Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[richie_rich]

FERGIE HAS CASH TO SPEND - GLAZERS

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has upwards of £60million to spend on new players this summer, according to a spokesman for the Glazer family.

Fans have been unhappy the Red Devils have been relatively quiet in the transfer market despite the £80million exit of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez's decision not to stay beyond his two-year loan.

Old Trafford does have new faces in the shape of Antonio Valencia, Gabriel Obertan and Michael Owen, although the trio are believed to have cost around £22million with the latter a free transfer.

Ferguson has claimed that there will be no more new signings this summer, but that is not because there are no funds available for him to invest.

Although Glazer family spokesman Tehsin Nayani has conceded that United cough up interest payments of £43.3million a year to service the £750m loan used to buy the club, he insists their financial position remains healthy.

"We do have debt service and carry a significant amount of debt," confirmed Nayani.

"But our interest payments are around £43.3million a year while our operating profit was £80million topped by an extra £25m from transfer profits.

"So we are talking about a net amount of about £60m. That's cash that can be reinvested in the squad, doing up the toilets or new carpets.

"The point is there is money coming into United. One thing that is certain, because of globalisation and the growing middle classes in India and the Far East, the appeal of football is set to grow. We are part of that story."

United have been criticised over their failure to make a big summer signing while neighbours rivals Manchester City have been splashing the cash with a host of expensive new arrivals.

Nayani claims Ferguson is selective regarding his transfer policy and that he will not pay over-the-odds or fund excessive salaries.

"The truth is a lot more prosaic than that," Nayani continued.

"The delay is because the manager has not been able to locate the players that he believes fit into the Manchester United mindset, ones that are motivated to play for United.

"You don't want mercenaries, to pay over the odds for players not willing to give their all for the club."

[asiancigar]

Americans are all about bottom-line.........

It would be nice if some disgustingly rich Arab Shiehk came along and bought over ManU and started to splash a bit more.....

But alas, we will wait and see how the next campaign will turn out......

Cheerz
AC

[hoppnet]

Man Utd had paid too much money in the past for players , like Veron etc; and now Berbatov .
Man Utd always held to ransom to pay high price in the past .
Time for Man U to pay low for good players and sell high.

[slyer]

Originally Posted by asiancigar

Americans are all about bottom-line.........

It would be nice if some disgustingly rich Arab Shiehk came along and bought over ManU and started to splash a bit more.....

But alas, we will wait and see how the next campaign will turn out......

Cheerz
AC

i also hope some rich middle east biz man will buy over man utd and splash millions to buy top class players

seems like there will be no more new players coming to man utd in this transfer window

[Owen7]

Michael Owen reporting

[richie_rich]

Originally Posted by Owen7

Michael Owen reporting

A very warm welcome to United.

Cheers!

[alex18122003]

Premier League - Mourinho eyes Fergie's job

Internazionale coach Jose Mourinho has admitted that he would jump at the chance to step into Sir Alex Ferguson's shoes at Manchester United.

Mourinho's name has been mentioned frequently since his exit from Chelsea as a replacement for Ferguson, should the 67-year-old Scot decide to retire.

"I would consider going to Manchester United but United have to consider if they want me to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson," Mourinho told the Daily Mirror. "If they do, then of course.

"I like England, where the fans are very passionate and make the game a beautiful occasion with such an incredible atmosphere."

Mourinho guided Chelsea to back-to-back league titles.

However since the Portuguese's controversial exit two years ago, Chelsea are now onto their fourth manager and have failed to recapture the title, while he has now won Serie A as well with Inter.

"I had many conversations before Chelsea and I decided on a divorce," he said. "It was difficult for me because we loved each other but the relationship went in one direction and it was best for everyone.

"Since I left I became champion again but they have not been champions again. I keep on winning and they don't."

[richie_rich]

HARGREAVES BLOW FOR UNITED


Owen Hargreaves has been forced to delay his return to training with the rest of his Manchester United team-mates.

The England midfielder made just three appearances early on last season before being forced to undergo surgery for tendinitis in both knees.

Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson had already admitted that he did not expect the former Bayern Munich star to return to action until September.

The Scot had hoped that Hargreaves would be able to link up with the Premier League champions to train with his team-mates as they prepare for the Audi Cup in Germany.

But that plan has now been scuppered and Ferguson was unable to put a time-scale on when the 28-year-old would be back in action.

The United manager admitted: "Hargreaves will not play in this tournament.

"We had hoped he would be joining us, but he is still in his programme of rehabilitation.

"He has had major operations on both knees and we are not rushing that.

"He is young enough to come back once he is fully fit, but we are not rushing him."

[richie_rich]

DEBUT GOAL FOR VALENCIA

Antonio Valencia scored on his Manchester United debut as the Red Devils reached the final of the Audi Cup in Munich with a 2-1 win over Boca Juniors.

The Ecuadorian winger needed just 42 minutes of his United debut to find the target after Anderson had earlier netted his first goal for the club with a stunning free-kick.

Federico Insua reduced the arrears in the 55th minute as the Argentinians dominated the second half, but Sir Alex Ferguson's side held on to reach the final.

There they will meet old foes Bayern Munich as they demolished AC Milan 4-1 with a fine display of confident, attacking football on their first appearance at the Allianz Arena since Louis van Gaal took over.

Nineteen-year-old striker Thomas Muller grabbed a brace as the record German champions taught the Italians a lesson.

Bastian Schweinsteiger and Saer Sene were also on target for Bayern with a free-kick from Andrea Pirlo Milan's only consolation.

[alex18122003]

Ferdinand - we'll move on

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes the club can use their experience of rebuilding to cope with the loss of star men Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

The pair both left United this summer, for Real Madrid and Manchester City respectively, but Ferdinand has seen plenty of big name players come and go in his eight years at Old Trafford and expects the Red Devils to move on quickly.

"I think that's inevitable," he said. "When you lose any players, your team plays differently no matter who you lose."

He added: "We lost two very good players in Cristiano and Carlos, but Manchester United is a club that moves on and has remained a successful side.

"We have done that in recent years when we lost players of the ilk of David Beckham and Roy Keane, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Veron and players like that. People thought we would fall by the wayside but it didn't happen."

Antonio Valencia has arrived from Wigan and he has been earmarked as the man to step into the large boots left by Ronaldo and Ferdinand believes Sir Alex Ferguson has invested his money wisely in the Ecuadorian.

He said: "I think he will do very well this season. Antonio looks like he is going to be a good buy for us."

Ferdinand, meanwhile, believes the side's pre-season preparations are in good shape despite losing on a penalty shoot-out to Bayern Munich in the final of the Audi Cup on Thursday night.

United matched their hosts inside a packed Allianz Arena and were unfortunate not to come away with a win after Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney both squandered chances in the second half of a goalless 90 minutes.

But Ferdinand insists the result will not knock United off course as they aim to hit their peak for August 16 when they host Birmingham at Old Trafford. "I think we showed glimpses of improvement," he said. "I think the Asia tour has been a very good workout for us physically and today and yesterday (Thursday) was a step up in class in opposition."

[richie_rich]

FERGIE DEFENDS TRANSFER POLICY

Sir Alex Ferguson has once again defended his decision not to make major waves in the transfer market this summer - and insisted it had nothing to do with Manchester United's massive debt.

Despite receiving a world record £80million for the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, Ferguson has restricted his outgoings to £17million on Antonio Valencia and another £3million to recruit Gabriel Obertan from Bordeaux.

In addition, Ferguson snapped up Michael Owen on a free transfer, while Senegalese wonder-kid Mame Biram Diouf has also been signed by the Old Trafford outfit with an eye on the future.

However, the vast majority of United's Ronaldo money remains unspent, much to the chagrin of many fans who feel the Red Devils will struggle badly without the Portuguese.

Ferguson has heard the complaints, and the accusations that a debt approaching £700million is finally starting to bite.

But he offers a more soothing response.

"Pay no attention to the cynics who have suggested our owners have stopped us spending," he told United Review.

"Believe me, it was purely a football decision.

"Maybe it is the Scotsman in me but I believe in value, even when I am spending someone else's money, and the asking price for players we were looking at just wasn't realistic."

Indeed, Ferguson has been happy to let Real Madrid and Manchester City fuel the "inflationary spiral" in the transfer market because he feels the squad at his disposal is good enough to challenge on all fronts.

"What you must remember is that we are working from a position of strength," said Ferguson, whose side tackle La Liga outfit Valencia at Old Trafford this evening.

"We don't suddenly have to splash out to try and compete at the top."

And, while Ferguson has already admitted Ronaldo will be a "massive loss", he denies the argument that United cannot prosper without the world player of the year.

"We were never a one-man team," he said.

"We have other players who will rise to the occasion and fill the gap, of that I am sure."

[richie_rich]

OWEN OUT TO IMPRESS CAPELLO

Michael Owen will get the chance to impress England coach Fabio Capello at Old Trafford tonight.

Capello has not selected Owen since the friendly against Trinidad and Tobago 14 months ago, ruling the striker out on fitness grounds throughout last season even though England's fourth highest goalscorer was fit on occasion during a tortuous season with Newcastle.

However, the 29-year-old's surprise move to Manchester United has put him back in the reckoning again and while there are plenty of other Three Lions regulars likely to be involved in the Red Devils friendly with Valencia, Owen is bound to merit a mention as Capello heads north along with trusted assistant Franco Baldini.

The same is also true of Ben Foster, who is in line to profit from a broken finger and bone in Edwin van der Sar's left hand that will rule him out until the end of September.

Capello is due to name his squad on Saturday evening for next week's friendly against Holland.

The Dutch have already qualified for next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa, while victory over Croatia at Wembley next month would also be enough to seal England's place among the last 32.

[alex18122003]

Premier League - Van der Sar out for eight weeks


Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks after undergoing surgery on a broken finger and bone in his left hand.

The 38-year-old Dutchman sustained the injury saving a penalty from Danijel Pranjic in the Red Devils' 7-6 shoot-out defeat to Bayern Munich in the pre-season Audi Cup in Germany.

Van der Sar is not expected to be back in Sir Alex Ferguson's plans until late September, meaning the Scot will have to turn to either Ben Foster or Tomasz Kuszczak between the posts for the start of the new season.

The Dutchman could miss up to 12 matches and is unlikely to return before August 29 at the earliest.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson last month backed Foster, 26, to eventually establish himself as England's first-choice goalkeeper.

The 26-year-old has kept four clean sheets in 10 appearances for the club following his move from Stoke City in July 2005 and has long been touted as Van der Sar's eventual replacement.

Kuszczak, meanwhile, has played 37 times for the club since his move from West Brom in the summer of 2006.

United face Chelsea in the Community Shield on Aug 9, before opening the defence of their Premier League title a week later against Birmingham.

[machoman]

Chelsea a bigger threat than Liverpool: Fergie
Wednesday, August 05, 2009, 19:10:02 HRS

Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson poses for pictures with new signing Michael Owen at the club's Carrington training ground in Manchester, July 13. Ferguson, who has signed Owen and Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia in the close season, is adamant his squad is strong enough to retain the title and challenge in Europe again.

Sir Alex Ferguson insists Liverpool will struggle to pose a significant threat to Manchester United's bid for a record fourth consecutive Premier League title.

Ferguson spent much of last season engaged in an increasingly bitter war of words with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez and the United chief has wasted no time taking aim at his old rival again.

With the new league season still 10 days away, Ferguson has written off Liverpool's hopes of ending their 19-year wait to win the title.

Although Liverpool defeated United twice last season, including a 4-1 victory at Old Trafford, and finished just four points behind the champions, Ferguson believes Chelsea will be his team's main concern.

"It will be hard for them to match last season, let alone improve on it. Other teams will know more about them," Ferguson told The Sun.

"Liverpool had probably their best season for 20 years and still finished four points adrift.

"It has to be Chelsea as the main threat. Ancelotti will change how they play."

The close-season departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez have led some experts to predict a less successful season for United.

But Ferguson, who has signed Michael Owen and Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia, is adamant his squad is strong enough to retain the title and challege in Europe again.

"People have misread our situation and they have under-estimated our ability to improve players. That is an area where we have proved successful in the past," Ferguson said.

"We are expecting a lot from (Jonny) Evans, (Danny) Welbeck, (Darron) Gibson, (Federico) Macheda and the Da Silva brothers.

"And Nani and Anderson have already shown good things, but they will improve this season.

"We will miss Ronaldo's goal, that's obvious. But (Dimitar) Berbatov will do well this year. And (Wayne) Rooney and (Michael) Owen are both capable of getting 20 goals, so we've got plenty of options."

- AFP

[slyer]

valencia performance is good against valencia he is fast, with good crossing abilities and can score. hopefully he can fill ronaldo boots