ManChester United Football Club

epitome · Post time 3-8-2006 10:09 PM

Pique deal all but done

By Francisco Acedo - Created on 3 Aug 2006
Manchester United have all but tied up a deal for youngster Gerard Pique to play on loan at Real Zaragoza for the coming season.

The Catalunya-born centre back was part of the Spanish team which won the European Under-19 Championship this summer, and there are high hopes for him at Old Trafford.

But with four main centre halves already in the ranks in Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Mikael Silvestre, United have decided the 19-year-old would benefit from the experience of top flight football in Spain.

The Liga side will be financially penalised if they do not play the Red Devils starlet in at least 20 games, so the deal has worked out well for both sides.

"Ferguson has a lot of confidence in the kid and the option in Spain is perfect for his progression in the sport," the player's agent Arturo Canales explained.

Pique represents new coach Victor Fernandez's fifth summer signing at the Estadio La Romareda following the arrivals of Juanfran, Sergio Fernandez, Pablo Aimar and Andres D'Alessandro.

He is set to take the number five shirt at Zaragoza, who will now turn their attentions to their negotiations to take Real Madrid's attack-minded full back Carlos Diogo on loan for the season as well.

epitome · Post time 3-8-2006 10:13 PM

United unveil new boy Carrick

Manchester United have unveiled Michael Carrick as their big summer signing for an initial fee of ?14 million.

The England international has moved to Old Trafford from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal which could eventually rise to ?18.6 million.

Carrick has been handed the number 16 shirt for the coming season and steps into the hole created by Roy Keane's departure last autumn.

The former West Ham United trainee was quick to downplay comparisons to the ex-Red Devils skipper and has vowed to stamp his own mark on his new side.

"People are always going to talk," said Carrick on the comparisons. "Roy's a legend in the game, he's one of the greats and always will be.

"I'm my own man. I can't stop people talking about it, it's not something I'm really focused on.

"I'm focused on playing my own game and doing the things I do best, that's the best way to go for me.

"I put more pressure on myself to perform than anybody else does. I'm very critical of myself, highly critical, and I don't think anyone can be more than me."

The 25-year-old had spent two seasons at White Hart Lane, but admits he wanted to head to Old Trafford once he learned of United's interest.

He added: "Once I heard United were involved, I wanted to come, simple as that.

"It's a terrific club, a fantastic club that has been successful over the years.

"I just wanted to come and improve my game, and become a better player, achieve things, win trophies.

"It's an awesome setup, it really is. I've settled in quickly to be honest. Everyone's been great, the backroom staff have been fantastic.

"I want to get to know the lads as quick as I can, it's not a problem. I'm delighted to be here and I am looking forward to playing the first game really.

"It's a huge club with a tradition of being successful - that's the plan to get back to winning ways.

"They haven't won the league for three years and it's always nice to win the league and get back to winning ways. In that respect it's a big ambition of mine.

"The Champions League is also a special place to play and to test yourself against the best. I haven't had the opportunity to do that at that level, so I'm really looking forward to doing that."

Carrick paid tribute to the club he is leaving behind and offered his thanks to Tottenham boss Martin Jol.

He continued: "I'm confident I can become better, I always believe I can improve.

"I had two years at Tottenham and I've got a lot to thank the coaching staff for, especially Martin Jol.

"He helped me an awful lot to progress with my game. I got back in the England squad and I've got a lot to thank him for.

"The gaffer and the coach here will help me come on in leaps and bounds. I'm fully aware of the need to work on certain things to improve and I'm willing to do that."

epitome · Post time 3-8-2006 10:18 PM

Sir Alex considers striker move

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson is unsure whether he will sign a striker to replace Ruud van Nistelrooy, but says his squad will be strong enough to challenge for the top honours.

Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in 219 matches with the Reds in five years at the club, left for Real Madrid last month, leaving Sir Alex with five strikers at his disposal: Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha, Giuseppe Rossi, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and, in three weeks' time, Alan Smith, who is recovering from a broken leg.

Asked if he would attempt to sign another striker, the United boss responded: "We have one or two decision to make about that. But, if you look around you have to say there are not many centre-forwards we would really go for, in terms of what we would need.

Reds chief executive David Gill confirmed that United are looking at possibly two more signings this summer. A ball-winning midfielder is certainly on Sir Alex's shopping list, but he says a decision must be made whether to move for a striker. The United boss appears to be leaning towards the players he already has in his squad.

"It is more likely Giuseppe Rossi will stay now that Ruud van Nistelrooy has left," he said. "Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has come back and is looking promising. The more games he gets the more it will help him.

"We also have Rooney and Saha and - I'm not saying he will be back immediately - Alan Smith is back in training. He has been a real surprise to us in how well he has come on. He isn't far away from playing in an actual game now. I think in three weeks he will be back in the lion's den. He is a centre-forward of real guts and determination - a real handful for defenders. He's a different type of option for us. We also have Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, so we have plenty of attacking options.

"I'm happy with the squad I have got," he added. "We have a good bunch of players. What we need to do is make sure we don't get injuries in the early part of the season. That has definitely blighted us in the last two seasons. If we can do that we have a great chance this year."

epitome · Post time 3-8-2006 10:20 PM

Martin relishes first-team chance

Reds youngster Lee Martin is revelling in the opportunity to play alongside United's first-team players in pre-season.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who has appeared against Celtic and Preston so far this summer, procuded an impressive display against Macclesfield Town on Monday night alongside Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Sar.

"It's a great experience getting to play with players like Rooney, Rio and van der Sar. It's unbelievable," he told MUTV. "Getting to play with first-team players is always a good experience for young players."

The lively winger made his United debut last season in the Carling Cup against Barnet, and is eager for more first-team opportunities this season. Martin missed out on the chance to go on United's South Africa tour, but he wasn't disheartened.

"If I'm honest I was disappointed not to make the South Africa squad," he said. "But it's down to me to prove that I can be part of the first-team squad.

"I just have to keep playing my football and keep improving. It's not down to me to make the decisions on the team so all I can do is focus on playing as well as I can."

bagus budak neh

ShadowChaser · Post time 3-8-2006 11:07 PM

Valencia make Ronaldo bid

Eurosport - Mark Sennett - 03/08/2006 15:08

Valencia have reportedly offered Manchester United £17m plus Roberto Ayala for Cristiano Ronaldo. United are unlikely to accept the deal but the Spanish side are not convinced that Ronaldo wants to remain at Old Trafford.

The inclusion of Ayala in the deal is not expected to tempt the Red Devils but Manager Alex Ferguson is a long time admirer of the Argentine.

Ronaldo has not been selected as part of United's squad for the Amsterdam Tournament, which begins on Saturday. Instead he will stay behind in England along with Louis Saha and Mikael Silvestre and all three are expected to be part of a Manchester United XI that will travel to Oxford United on Tuesday.

If the Portuguese international plays it will be his first game on English soil since the World Cup. The winger has been widely criticised in the British media for his part in Wayne Rooney's sending off in England's quarter-final defeat to Portugal.

kalau tok alex jual le, aku jual tok alex nanti

epitome · Post time 3-8-2006 11:10 PM

kalo offer vicente atau baraja , fergie jual...

ShadowChaser · Post time 3-8-2006 11:35 PM

Originally posted by epitome at 3-8-2006 11:10 PM
kalo offer vicente atau baraja , fergie jual...

kalo offer vicente atau baraja aku pon aku jual

maxomeara · Post time 3-8-2006 11:40 PM

Originally posted by epitome at 3-8-2006 09:47 PM
Manchester United team-mates Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo are photographed together for the first time since their World Cup bust-up in the match between England and Portugal but spent much o ...

dgr citer captain neviller pon wat dek jek ngan ronaldo nih....sian plak aku ngan bdk kecik nih...:lol

epitome · Post time 3-8-2006 11:42 PM

Originally posted by maxomeara at 3-8-2006 11:40 PM

dgr citer captain neviller pon wat dek jek ngan ronaldo nih....sian plak aku ngan bdk kecik nih...:lol

jgn la wat dek.. buat camneh haa