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LONDON - Former Dutch international and Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit called Thursday on top clubs to concentrate on developing their youth academies rather than buying in star players on big money transfers.

Gullit believes making the most of youth development is the key to a club's success.

"There are so many clubs that have youth development, but not many players come through, they are all buying players. Is it a waste of time if you are buying

players all the time and nothing comes through? That's a concern," he said in an interview with Feel Football.

The former Netherlands captain also has concerns with the development programmes set up to unearth new talent in clubs across Europe.

Gullit believes the programmes are too intense and are causing potentially career-threatening injuries before the players even have the chance to prove their skills at the top level.

"There are so many injuries in youth at the moment - cruciates, meniscus, ankles and so on. I think when I was 14 years old I didn't even know what a cruciate was, but nowadays the kids have so many problems, so what is the reason for it? Do we train them too hard? Is the pressure too much on these kids? Are they doing sports when they are younger? What changed?

"When I was younger, there was no pressure. You just enjoyed your football. You wanted to be a good player so you would train hard to become better and there was no pressure on you. There must be more pressure now - otherwise I don't understand why these kids have all these injuries."

Gullit hoped that clubs and the game's youth would take inspiration from Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, who was voted both Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year last season after an impressive performance for Manchester United.

"Ronaldo came out of a tough time and then all of a sudden he became the best player. I think it is great and it is certainly a good example for the youngsters.

"He had a lot of pressure but I think he looks like a serious boy and he has played well, no doubt about it.

"I have to say, I think clubs prepare people well for coping with the pressures of the game. They have mental coaches and coaches to help them with the press, so I think they have more help than they did in the old days. And that helps.

"Off-pitch it has changed a lot. You have to be serious in what you do because you only have until you are 34 to do all that is possible. And if you mess it up with going out and drinking and doing stupid things, it is a waste of time. It is a case of are you strong enough to resist the temptation?"

source: Soocerway.com