cast doubt on Saha's immediate future with Fulham, he also claims he is dejected at missing "the chance of a lifetime" move to Old Trafford.

Yesterday both Fayed and manager Chris Coleman made it clear they would not sell the player, who has scored 14 goals this season, in the January transfer window. Fayed also attacked Sir Alex Ferguson directly for his transfer tactics while Coleman condemned the "outside influences" who were trying to unsettle his player after the club rejected a second United bid.

But in France's main sports paper, the highly respected L'Equipe, Saha is quoted as saying: "On Tuesday morning the club management confirmed to me that they did not want to let me go. I am really disgusted, dejected and downhearted.

"A transfer to Manchester United was a good deal for everyone. United were offering £8m and that was good for Fulham.

"Let's face facts, I'm not Ronaldo. As for me, I had an opportunity to join one of the biggest clubs in the world. This was the chance of my lifetime.

"It is sure that Manchester United will not come after me again in six months' time. In the meantime they will have found another forward. I really do not understand Fayed's position.

"I thought I had a kind of get-out clause for services I have given to the club. After all, I have given a lot to Fulham."

United's interest stems from the fact that Saha has twice excelled at Old Trafford - in the first game of last season when he scored Fulham's opening Premiership goal in a 3-2 defeat and particularly this season when Coleman's side went to face the Champions and spectacularly won 3-1.

United have identified him as their No1 target as they search for top-class back-up in case Ruud van Nistelrooy is injured.

This latest development is a second major test for Coleman. Sean Davis asked for a transfer in the summer and the club made it clear they did not want a player who wanted to leave.

They sanctioned a £5.5m move to Everton as a result but it broke down over a medical.

When Davis was fit again Coleman left him out of the team until his request was withdrawn and it was thought that the Fulham manager would treat Saha in the same way.

But the circumstances with the Frenchman are different and Coleman has been left in the unenviable position of trying to persuade him to stay against his wishes.

He has tried to convince Saha that his firstteamchances at United would be limited. Coleman has taken a practical approach to the situation but will be left with a difficult selection decision over the striker at Middlesbrough tonight after his outburst.

The manager said: "Louis is under contract. He has two-and-a-half years left. If he says he is leaving and that is that, how? He cannot just get up and walk out. It is so disruptive to lose one of your best players at this stage.

"Who sells their striker who has been banging in goals in January just because it suits another club?"

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