Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger hit back at Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge over reported comments that his signing of young players was like "child trafficking".
Rummenigge blasted at the Frenchman in an interview with Sport Bild magazine, attacking the way the Gunners have recruited players from abroad such as Cesc Fàbregas.
The Spaniard moved to London from the Barcelona youth set-up when he was just 16.
But Wenger insisted Bayern used exactly the same tactics to strengthen their own squad, citing the example of Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz who joined the Bavarians from Olimpia Asunción in May 1999 when he was still 17.
"It is an old speech," Wenger said after a 1-0 loss to Manchester United in the Champions League semifinals first leg.
"Look at Santa Cruz at Blackburn. Ask him what age he came to Bayern Munich. Then you have an answer for Karl-Heinz Rummenigge."
Wenger has developed a reputation for turning promising youngsters into international superstars, having also signed a 17-year-old Nicolas Anelka from Paris St Germain for £500,000.
Rummenigge has not been impressed by his policy and believes some of Wenger's targets are too young.
He said: "Wenger seems to take a host of players from France or wherever else each year and this has got to be prevented.
"The best example has got to be Fàbregas. He signed from Barcelona at the age of 15 on a free transfer, just because he was about to sign a contract at the age of 16."
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Rummenigge blasted at the Frenchman in an interview with Sport Bild magazine, attacking the way the Gunners have recruited players from abroad such as Cesc Fàbregas.
The Spaniard moved to London from the Barcelona youth set-up when he was just 16.
But Wenger insisted Bayern used exactly the same tactics to strengthen their own squad, citing the example of Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz who joined the Bavarians from Olimpia Asunción in May 1999 when he was still 17.
"It is an old speech," Wenger said after a 1-0 loss to Manchester United in the Champions League semifinals first leg.
"Look at Santa Cruz at Blackburn. Ask him what age he came to Bayern Munich. Then you have an answer for Karl-Heinz Rummenigge."
Wenger has developed a reputation for turning promising youngsters into international superstars, having also signed a 17-year-old Nicolas Anelka from Paris St Germain for £500,000.
Rummenigge has not been impressed by his policy and believes some of Wenger's targets are too young.
He said: "Wenger seems to take a host of players from France or wherever else each year and this has got to be prevented.
"The best example has got to be Fàbregas. He signed from Barcelona at the age of 15 on a free transfer, just because he was about to sign a contract at the age of 16."
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