Manchester United News: Ferguson Gives His Opinion on Di Maria, Falcao and the Rest of the Summer Signings

Manchester United were the biggest buyers in the English Premier League this season, spending over £150 million to bring in world-class players.

While Sir Alex Ferguson every once in a while went into the transfer market to spend heavily on a player or two, it was never quite at this level during his time at Manchester United.

However, the Manchester United legend understood the reasons for such an outlay in transfers, considering the fact that the club only finished in seventh place last season in the English Premier League.

He also knows that in Louis Van Gaal, Manchester United currently have a manager with plenty of experience and know-how.

"It's the rebuilding of the team and they brought in some good quality," said Ferguson to MUTV. "It was really important because you need quality at Manchester United, you need the best players."

Asked to give his verdict on the new signings -- Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw, Radamel Falcao, Angel Di Maria, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo -- Ferguson was his usual candid self.

Ferguson admitted he was not surprised to see Manchester United break the British transfer record to bring in Di Maria, who has already made a big impact in such a small time, from Real Madrid.

"That's the way the game is going today with fees like £85million for Gareth Bale," said Ferguson when asked about what he felt about spending nearly £60 million on Di Maria.

"I think when you can identify ability like that needed by Manchester United, they have the resources to do that. They are fees I never quite equalled but nonetheless they were needing quite a big injection this year."

The former manager then went on to discuss Herrera, who he believes has the talent and physical capabilities to cope in the Premier League, and Shaw, who was brought in from Southampton for nearly £30 million.

"Herrera played against us three years ago for Bilbao in the Europa League," said Ferguson. "In fairness, they gave us a right battering at Old Trafford. He's a talented young player and we scouted him quite a lot at that time.

"Obviously, I think they tried to get him last year but it fell through for some reason or another. He's athletic, quite aggressive actually for a lad who has not got a great frame and he's quite slim but he's quite aggressive and he gets around the pitch.

"The signing of Shaw was the one we tried to get when he was 16 years of age. They wouldn't sell him to us but they always said we'd be first to know if they ever did. Of course, Ed Woodward has carried that through and we got him for, I think it was £30million. He's a talented boy, a good footballer who likes to get forward all the time."

Ferguson also was impressed with the performances of Marcos Rojo during the World Cup for Argentina, while the Scot compared Daley Blind to Darren Fletcher.

"Rojo, the Argentinian boy, I watched him at the World Cup, I thought he did really well for them and I think he's capable of playing either left side as a wingback if you like or as a centre-back," added Ferguson.

"Daley Blind is one of those common-sense footballers that make up a team. He's probably a version of Darren Fletcher of a few years ago, that type of player. He's a good professional with common sense to his game. He keeps it simple and protects the defenders and the attacking midfield players in his role."

The icing on the cake for Manchester United during the summer transfer window was when they signed Falcao on a season-long loan, with an opportunity to make it permanent next summer, and Ferguson believes the signing of the Colombian could be the ultimate masterstroke.

"The big one is Falcao who we're all waiting to see," Ferguson said. "Obviously, he has fantastic goalscoring ability. He had his injury so getting him on loan is the right thing to do."