Petrucci signing angers Roma

Manchester United last night came under fire after signing one of Italy's most promising young strikers. Just days after they were pipped by Arsenal to the signature of 17-year-old Cardiff midfielder Aaron Ramsey, United snapped up Davide Petrucci, 16, who scored 14 goals in 19 matches last season and was the top scorer in Roma's youth team. He has also starred for Italy's under-17 team. United will pay Petrucci £95,000 a year and will cover the cost of regular flights home to Italy. The deal is the maximum permissible offer for a youth-team player. Roma will receive around £200,000 in compensation but the move has caused fury. Petrucci, who comes from the San Basilio suburb of Rome, has been compared to a young Francesco Totti and could have made the first-team squad next year.
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Evra puts pen to paper

Manchester United is pleased to announce French full-back Patrice Evra has signed a four-year extension to his contract, keeping him at the club until at least June 2012.

Sir Alex said: “Patrice has been a key part of the Club’s success in the last two seasons. He's developed into one of the best full-backs in world football and his infectious personality has helped build the incredible team spirit that exists at Old Trafford.”

Evra, 27, was delighted to pledge his future to United, claiming "the last two-and-a-half seasons have been the start of a dream".

"It's a pleasure and an honour to be part of this fantastic side and to be coached by Sir Alex Ferguson and his staff," he said. "United is more than a club – it’s a family I am proud to be a part of and that's why it's always been a first choice for me.

“I declared when I arrived that I was coming here not just to play but to win, and United is the ideal place to realise such a dream. It's a privilege to play in front of our fantastic fans and I'm sure the success we've earned in the last two seasons confirms the history of this club and will be the start of something even more special.”
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Carry Ron Tapping

Manchester United are reeling after FIFA said: We won’t stop Real Madrid tapping up Cristiano Ronaldo. As the winking winger inspired Portugal to a win over the Czech Republic, a senior FIFA official said: “United’s chances of getting Real punished are zero.” The Red Devils have already made an official complaint, hoping world soccer’s governing body will stop the Spaniards’ bid to lure Ronaldo from Old Trafford. But the Spaniards insist no one can prove they have tapped up Ronaldo — and FIFA agree, despite United’s protests. A member of FIFA’s executive committee told SunSport: "I think everyone knows that these things go on in football but proving any wrongdoing is next to impossible. Real are very powerful and I don’t think they’ll be too worried about United’s claims."
Ian McGarry, The Sun Read more...

Rio tips Boss to stay on

Sir Alex Ferguson may have intimated that he will step down as United manager within the next three years, but Rio Ferdinand disagrees.

Although the Reds' manager is approaching 70, United and England defender Ferdinand cannot envisage how Sir Alex would cope without life at Carrington.

“I don’t think he’ll leave in two or three years," he told Sky Sports News. "I think his passion for the game will overtake everything else.

"The manager loves football. He eats, breathes and every minute of the day is thinking and talking about it, so I can’t see him leaving.”

Sir Alex previously announced his intention to retire in 2002, but reversed his decision after consulting his family.

However, he recently admitted: "I deserve a rest. I have also got to respect my wife too, because she's suffering. She's not a football fan, she's an Alex Ferguson fan."
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Real's shady Rondezvous

The man with Cristiano Ronaldo in pictures printed by The Sun on Wednesday compiled a detailed dossier on the Manchester United star which he handed to Real Madrid. These are the photos that Madrid yesterday claimed could not possibly exist. They show Ronaldo secretly meeting Real’s fitness coach Valter Di Salvo in Rome in January. Di Salvo worked with Ronaldo for three seasons at Old Trafford, where they formed a strong bond. Sources close to Ronaldo insisted at the time it was a chance meeting as the Portugal winger took a two-day break in the Italian capital. Yet the full picture only now begins to emerge because we can reveal Di Salvo, who controversially left United last summer to join Madrid, gave the Spanish giants a full report on Ronaldo. Madrid technical director Miguel Angel Portugal, sporting director Pedja Mijatovic and board member Carlos Bucero asked Di Salvo to compile his detailed assessment on every aspect of Ronaldo.
Antony Kastrinakis, The Sun Read more...