United and Juventus played out a 0-0 draw on Wednesday night, but Wes Brown says the Reds were pleased with the performance.
“It was a good run-out,” Brown told MUTV. “Juventus are a good team and we knew it would be a tough game.
“We managed to get a few of the young lads on and it was good experience for them.
“At this stage of the season it’s all about fitness and getting sharp, and we’ve got another game on Sunday as well. Hopefully everyone will be ready for Newcastle on the opening day of the season.”
One player not expected to make the Newcastle clash is Wayne Rooney. The striker has been struggling with a virus since returning from Africa and Sir Alex said earlier this week he doubted the England international would recover in time.
But Wes is hopeful Wayne can still play a part when United kick off their defence of the Barclays Premier League on 17 August.
“It’s just a little bug going around at the moment,” he said. “I think the guys [Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick] will be back at Carrington on Thursday and they’ll be flying by next week.
“I’m sure they’ll be ready for Newcastle.”
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Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Ronaldo remains a Red
Cristiano Ronaldo is going nowhere.
After a summer rife with rumours of an Old Trafford exit, the Reds’ no.7 revealed on Wednesday night that he will be a Manchester United player in 2008/09.
“I can confirm that next season I will play for Manchester United,” Ronaldo told Portugal newspaper Publico.
“I will play for United with all my heart and soul, I will fight and honour that shirt with the same commitment and dedication as [I’ve] always [shown].”
His comments were welcomed by Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who was relieved the matter can finally be “put to bed”.
“We always knew this was the case,” Sir Alex told MUTV. “He’s very happy here – he’s always been happy here.
“He’s never had a complaint about Manchester United. He’s always been treated properly and I have a great relationship with the boy, as do all the players.
“I think we can put this to bed now. It’s finished. The boy’s a United player and that’s what’s important.”
Ronaldo’s refusal to commit himself to United earlier in the summer disappointed some Reds fans, but Ferguson insists supporters shouldn’t be too hard on the 23-year-old.
“The fans have got to understand it’s very hard when a young boy’s tempted by all this money,” he said.
“He’s a young lad from Madeira and his father died a young man. Cristiano now looks after his mother, sister and his brother, so I can understand that [money may have been tempting].”
In a sign of real maturity, Ronaldo accepted blame for his part in world football’s biggest transfer saga of the summer.
“I was responsible for all this controversy,” he said. “I was the one who publicly expressed my desire to go to Madrid and I ended up even being involuntary responsible for the poor relationship between the two clubs.”
Read more...
After a summer rife with rumours of an Old Trafford exit, the Reds’ no.7 revealed on Wednesday night that he will be a Manchester United player in 2008/09.
“I can confirm that next season I will play for Manchester United,” Ronaldo told Portugal newspaper Publico.
“I will play for United with all my heart and soul, I will fight and honour that shirt with the same commitment and dedication as [I’ve] always [shown].”
His comments were welcomed by Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who was relieved the matter can finally be “put to bed”.
“We always knew this was the case,” Sir Alex told MUTV. “He’s very happy here – he’s always been happy here.
“He’s never had a complaint about Manchester United. He’s always been treated properly and I have a great relationship with the boy, as do all the players.
“I think we can put this to bed now. It’s finished. The boy’s a United player and that’s what’s important.”
Ronaldo’s refusal to commit himself to United earlier in the summer disappointed some Reds fans, but Ferguson insists supporters shouldn’t be too hard on the 23-year-old.
“The fans have got to understand it’s very hard when a young boy’s tempted by all this money,” he said.
“He’s a young lad from Madeira and his father died a young man. Cristiano now looks after his mother, sister and his brother, so I can understand that [money may have been tempting].”
In a sign of real maturity, Ronaldo accepted blame for his part in world football’s biggest transfer saga of the summer.
“I was responsible for all this controversy,” he said. “I was the one who publicly expressed my desire to go to Madrid and I ended up even being involuntary responsible for the poor relationship between the two clubs.”
Read more...
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Ronaldo to return to Man United this week
Cristiano Ronaldo should be given the green light to step up his recovery programme this week.
While talk of a showdown between Ronaldo and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson seems to have dominated certain agendas, particularly in Spain, the Red Devils are more concerned about the 23-year-old's recent ankle operation.
Indeed, United officials have reacted with some amusement to news of potential negotiations between Ronaldo and Ferguson, not least because the Portugal winger is not due to fly into England until later this week at the earliest.
Reports in Spain a fortnight ago suggested Tuesday would be the day Ronaldo told Ferguson face-to-face of his desire to leave for Real Madrid.
However, that will not be the case given he is now due to visit a specialist in Amsterdam to discover how successful his surgery has been.
Only then is Ronaldo set to report in at Carrington, meaning it will be the end of the week at the earliest before he can speak with Ferguson.
And given the United boss is under the impression both men discussed what they had to during a meeting following Portugal's exit from Euro 2008, he is not expecting any further dialogue about Ronaldo's future.
The Red Devils - and Ferguson in particular - have made their position perfectly clear on the matter - Ronaldo, after just one season of a five-year contract, is going nowhere, no matter what price is placed on his head by officials at the Bernabeu.
It is a situation Real president Ramon Calderon may find difficult to stomach but could be forced to accept given his repeated recent protestations that his club do not want to get involved in luring Ronaldo away from Old Trafford and will only act once Old Trafford officials signal their willingness to do a deal.
Such statements have been greeted with mirth at United given the blame being placed at Calderon's door for the discussion over Ronaldo's future, which began almost as soon as the player got his hands on the Champions League trophy in Moscow last May.
Although United have a healthy disregard for reports that come out of Spain, claiming most, including those that stated Ronaldo would return on Tuesday, have been proved false, they are aware most of them originate from Real.
Read more...
While talk of a showdown between Ronaldo and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson seems to have dominated certain agendas, particularly in Spain, the Red Devils are more concerned about the 23-year-old's recent ankle operation.
Indeed, United officials have reacted with some amusement to news of potential negotiations between Ronaldo and Ferguson, not least because the Portugal winger is not due to fly into England until later this week at the earliest.
Reports in Spain a fortnight ago suggested Tuesday would be the day Ronaldo told Ferguson face-to-face of his desire to leave for Real Madrid.
However, that will not be the case given he is now due to visit a specialist in Amsterdam to discover how successful his surgery has been.
Only then is Ronaldo set to report in at Carrington, meaning it will be the end of the week at the earliest before he can speak with Ferguson.
And given the United boss is under the impression both men discussed what they had to during a meeting following Portugal's exit from Euro 2008, he is not expecting any further dialogue about Ronaldo's future.
The Red Devils - and Ferguson in particular - have made their position perfectly clear on the matter - Ronaldo, after just one season of a five-year contract, is going nowhere, no matter what price is placed on his head by officials at the Bernabeu.
It is a situation Real president Ramon Calderon may find difficult to stomach but could be forced to accept given his repeated recent protestations that his club do not want to get involved in luring Ronaldo away from Old Trafford and will only act once Old Trafford officials signal their willingness to do a deal.
Such statements have been greeted with mirth at United given the blame being placed at Calderon's door for the discussion over Ronaldo's future, which began almost as soon as the player got his hands on the Champions League trophy in Moscow last May.
Although United have a healthy disregard for reports that come out of Spain, claiming most, including those that stated Ronaldo would return on Tuesday, have been proved false, they are aware most of them originate from Real.
Read more...
Keano's £8.5m Saha swoop
Roy Keane is on the brink of completing an £8.5million swoop for Manchester United striker Louis Saha. Sunderland boss Keano will make the out-of-favour Old Trafford star the biggest earner in the club’s history on £50,000 a week. Saha, 30, was at the Stadium of Light to see the Black Cats’ 1-0 pre-season defeat by Ajax. Keane is desperate to add firepower to his squad after last season’s brush with relegation. He has splashed £20m on six summer signings already but admitted: “Hopefully there will be two or three players coming on board before the transfer window closes. At the end of last season I thought we needed another top striker at the club and I’ve not changed that view because you’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net.”
Vic Holly, The Sun Read more...
Vic Holly, The Sun Read more...
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