NEW CHAMPS......... Knocked liverpool out of perch

Manchester United have won the Premier League, equalling Liverpool's record 18 titles at the top level of English football.

 

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The Red Devils secured the title with a 0-0 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford.
United needed only a point to clinch the title, and the result put the club out of reach of second-place Liverpool, who were seven points behind with two games to play.
"It's an unbelievable feeling. Thankfully we got the job done today," striker Wayne Rooney said.
"The last few years have been unbelievable so hopefully we can continue that."
United have now won 11 Premier League titles in the last 17 seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson and are tied with Liverpool on 18 in the all-time list of English league champions.
Despite a lacklustre game, the final whistle set off a massive title celebration at Old Trafford as the team were presented with the Premier League trophy on the field, with the players hugging and spraying champagne at each other.
Ferguson now has 25 major trophies since he arrived at the club in 1986 and hopes to make it 26 when United face Barcelona in the Champions League final on May 27 in Rome.
"It makes you want to go on for ever," the 67-year-old Scot said on the pitch.
The trophy was carried onto the pitch by four soldiers who have just returned from a four-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
And as the medals were presented and fireworks exploded, the rain that had lashed the pitch throughout the match cleared and Old Trafford was bathed in sunshine.
The title is Gary Neville's eighth and the 34-year-old defender immediately set his sights on next year.
"I think it's a fantastic achievement," he said, adding that Liverpool's challenge helped keep the champions focused.
"They pushed us really hard this season. Next season, we've got our work cut out to go and do it again."

awesome rooooooo

mmuuaahhhhhh ...
grt one..

love tis goal...

chk out de best goal and comments from palyers n fans....

Was Wayne Rooney's goal against City last Saturday "the best goal ever scored at Old Trafford"? Check it out again and tell us what you think. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Roooooooney's best best best eva goal...

join de best man utd's facebook page...

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is this Wayne Rooney's best goal

 Was Wayne Rooney's goal against City last Saturday "the best goal ever scored at Old Trafford"? Check it out again and tell us what you think. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

comments welcome...

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Want to win a signed Wayne Rooney print

Want to win a signed Wayne Rooney print, commemorating Wayne's spectacular strike against City? Click here to enter our fan competition. Good luck!

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man utd FA cup fixture....

Manchester United will play Arsenal or Leyton Orient at Old Trafford in the FA Cup Quarter Final on the 12th or 13th March. What's your take on the draw and who would you prefer to see the Reds play?

 in first leg arsenal drew 1-1 in Leyton's home...

I'M back.... here comes de best man u fan's blog post...

guys i'm back..
sorry for not posting any for dese days...
little bit busy....

VALENCIA SUFFERS BROKEN ANKLE ---- Antonio Valencia blow to Manchester United in draw with Rangers

Valencia suffers suspected broken ankle

Antonio Valencia suffered a suspected broken ankle last night as Manchester United's Champions League campaign got off to a faltering start in the Battle of Britain.

The United midfielder went down in sickening fashion, clutching his left ankle after falling awkwardly just before the hour and needed oxygen before being carried off on a stretcher.

Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It looks like a dislocation and a fracture. It's a bad one. It looks like he will be out for a long time."

Valencia's horrific injury cast a depressing pall over the Old Trafford stalemate, in which Ferguson's calculated gamble backfired after he made wholesale changes to his team.

Fergie made 10 changes from the side that drew at Everton last Saturday but not even the return of troubled striker Wayne Rooney could inspire them to victory in their Group C opener.

United laboured against the Scottish champions, whose resilience in handling everything their opponents threw at them was rewarded with a deserved point.

Fergie gave first-team stars including Paul Scholes, Nemanja Vidic, Dimitar Berbatov and Nani the night off, but the decision proved costly and may have repercussions for United's chances of reaching the knockout stage.

Rooney made his first appearance for United following revelations he slept with prostitutes and Rio Ferdinand made his long-awaited comeback following the knee injury which ruled him out of the World Cup.

But neither were able to make the difference as Rangers made a mockery of the gulf in class and resources between themselves and United by holding out for a draw.

 United and Rangers took a point apiece, but they had nothing else in common at the full-time whistle. In the opening game of Group C in the Champions League, this was a result to treasure for the visitors. Despite being pinned back, they contained the Old Trafford side with little difficulty to record a marvellous result that defied all expectation.

Rangers are entitled to ignore those who complained of boredom when they left their opponents so exasperated that the substitute Ryan Giggs was booked for dissent. The fielding of a much-altered United line-up turned out to be a miscalculation. This night was to disturb the hosts, too, when Antonio Valencia was carried off with a severe ankle injury.

Collapsing under a seemingly harmless challenge from Kirk Broadfoot, Valencia suffered a badly fractured ankle and was given oxygen as he left the field. Television coverage did not replay the incident and it looked likely to be his last act of a short season.

Rangers' rigorous work was admirable and the odds against them were never allowed to appear as steep as anticipated.

Despite all the pre-match tact, Sir Alex Ferguson's selection showed that this fixture had not dominated his thoughts entirely. Darren Fletcher was the one player retained from the starting line-up that had played at Goodison on Saturday. Wayne Rooney was recalled after being left in seclusion at the weekend and Rio Ferdinand was fit to make his first appearance since May, but Rangers may also have wondered initially whether it was really in their interests to meet a side with many other individuals presumably seeking to make their mark.

This, for instance, was Chris Smalling's debut after the summer move from Fulham and the Mexico striker Javier Hernández had his invitation to add to the good impression made in the Community Shield. Whatever the aspirations of the men selected, United lacked the smoothness of a long-established line-up. Walter Smith, with scant means to vary his team selection, could at least see a group well-acquainted with one another.

Despite utilising a five-man defence, Rangers had a desire to push forward when possible, even if those occasions were intermittent. The approach may not have caused havoc, but it did prevent United from laying siege. On the eve of the match, Ferguson had wryly expressed a curiosity about the schemes his friend and former colleague Smith would devise. Rangers' approach to the contest did seem to keep United slightly off-balance.

There was a hint of frustration when, in the 35th minute, a low drive from Darron Gibson went narrowly wide. Visiting fans who had come determined to enjoy themselves come what may also had cause in that period to be happy. The home crowd was not stricken by apprehension but neither had they been entertained. When necessary, Rangers sat deep and United, despite being well-acquainted with that approach, did not deal with it convincingly in the first-half.

Regardless of the inclusion of wingers in Valencia and Park Ji-sung, Ferguson's side had great trouble in turning the Rangers defence and mostly shuffled passes in front of it. When the home crowd occasionally chanted Rooney's name it was an entreaty to make the difference rather a celebration of his efforts prior.

Rangers, as anticipated, usually had 10 men behind the ball, but Ferguson's team did not have sufficient imagination nor an insistent rhythm to tease apart the Rangers throng. There really had been no cause for the visitors' goalkeeper Allan McGregor to waste time and so receive a yellow card. It provoked reservations about the depth of United's vaunted means. The excuse that this was an anticlimactic occasion for Ferguson's men would have been brushed aside.

For all the camaraderie with Smith and the affinity he has with the opposition as a former Rangers player, the United manager can only have rebuked his players at half-time. An entirely different display had been expected from them.

No immediate transformation occurred. That testified to the fact that Rangers' concentration had not been broken by the interval and it may also have reflected a degree of familiarity to the scene. United, after all, have long experience of shows of endurance by visitors that normally falter before the close.

Any slight unease would have lain with the passivity of Rooney. He had been granted the weekend off, but the disturbances to his private life and, presumably, his state of mind are not overcome so easily. United's own equilibrium was hard to maintain here when they lost Valencia.

Play resumed with Giggs on as a substitute, but there would have been a strong case for calling on the veteran's guile in any circumstances. Rangers' plan was still working perfectly and United, for all that they had hogged the ball, were being contained with the game entering its last 20 minutes. Rangers' discipline and calm had been impressive and the anticipated onslaught had proved very difficult to achieve.

Manchester United , Inter, draw Champions League openers; Barca hit five

In Group C, three-time winners Manchester Unitedcould only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Scottish champions Rangers.

United manager Alex Ferguson made 10 changes to the team which drew 3-3 with Everton on Saturday, and the English club struggled to break down a stubborn Rangers defence.

Four long-range efforts from midfielder Darron Gibson were as close as United came to breaking the deadlock against the Scots.

"Rangers came out there and set their stall out to defend and you have to respect that," United captain Rio Ferdinand told Sky Sports. "At the end of the day we didn't lose. In the Champions League you've got to aim to get to 10 points, and we got one today."

The match was marred by a horrific injury to United winger Antonio Valencia. The Ecuadorian was carried off on a stretcher with a suspected broken ankle after a challenge by Kirk Broadfoot.

United's slip-up enabled Valencia to take control of the group after a 4-0 demolition of Turkish champions Bursaspor, who were making their Champions League debut.

Tino Costa, Aritz Aduriz, Pablo Hernandez and Roberto Soldado scored for Valencia, who were runners-up in 2000 and 2001.

French club Lyon, semifinalists in 2009, opened their 2010 campaign with a 1-0 home victory over Germany's Schalke.

Michel Bastos scored the only goal of the game in the first half, while Schalke had to play with 10 men for more than 50 minutes following the dismissal of Benedikt Howedes.

Finally, goals from Luisao and Oscar Cardozo gave Portuguese two-time winners Benfica a 2-0 win over Israeli debutants Hapoel Tel-Aviv.

Defending champions Inter Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by Dutch newcomers FC Twente in the opening round of the European Champions League group phase, while Barcelona put five goals past Panathinaikos.

Wesley Sneijder gave Inter the lead in the Netherlands with a powerful low shot, only for the Dutch champions to level through a Theo Janssen free-kick.

Twente took a surprise lead on the half hour mark when Diego Milito headed a Janssen corner into his own net.

But Inter drew level before half-time when Samuel Eto'o lashed home a right-footed shot from the edge of the area.

"The first half was very difficult but we did very well in the second, we controlled the game and I'm satisfied with the second half against a difficult team," Inter coach Rafael Benitez told reporters.

The other match in Group A, between Werder Bremen andTottenham, also finished 2-2. The English club took a 2-0 lead in Germany after a Petri Pasanen own-goal and a header from Peter Crouch.

However, Bremen pulled a goal back before half-time through Hugo Almeida and equalized two minutes after the break when Marko Marin found the net with a low drive from outside the area.

Barcelona, winners in 2006 and 2009, went behind to Panathinaikos of Greece at the Nou Camp but hit back with two goals from world player of the year Lionel Messi and one from David Villa before half-time.

Messi missed from the penalty spot before Pedro added a fourth goal after 78 minutes and Dani Alves grabbed the fifth five minutes into stoppage-time.

Copenhagen of Denmark scored in the 87th minute through Senegalese striker Dame N'Doye to beat Russian side Rubin Kazan 2-0.

LOOK AT THIS!!! Hargreaves in Reds squad --- CAN HE DELIVER???

All of United's players - barring those currently out on loan - are eligible to play for the Reds in the Premier League this season.

Sir Alex Ferguson and his fellow top-flight managers had until 17:00 BST on Wednesday 1 September to submit a squad of a maximum of 25 players* to the Premier League.

There had been some media debate as to whether Owen Hargreaves, still currently receiving treatment in the US for a tendonitis problem that his limited him to one substitute appearance since September 2008, would make the final squad. But he has been included.

United's Champions League squad has also been submitted to UEFA, European football's governing body, and now has to be verified before being confirmed.

Official Premier League squad announced.

 Homegrown: 

Gibson, Giggs, Brown, Evans, Rio, Scholes, Neville, O'Shea, Carrick, Owen & Rooney. 

Other: 

Amos, Fletcher, Kuszczak, Van der Sar, Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson, Park, Evra, Valencia, Berbatov, Chicharito & Vidic. Plus under 21s Fabio, Rafael, De Laet, Obertan, Bebe, Smalling & Macheda

man utd vs West Ham preview

After dropping late points at Fulham last week, United will be looking to respond with a home win against the Hammers...

Form guide
Despite seeing an improvement on United's last two results at Craven Cottage, Sir Alex was irked by the way his side squandered the three points in the dying seconds, and will be expecting a response against a West Ham side who have failed to muster a single goal in their last four outings against the Reds. The Hammers have endured a disastrous start to the new campaign – a 3-0 battering at the hands of Aston Villa was followed up by an equally dismal 3-1 defeat at home to Bolton. Tuesday's Carling Cup victory over Oxford United may have lightened the mood at Upton Park, though the last-minute 1-0 triumph will have done little to lessen new boss Avram Grant's worries.

Ins and outs
West Ham have doubts over two players heading into the evening kick-off at Old Trafford. Captain Matthew Upson was substituted against Bolton with a facial injury and a return date has not yet been specified, while new signing Thomas Hitzlsperger is yet to make his debut because of a thigh injury. The Hammers are still without long-term absentee James Collison. United have no fresh injury worries to report: Owen Hargreaves is still sidelined but Rio Ferdinand is back in training. Anderson made his long-awaited return from a knee injury in Tuesday's Reserves Manchester derby and the Brazillian midfielder is in line for a first-team comeback in September.

Boss springs to Bebe's defence

Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed reports that new signing Bebe has failed to impress in his first few weeks as a United player, launching an impassioned defence of the 20-year-old at his pre-match press conference.

The Portuguese's absence from the Reserves' midweek victory over Manchester City prompted a series of reports questioning his impact at United, but Sir Alex insists there are only issues with the player's fitness, not his ability.

"Bebe is in a programme of doing endurance work, because his fitness levels aren’t near the levels we’re at," the manager said. "Other than that he’s done well.

"He’s had a couple of attacks - I thought they were pretty vicious attacks - on why he wasn’t playing in the Reserve game. He was never going to be playing in the Reserve game on Tuesday.

"I think those attacks came from a bit of vengeance from two journalists who are banned from here. They saw an opportunity to have a go at the club and I think it’s disgusting. The boy didn’t deserve that. He’s a young boy trying to make his way in football, they didn’t need to do that. I think it was a real bitter attack.

"Ability-wise, he’s excellent. Terrific finisher, we’ve been very impressed with that, and it’s just the fitness levels he needs to get to, as opposed to our fitness levels."

Sir Alex is comfortable to take his time with the versatile forward, who has enjoyed a meteroric rise to prominence since joining United, and insists there is no reason to hasten his playing involvement.

"We’ve not done any serious work," said the manager. "We did some tests on him and there were one or two areas we need to work at, in terms of his fitness, and that’s what we’re doing at the moment.

"So he’s combining the physical work he’s doing with the sports science people, and the football part. We’re treading a bit carefully with it."

Following his manager's words of support, Bebe was given a further boost on Friday afternoon when he was confirmed in Portugal's final squad for the UEFA U21 Championship qualifiers against England and Macedonia next month having been named in the premilinary squad earlier in the week.

Manchester United Agree Deal For Portuguese Striker 'Bebe'

Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Portuguese club Vitoria de Guimaraes for the purchase of 20-year-old striker Tiago Manuel Dias Correia (better known as "Bebe") for an undisclosed fee, subject to a successful medical in Manchester later this week.




Manchester United have announced that they have agreed a deal to sign Portuguese striker Bebe from Vitoria de Guimaraes for an undisclosed fee.

The striker, whose full name is Tiago Manuel Dias Correia, was raised in an orphanage has represented Portugal at the homeless World Cup after spending time on the streets as a child.

He only joined Guimaraes on a five year deal from Estrala da Amadora five weeks ago, with reports suggesting that United have met the release clause in his contract.

United confirmed the deal on their official website this evening, with the player still to undergo a medical later this week.

"Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Portuguese club Vitoria de Guimaraes for the purchase of 20-year-old striker Tiago Manuel Dias Correia (better known as "Bebe") for an undisclosed fee, subject to a successful medical in Manchester later this week. Personal terms have been agreed with the Cacém-born (Portugal) forward."

Bebe is the third player to arrive at Old Trafford this summer after the signings of Chris Smalling from Fulham and Javier Hernandez from Chivas.

United too good for Chelsea in season curtain-raiser beating 3-1 in style.. chicharito made remarkable debut...

Manchester United dominated a stuttering Chelsea to score a deserved 3-1 victory over last season's Premier League and FA Cup Double winners in an entertaining Community Shield match at Wembley on Sunday.

Goals from Antonio Valencia after 41 minutes and Javier Hernandez's first for his new club after 76 gave United control in the third curtain-raiser between the two clubs in the last four seasons. Dimitar Berbatov, on as a late sub, lobbed in United's third in stoppage time.

Salomon Kalou had pulled one back for Chelsea six minutes from time when Edwin van der Sar could only parry a shot from Daniel Sturridge during a late rally by the champions who have now lost five straight pre-season games.

Valencia struck first after a brilliant move saw Paul Scholes find Wayne Rooney with a raking pass. Rooney crossed superbly for Valencia to strike. Valencia then turned provider for Hernandez to score, with the ball going in off his face.

Ferguson: I'm not spending anymore!

Sir Alex Ferguson is adamant he will not buy for the sake of it.

The Manchester United boss has continually insisted there is "no value" in the transfer market and is not tempted to take a plunge in the last three weeks before the window closes.

His summer purchases so far have been restricted to young defender Chris Smalling and Mexico World Cup star Javier Hernandez.

The latter man in particular has made a pretty decent impression so far, although put alongside the spending of Manchester City, the sums are paltry.

Yet that knowledge will not deflect Ferguson from his chosen path.

Senior figures at United have always insisted the debt incurred by the Glazer family in their running of the club is having no effect on Ferguson's transfer budget and the money is there if he wants it.

However, even though Germany's Mesut Ozil and Danish goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard are said to remain on Ferguson's radar, ahead of Sunday's Community Shield tussle with Chelsea at Wembley, it is evident the cash he does have is not burning a hole in his pocket.

"I don't see the value in adding to our squad," said Ferguson.

"I am happy with what we already have and I don't see any reason to add to that just because people want me to buy someone.

"Supporters want you to buy players. They like to see a big signing every year. Sometimes the players like to see a big signing.

"But we have to be sensible about it. We look at our own squad and ask what do we need?

"I look at the players everyone says are available and they don't excite me."

The striking department is a case in point. At times last season, it appeared Wayne Rooney was operating on his own.

Alan Shearer certainly felt so, as he pointed out on numerous occasions. Yet Ferguson views a group of five that is strong enough to allow him to let Danny Welbeck and Mame Biram Diouf join Sunderland and Blackburn respectively on loan.

"We are pleased with the young strikers we have," said Ferguson.

"Welbeck and Diouf will go on loan, which leaves us with five; Berbatov, Rooney and Owen along with Macheda and Hernandez. That is sufficient."

That more sustained impact is required from Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen needs to remain injury free is beyond question but Federico Macheda has shown glimpses of huge talent, while Javier Hernandez has scored three times in three matches since linking up with his new team-mates at the end of their recent tour of North America.

The other aspect Ferguson needs to take into account are the new rules which require him to name eight "home-grown" players in his 25-man squad.

What exactly is classed as home-grown is slightly confusing, as Ferguson has discovered.

For instance, Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio, are not classed as home-grown this season, but will be next. The same is also true of Macheda, but he gets in this term due to his age.

John O'Shea qualifies as home-grown for the Premier League but not UEFA.

"The rule is a good thing," said Ferguson. "It had to happen.

"But you have to consider what you are doing and understand what a home-grown player means because you cannot afford to make any mistakes."

Ferguson must also decide whether to hand a spot to Owen Hargreaves, even though the injury-plagued England midfielder is back in the United States having suffered a setback in his recovery from a major knee injury.

It seems unlikely Hargreaves will gain selection, although Rio Ferdinand should be fine despite Ferguson confirming the defender is still "a few weeks" away from a return following the knee injury he sustained in a collision with Emile Heskey on the first full day of World Cup training in South Africa.

"I don't know exactly what happened with Rio," said Ferguson.

"From what I can gather it was an accident and just one of those freak things that happened.

"He has never had that injury before. The others have all been related to his lower back.

"They have been well publicised and we seem to be managing them."

Blackburn Rovers Sign Manchester United Striker Mame Biram Diouf On Season-Long Loan

Blackburn Rovers have signed striker Mame Biram Diouf from Manchester United on a season-long loan deal.

The 22-year-old arrives at Ewood Park to bolster Sam Allardyce’s attacking options ahead of the new Premier League season.

Chances of first-team action at Old Trafford appeared to be slim for Diouf, with fellow forwards Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen, Javier Hernandez and Federico Macheda all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Diouf arrived at Old Trafford from Molde – the former club of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – in January of 2010 after scoring 33 goals in 75 matches for the Norwegian side.

He has made six appearances for the Red Devils, scoring once against Burnley, and may go straight into his new side’s squad for their friendly match against Scottish Premier League side Hearts on Saturday.

He will then meet up with Senegal’s Under-21 team to play a midweek friendly, but will be back to be in contention for the league opener against Everton.

Croatian international Nikola Kalinic is likely to be Diouf’s main rival for a starting spot at Ewood Park as the starlet looks to gain first-team experience at the top level.

Allardyce has been short on attacking options after the end of Chelsea youngster Franco Di Santo’s loan deal and departure of Benni McCarthy to West Ham United last season.

Another young United striker, Danny Welbeck, has been linked with a loan switch to Sunderland and seems set for a temporary departure.

But manager Sir Alex Ferguson has decided that midfielder Tom Cleverley, who was being chased by Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers, will not be leaving the club on loan. 

Sir Alex Ferguson: Scouts Saved Manchester United Millions By Spotting Mexico World Cup 2010 Star Javier Hernandez Early

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has praised his scouts for saving the club millions by spotting MexicoWorld Cup 2010 star Javier Hernandez early.

Hernandez, 22, was a relative unknown outside his native country before United concluded a shock £7 million deal in April. This faith was repaid when he lit up the tournament in South Africa with stunning goals against France and Argentina.

Speaking to the club's official website after the 2-1 defeat to Kansas City Wizards last night, Ferguson lauded his scouting network's foresight.

"We were lucky that we identified him before the World Cup and got the deal the done," Ferguson said.

"If we'd have waited until after the tournament he could have cost us maybe two to three times the money. It was good work by our scouting department - they did a really good job.

"It depends on his condition when he joins us in Houston but we hope to give him a bit of football on Wednesday night."

The Scot also revealed Hernandez will play for both United and former club Chivas in their friendly in Guadalajara, Mexico on Friday night.

"He'll play against his old club in the first half and then play for them against us in the second. It'll be a nice tribute to his old club," Ferguson confirmed.

Manchester United See Real Madrid Striker Karim Benzema As Final Piece Of The Puzzle

According to the Daily Star, after missing out on Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder the Old Trafford manager will attempt to sign the precocious talent for a second time.

Fergie tried to sign the France international last summer following the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo, however like the Portugual winger, Benzema chose a switch to the Bernabeu.

New coach Jose Mourinho though has yet to decide on whether Benzema's future remains in Spain, as he continues to assess his squad ahead of the forthcoming season.

However, if the self-proclaimed 'Special One' decides he is willing to sell, Ferguson will move for his man before the transfer window closes at the end of next month.

The Old Trafford gaffer insisted last week he would not be making any more signings and is content with his current crop. Yet United's sources have confirmed that, ideally, Ferguson would like to add another attacking option to his squad.

The United chief already has Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen, new signing Javier Hernandez and Federico Macheda at his disposal, but feels Benzema would be a welcome addition.

Benzema was largely disappointing during his first season in La Liga, where he scored just eight times in 27 matches and missed out on inclusion in the French World Cup 2010 squad.

He has also been involved in off-field scandals, but remains one of the most exciting and sought-after talents in Europe.

Meanwhile, United's other summer transfer target, Sneijder, has finally been persuaded to remain in Milan, despite having ambition to move to the Premier League.

Manchester United Defender Nemanja Vidic Agrees New Long-Term Contract

Manchester United have confirmed that Nemanja Vidichas agreed terms on a new contract at the club to spurn advances from Real Madrid and AC Milan.

Vidic, 28, had been linked with a move to the continent after his wife had reportedly grown unsettled in England, while he had become angered by earning considerably less than defensive partner Rio Ferdinand. These rumours now seen to have been dismissed, however, and the player is set to extend his stay at Old Trafford.

Speaking to the club's official website, chief executive David Gill stated the deal had been agreed before the centre back represented Serbia at the World Cup and will be signed when he returns from holiday in early August.

"There was a lot of speculation about Nemanja's future, but in my view it's been the media drumming some old stories because they certainly didn't come out of the Manchester United camp and I'm confident they didn't come out of Nemanja's camp," Gill said.

"We sat down with Nemanja and his advisor at the end of last season and started discussions. They broke up when Nemanja went away to the World Cup, but resumed when Serbia were knocked out and I'm very pleased to confirm that we agreed terms with Nemanja three or four weeks ago on a new long-term deal with the club.

"It's yet to be signed - the paperwork is now being sorted by our lawyers and being checked by Nemanja's advisors. He's still away on holiday but the plan is that when he gets back the papers will be signed. We've shaken hands on it and we're confident it will all be signed and sealed in early August.

"It's great news for Manchester United and great news for Nemanja and the fans."
Gill also confirmed that discussions to keep star man Wayne Rooney at the club were to begin shortly.
"The current intention is to meet with Wayne and his advisors when we're back from tour and he's back from holiday with a view to sorting out a new deal for him," he said.

"It's clear from what he has said and what the club have said that both parties are very keen to sort things out and secure his long-term future at United.

"Given his desires and what he means to the club we're very confident that can be achieved."