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A midfield to take on Europe?

To my mind, Matt Dickinson gets it spot on in today's Times:

"I keep waking up expecting to discover that the old growler has fooled us once again. That all Sir Alex Ferguson’s declarations about spending no more money in this transfer window have turned out to be a spectacular ruse.

To rise one morning to the news of a jaw-dropping deal, perhaps the revelation that Franck Ribéry, the Bayern Munich winger, is having a medical at Old Trafford, or that a £35 million offer for Javier Mascherano is on its way to Liverpool.

At the very least some well-sourced gossip that David Silva, the Valencia playmaker, has been spotted in Manchester.

It would be a coup to remind us of the audaciousness of Ferguson and the clout of United, and to wrong-foot their rivals not just at home but abroad. And to provide instant replenishment for a midfield that, any way I shuffle it, I cannot see providing the happiest of endings for Ferguson at Old Trafford.

I have taken all the names, juggled them, switched them around, chopped and changed but, whichever way you line them up, I cannot see a United midfield that wins the Champions League this season.

The Barclays Premier League? Quite possibly, but Ferguson has 11 of those pots already. It is the greatest European prize, and immortality, that he craves in these final few years. Rewriting the record books with a third, perhaps an unprecedented fourth, Champions League success. His very own plinth in the pantheon of great managers."

David Silva would be my choice to perk up our midfield: quick, inventive, versatile and with an eye for goal.  The sums don't look too bad either - today's Mirror reports a £17 million asking-price for the 23 year-old Spanish playmaker.  In a summer of crazy transfer fees, that's a potential bargain.

Pete

The best player in the world will no longer be gracing the Old Trafford pitch

This morning's Daily Mail puts the best possible spin on Ronaldo's move.  The newspaper suggests that Sir Alex Ferguson has £100m to bring the likes of Ribery and Benzema to Old Trafford.  We shall see.

The Times sits at the other end of the spectrum warning that Manchester United's other most important player - Nemanja Vidic - is also thinking of leaving:

"Vidic’s wife, Ana, is growing increasingly unsettled in Manchester and wants to move to a warmer climate. Pep Guardiola, the Barcelona coach, is hoping to exploit the situation by making a £25 million bid for the Serbia defender."

I can't add to Martin Samuel's column today.  It is a depressing read.  Man Utd have lost the best player in the world, in the "upswing of his career", to a massive rival.  Yes, Ronaldo had many faults.  He was arrogant, often a bad loser, sometimes infantile but he was always wonderful to watch.  There were his, as Samuel writes, "extraordinary goals from outlandish range, courageous headers, wonder dribbles, invention, imagination and a deadball technique that redefined the art."

Of course Man Utd will never die but yesterday was a historic moment.  The reaction of Liverpool fans I spoke to yesterday was instructive.  They know what we've lost.  I don't say that Sir Alex was wrong to sell him.  There was little point preventing Ronnie from fulfilling his boyhood dream to wear Real's famous white shirt but my Old Trafford season ticket doesn't seem such good value this morning.

Tim

Ronaldo: "Manchester United is now my house"

Yesterday's Sun declared he would be leaving...

...but another Murdoch title, the News of the World, splashes that Cristiano Ronaldo is staying:

"This is my home now. I think even when I say my heart is here, people are still going to speak and make things up. But this is where I want to play. We are part of an era that can go down in history for the way we are playing and for the trophies we are winning. The boss believes in this team and so do I. And this is where I want to be. Manchester United is now my house."

Republik of Mancunia reminds us that the Portuguese star has been inconsistent in the past but this NotW story should gladden the hearts of all Reds.

Tim

The Brazilian connection

So it looks like we're signing another young Brazilian star: 17 year-old Jose Rodolfo Pires Ribeiro Dodo, who has been called "Brazil's best young defender".  It means United will have 5 Brazilians on their first team books, with Anderson, the da Silva twins and Possebon making up the rest.  They're a strikingly talented bunch, and have potential to burn.  Their average age: just under 19. 

One of the frequent refrains against Brazilian imports to the Premiership is that, whatever their promise, they just can't handle the rough and tumble of the English game.  I present Exhibit A: Kleberson.  But you wonder if the new approach - drafting them in when they're young - is partially intended to overcome that; to get them used to English football early in their development as footballers.  If so, it certainly seems to be paying dividends.  And the success of our Brazilian contingent is a welcome testament to United's bolstered scouting presence in Brazil.  Bring on the Dodo!

Pete

Ronnie gets real: The Madrid dream is dead

The Sunday Mirror is reporting that Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer considering swapping Old Trafford for the Bernabeu.

The piece quotes Ronnie as saying: “I’m no longer thinking of Madrid. That dream is dead.

"The only thing I dream about now is Manchester United and winning the Champions League again in Rome.”

And after Rome...?

Patrick

Will the Kop be chanting Argentina, Argentina next season?

Although Real Madrid are favourites to sign Carlos Tevez if the Argentinian leaves Man Utd when his loan agreement comes to an end The Times reports this morning that Liverpool is interested in signing him too.  That would move the Benitez-Ferguson mind games to another level.

The top brass at Man Utd must now regret letting Torres sign for Liverpool.  Losing Tevez to our arch rivals would be harder still to swallow.

Meanwhile Carrick tells The Sun that he wants Tevez to stay at Old Trafford:

“We want him to stay, Carlos is a top player. He has scored some very important goals for us over the last few years. We’ve got a world-class squad, we’ve got world- class players and Carlos is one of them. We want to keep moving forward as a team and as a squad so we’d like to keep our best players here. But it’s down to the manager. I’m sure he knows the best way to make sure we do keep progressing.”

The call on Tevez represents one of Fergie's biggest ever decisions.

Transfer craziness

It's that time of year again; when the transfer speculation goes into overdrive.  The latest piece of Big Gossip comes courtesy of the News of the World, who report that United are lining up a £70million bid for Kaka, should Ronaldo leave for Real Madrid in the summer.  Apparently, Fergie's also got his eye on Franck Ribery and Anton Valencia.  Here's how the NotW puts it:

"Fergie, who has admired Kaka for years but previously thought him way out of his price range, also knows there is no better time to try to lure him to Old Trafford.

In what may turn out to be a sweet irony for the United boss, the potential influx of funds from Ronaldo's sale may not have come at a better time.

AC Milan are in need of massive rebuilding job and are expected to lose manager Carlo Ancelloti to Chelsea at the end of the season. They've failed to challenge for the Italian title again and didn't even qualify for this year's Champions League...

...Fergie will have observed such signs of unrest and, in contrast to his city rivals, will be confident he can persuade Kaka to revive his career in England.

As well as Kaka, United are expected to bid for Ribery, while Wigan's Antonio Valencia is already seen as a 'done deal,' with on-loan Spurs striker Fraizer Campbell likely to head to the JJB as a makeweight in the transfer.

A move for Kaka would also spell the end of Carlos Tevez's fading hopes of a permanent United deal."

Hm.  The Kaka and Ribery rumours do seem quite fanciful - especially in light of Ronny's recent comments about United, and reports that he intends to stay at the club so long as Sir Alex is manager.  That a Valencia transfer is a "done deal" sounds more believable, as we've been hearing similar for a while now.  Fingers crossed that it is, as the Wigan midfielder would be a exciting, and Premiership-tested, addition to the United squad.

Pete