Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has renewed his criticism of Sepp Blatter, comparing him to a "despot" and warning that the Fifa president is losing credibility within the game. Blatter has an unfortunate history of thinking out loud and planting his foot firmly in mouth but none have gone as far as to compare him with an 'African dictator'.

"I think Sepp Blatter is in danger ... or has reached a point now where he is being mocked within the game," Ferguson said in an interview with GQ magazine.

"Whether he's getting too old I don't know," add the 66-year-old of the 72-year-old. "But things can happen to people in power. Look at some of the despots in Africa."

Blatter's ill-advised comments earlier this year suggesting that football clubs treat players like "slaves", were in reference to United's reluctance to let Cristiano Ronaldo leave for Real Madrid.

"When he came out with that stuff it created a furore and rightly so, the year after the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery," Ferguson added.

Asked by his interviewer if he was comparing Blatter to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, Ferguson, perhaps realising the irony, insisted: "That would be ridiculous.

"All I'm saying is that, from a position of great power, he has uttered so many ridiculous statements he is in danger of seriously damaging his credibility."

The United manager also accused Real of signing Argentina defender Gabriel Heinze in order to try to tempt Ronaldo away from Old Trafford.

"We knew it was going to happen because Ronaldo was very close to Heinze," Ferguson said. "I don't believe they were interested in Heinze, good player though he is. The end game was to get Ronaldo."