Manchester United set to capture 20-year-old Greek wonderkid Sotiris Ninis - report



 Manchester United leave Owen Hargreaves out of Champions League squad

New signing Bebe also misses out...

 Barcelona defender Gerard Pique: Sir Alex Ferguson was like a second father to me at Manchester United

World Cup winner praises former boss...

 England & Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney could miss Switzerland clash over allegations surrounding his private life - report



 England striker Jermain Defoe: Hat-trick against Bulgaria wouldn't have been possible without Wayne Rooney

I get by with a little help from my friends, says striker...

 VIDEO: Manchester United's Bebe has one good moment versus England U21

Rare footage of Red Devils' new striker in action...

 Manchester United supporters plan an 'old shirt' protest in opposition of the Glazer family

Fans move from green-and-gold movement...

 Former agent claims PSV Eindhoven turned down free transfer for Manchester United's £7.4m new boy Bebe

Attacker backed to outperform Nani at Old Trafford...

 Manchester United veteran Paul Scholes: I thought I would have retired by now

Midfielder to keep on playing as long as he is contributing...

 Manchester United continue to monitor Panathinaikos star Sotiris Ninis - report



 Jamie Carragher calls for warm reception for Manchester United's Michael Owen from Liverpool fans at his testimonial

Reds fans should not abuse former star...

 Park Ji-Sung promises more to come from Manchester United this season after unspectacular start

Korean sure rivals will falter...

 Darren Fletcher desperate to produce Manchester United form for Scotland

Scottish skipper wants to set example...

 Ryan Giggs happy with state of Manchester United squad following return of Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Anderson

'Headache' for Sir Alex Ferguson to select team...

 Goal.com Fanview Special: Premier League supporters rate their clubs' transfer window dealings

Who ruled the market or grabbed the best bargains this summer?

 Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta: After poor start to the season next week's game against Manchester United is a 'must win'

Toffees looking for first league victory of the season...

 Milner: England squad fully supportive of Rooney

James Milner has assured Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney he will be a welcome presence in the England team on Tuesday night, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Rooney has been the subject of intense scrutiny in his private life in two Sunday newspapers and there was a feeling he would ask to be allowed home in order to try and patch up his relationship with wife Coleen.

However, FA sources have confirmed they expect the 24-year-old to be aboard Monday morning's flight from Luton.

He remained at the team hotel in Watford last night and trained at Arsenal's London Colney base this morning.

"You want your best players out on the field and he's one of those," said Milner.
"He is top player. He showed that Friday and I am sure he will continue to show that."

Although it is now 11 games since Rooney last scored for his country, the Manchester United star claimed three assists in Friday's 4-0 destruction of Bulgaria at Wembley and had a major role in England's other goal.

"Wayne did the full session this morning," confirmed Milner.

"That's all I can tell you. You are going to have to ask him the other questions.

"It has been business as usual this morning. We are back to football. That is what we are here to do."

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 EDITORIAL: Dalla Valle Fulham move first mistake of Hodgson Liverpool era

EDITORIAL: Lauri Dalla Valle's departure from Liverpool just doesn't add up.

How can a player likened to Fernando Torres 12 months go, suddenly become a throw-away makeweight in a deal for a 29 year-old fullback?

That cash and Alex Kacaniklic also went in the opposite direction for Paul Konchesky, who was inside the final year of his Fulham contract, makes the Finn's trade even more baffling.

Throw in Hodgson's comments about not knowing enough about Dalla Valle to make an assessment - even though he had been coach of Finland less than four years ago - and this transfer simply doesn't make sense.

It particularly rings true when you consider the quiet and considered overhaul Hodgson has performed on Liverpool's transfer policy since taking over.

Along with Konchesky, Hodgson managed to land this summer's hottest Bosman, Joe Cole, sending the club's website into meltdown as a result. He also secured the commitment of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres with Europe's biggest clubs circling and outbid Manchester United to bring Raul Meireles to England.

The new manager managed to steer Liverpool into the Europa League group phase with a shadow team and gave an already rejuvenated support a glimpse into the future by introducing youngsters like Raheem Sterling and Jonjo Shelvey in preseason senior action.

It's been an impressive first summer market under Hodgson - which is why allowing Dalla Valle to leave just doesn't jive.

The only doubts about the player have come from Finnish fans, who have emailed tribalfootball.com in recent months about Dalla Valle's apparent decision to commit his international future to the country of his father, Italy. But that still doesn't explain the decision to cut him loose to Fulham.

Reds legend Sami Hyypia welcomed his fellow Finn four years ago, declaring the move to Liverpool "the best he could make".

And upon signing him, former Liverpool academy director Malcolm Elias described Dalla Valle as "an incredible talent". Elias is now in charge of recruitment at Fulham.

A little over a year ago, Steve Claridge, the former Birmingham City striker, said of Dalla Valle: "Everything he does comes naturally. Some things can't be taught – qualities that separate ordinary players from very good ones – and even at his age his positioning in build-up play and knowledge of where to stand when the ball comes into the box seems spot-on.

"Little wonder his signature was coveted by so many big clubs. As a 15-year-old he chose Internazionale but then moved back home to Finland after only a year in Milan. At 17 sometimes the choices you make off the pitch can be as important as the ones you make on it and his decision to go to Liverpool, which looks a perfect match, means he's got both just about right."

So why would Hodgson allow such a talent leave for Fulham on a virtual 'free'? Has his good mate Elias got one over on him?

It smacks of Ron Atkinson rejecting a young Peter Beardsley at Manchester United. United lived to regret that decision throughout the 1980's - and Liverpool could be doing the same for the next ten years.

 Man Utd star Rooney rocked by private life allegations

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has been hit by allegations about his private life.

The Mail on Sunday reports Rooney's marriage was under intense pressure last night after it was revealed that he had a series of encounters with a prostitute while his wife was pregnant.

The Manchester United and England star, widely criticised during the World Cup for a series of lacklustre performances, broke the news to a 'devastated' Coleen yesterday afternoon.

Rooney, 24, reportedly slept with 21-year-old Jennifer Thompson, who charges £1,200 a night, seven times in four months. They had sex in one of Manchester's most exclusive hotels, and visited nightclubs and casinos together.

It is understood his lawyers tried to fight the allegations when they first surfaced three weeks ago, but ultimately decided they were indefensible because of previous revelations about the star and prostitutes.

The latest disclosures will prompt speculation that the striker's chaotic private life affected his form at this summer's World Cup in South Africa. Until late last month, he had not scored a goal for club or country since March.

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 Man Utd striker Rooney travelling with England despite private life concern

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is expected to travel with England's squad to Switzerland, despite allegations about his private life.

The Sunday Mirror says the striker has been the subject of reports in the News of the World and Sunday Mirror leading to speculation about whether he will take part in Tuesday's match.

However, FA sources have indicated that no decision has yet been taken and as it stands, Rooney is expected on the flight.

The Manchester United star is an integral part of England coach Fabio Capello's team, even though it is now 11 matches since he last scored for his country.

He claimed three assists and had a hand in the other goal as England opened their qualification campaign on Friday with an impressive 4-0 win over Bulgaria at Wembley.

England take on fellow World Cup contenders Switzerland in Basle on Tuesday.

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 Smalling enjoyed U21 battle with Man Utd teammate Bebe

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling enjoyed his battle with teammate Bebe on Friday night.

Smalling came out on top as England U21 defeated Portugal 1-0.

He told theFA.com: “I’ve got to know Bebe in his brief spell and he’s starting to learn English, but that was a good battle for me a Jonesy (Phil Jones).

“We got another clean sheet between us and that’s important for us as well as the whole team. I think overall it was a good battle and hopefully me and Jonesy can keep that going and get another clean sheet on Tuesday.

“There’s been a few centre halves that have been playing, but Jonesy got his debut in the last game and looks really strong, I’ve enjoyed playing alongside him.”

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 Wigan boss Martinez: Man Utd winger Cleverley among best England prospects

Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez rates Tom Cleverley a future England star.

The Manchester United winger has signed on-loan with the Latics.

"In my eyes Cleverley is one of the top English prospects in the game, and when you get players from clubs like Man United you know you are getting players who are disciplined, perfectly coached, and who have that vital footballing arrogance, as well as great tactical awareness," Martinez told the Independent on Sunday.

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 Man Utd captain Neville: Everton are top four class

Manchester United captain Gary Neville says Everton boast a top four class squad.

In his column for the Sunday Times of Malta, Neville wrote: "Everton always seem to be slow starters but they will come strong. I know a bit about them because my brother Phillip plays there and they are a fit and talented bunch of lads. I’ve never been to Goodison Park when it has not been difficult.

"Everton have a team that could challenge for the top four. Their problem is there are now six or seven teams that are very, very strong, which is making it harder to get into the top four, but they are a very good side and they could push if they have an outstanding run."

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 Hargreaves has cost Man Utd £700,000 a game

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has cost the club massive £700,000 a game.

The Sunday Express says since Sir Alex Ferguson signed Hargreaves from Bayern Munich on a four-year contract in July 2007, the England midfielder has managed only 26 Premier League appearances.

That, as far as the money men are concerned, adds up to nearly £700,000 a match.

And if you include the pay packets Hargreaves has been pocketing while receiving private treatment, he isn’t far behind the £1m-a-game mark – a tough bill for a club with debts understood to be considerably more than £700m.

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 Blackpool keeper Gilks thanked parents with new motor for talking him out of quitting

Blackpool goalkeeper Matt Gilks has revealed how his parents convinced him to stick with football.

Gilks thanked his mum and dad by delivering a new car to their doorstep last week, paid for with a chunk of his bonus following ­Blackpool’s top-flight promotion.

The past, though, will never be forgotten. Three years ago, he moved from his home town club Rochdale to ­Norwich but never played a game there and was shipped out after a season by boss Glenn Roeder.

Gilks told the Daily Star Sunday: “Roeder came in and fired everyone apart from Delia Smith. I went to Blackpool, which then was like going from ­Manchester United to Bury.

“To me it felt like taking ten steps backwards. We didn’t have a full-time keeper coach and we trained ourselves some days.

“We washed our own training kit. Mind you, we still do that now – I don’t know whether it’s a cost- cutting exercise or a way of ­keeping our feet on the ground.

“My career, though, had taken a big dive as far as I was concerned. My attitude wasn’t 100 per cent and I don’t mind admitting that.

“One day, there was an 85-knot wind blowing across the training ground with horizontal rain in my face. I couldn’t seem to put a foot right and I threw my gloves on the ground and said to the coach at the time, ‘I’m off’.

“I walked in, got changed and went home. I sat in my parents’ lounge and said, ‘I’ve had enough. I don’t want to do it any more’.

“They talked me round. They said, ‘You’ve worked hard. Look what you have achieved. You can’t just throw it all away. Anyway, what will you do?’

“I always said I would have been a mechanic. A lot of my mates did banger racing and I was building cars for them. So I said I would do that.

“I didn’t really think about the ­implications of ­actually going to get a job and going back to schooling.

“Luckily my parents talked me out of it and I went back into training with a ­different attitude. But it took two weeks to get me around to that way of thinking.

“I really had thrown the towel in but I decided to give it another go. Not long afterwards I got my chance against Crystal Palace and I went on a five or six-game run.

“Now, I’m enjoying a season I will tell my grandchildren about. I’m just a lad from Rochdale ­playing in the Premier League and watching myself on Match Of The Day. It’s magnificent.”

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 Bulgaria unhappy with missing Man Utd striker Berbatov

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov is being blamed for Bulgaria's thrashing by England.

Bulgaria coach Stanimir Stoilov says Berba's international retirement has left a huge void.

"For Bulgaria, it is obviously a big loss not to have Berbatov,” Stoilov said.

“He will always be missed by the national team and, if he had played, it would probably have been a closer result.

“That was the big difference between the two sides. We missed our chances and they took theirs. But it is Berbatov’s decision and we should, of course, respect that.

“I don’t want to comment on the chances of him reversing his decision.”

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 Man Utd defender De Laet closer to loan exit

Manchester United defender Ritchie de Laet could be on the move.

The Belgium international has been linked with Watford ahead of the loan market opening on Tuesday.

De Laet was left out of United's Champions League squad list last night, fueling talk he will be allowed to move away on-loan.

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 Man Utd leave Hargreaves, Bebe off Champions League list

Owen Hargreaves and Beb? have been left out of Manchester United's Champions League squad.

Hargreaves has been left out on grounds of fitness; a decision that indicates Ferguson does not anticipate the injury-troubled midfielder will recover from his long-standing knee problems in the next few months. United's final group match is against Valencia on 7 December.

Beb? is a more complex case, having signed from Vit?ria Guimar?es on 11 August for £7.4m without Ferguson ever having seen him play. United's manager had relied on recommendations before arranging a deal for the 20-year-old, but it has since become apparent to the club's coaching staff that the Portuguese is a long way from challenging for the first team and will need more work on the training ground than had been previously anticipated.

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 Stoke management full of pride over new training complex

Stoke City management are proud of their new £5 million training complex.

Covering a total of 1,800 square metres over two floors, the facility has dragged the club’s training ground from the middle of the 20th century to the middle of the 21st.

The project bares testament to the planning, creativity and diligent supervision of club director Richard Smith.

“We visited clubs like Wolves, Everton and Celtic to see their facilities,” he told The Sentinel, “and then we employed architects who had worked on training facilities at Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.

“The outside of the building has a metallic look because we wanted something that looked modern and striking.

“We’ve used cherry wood for the panelling, doors, desks and benches in the dressing rooms to reflect the environment here at Clayton Wood, while the use of burgundy is to reflect the club’s colours.

“When we first designed the building the manager didn’t want any luxury, but we put some nice touches in the reception area to create a good impression when people walk in.”

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 Carragher thanks Man Utd striker Owen for copping Liverpool boos

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has thanked Michael Owen for taking part in yesterday's testimonial.

Former Reds and current Manchester United striker Owen received a mixed reception.

Carragher admitted the plan had been for Owen to take Liverpool's penalty late in the first half only for the Anfield crowd to have a different opinion.

"I asked the referee to give us a penalty before half-time because I was thinking about Michael as I wanted him to score - I totally forgot that people would want me to take one," said the 32-year-old, who hopes to raise £1million for his 23 Foundation through this game and a gala dinner.

"He's my best mate in football and I think it took a lot of courage to come back today and do it for me knowing he would take a lot of stick.

"But I think the crowd would have killed him if he'd taken the penalty listening to their reaction.

"Then I was terrified of missing because that is what everyone would remember so I had to bluff the keeper into thinking I was putting it on the spot and take it quickly."

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 Man Utd already in Panthinaikos talks for £8M Ninis

Manchester United are confident of signing Greek whizkid Sotirios Ninis.

The Sunday Mirror says United are ready to trigger an £8million clause in the 20-year-old Panathinaikos contract after Sir Alex Ferguson identified him as the answer to his team’s need for a creative midfielder.

The Reds have already opened negotiations with the Athens club about taking Ninis to Old Trafford for next season.

Ninis, who was born in Albania, is already a regular in Greece’s international team.

He is also one of three club captains at Panathinaikos and has attracted interest from Real Madrid and AC Milan.

But United are now in pole position after telling the Greek side they will pay the get-out clause in the four-year contract that Ninis signed in 2008.

Any Greek club that wants Ninis has to pay £15million. But that figure drops to £8million if he moves abroad.

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Manchester United Football Club (AKA MAN U) is the most successful British football club, ever, and some will say, the most successful club in the world entire. Man-U is part of the Top Division football league in England since 1938 (With only one season out of it, since) and probably the most popular of the British football clubs both in the UK and abroad. Old Trafford, Manchester United’s stadium in Greater Manchester, was labelled “the Theatre of Dreams” and is in the focus of many football fans’ fantasies. Manchester United FC is in peak condition for the past 20+ years, thanks to the rule and directorship of Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary manager of the Manchester United club (since 1986). The Manchester United club was established in 1892. Its residence in Old Trafford stadium started in 1910.

In its long history Manchester United won 18 First Division+League titles (11 of them Premier League titles) 11 FA Cups and 13 Community Shield winnings and an extra 4 shared with other football clubs. On the international field Manchester United won titles at European Cup and UEFA Champions League (3 times), Intercontinental Cup (at 1999), FIFA Club World Cup (2008) and even won three titles in one season, the 1998 season, when Manchester United won the League, FA Cup and European Cup. In 1968, Manchester United became the first English club to reach the final of the European Cup where Man U met and defeated the Portuguese Benefica S.L. Almost all international titles since then were won under Ferguson’s management. Manchester United was both British champion and UEFA Champion for the 2008-2009 season.

Among its better known players in Manchester United’s squad are the Goal Keeper Van der Sar, Defender Gary Neville (also the Captain), Forwards Wayne Rooney and Midfielder Ryan Giggs (Vice Captain). But when considering the legend, the myth, the Manchester United dream of titles and riches, of fans and songs, it is the spirit of Sir Alex Ferguson that comes to mind.

A few words must be spared for the stadium in Trafford, labelled “the Theatre of Dreams” (as also is marked on the sleeves of the Man U shirts.). Home of the most successful club in Britain, Manchester United, Old Trafford holds a capacity of 76,000 seats, and is second largest football stadium in the UK, after Wembley Stadium. Manchester United left the stadium only for a brief 8 years during World War II when it was bombed. The stadium went under several expansions to cope with the growing demand for seats. The stadium is used from time to time as a venue for international fixtures and serves as neutral ground for matches such as FA Cup semi finals. Besides hosting top football events Old Trafford is also used as a Rugby field for major events.