Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[dc7176]

Originally Posted by mr_missile

Italian Striker for United?

MANYOO WANT A STRIKER
One touted destination for Defoe is none other than Old Trafford.

But the Daily Express think Sir Fergie will instead splash the cash on 23-year-old Italian Fabio Quagliarella.

He scored 13 goals for Sampdoria in Serie A this season, and burst onto the international scene with two debut goals for Italy against Lithuania last week.

[qbdp]

OBE for United winger Giggs

Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has been awarded with an OBE in the Queen's birthday honours.

Giggs, 33, is United's most decorated player, 23 winners' medals and counting, putting him ahead of the club's all-time greats, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best.

That one fact says it all about the talented Welshman, who has just retired from international football with 64 caps - yet another of his countrymen never to appear in a major finals.

From his United debut in March 1991 to picking up his ninth Premiership title on the last day of the recently completed season, Giggs has won accolades for his talent, ball skills and attacking ability.

The award in the Queens Honours List will no doubt have taken into account his charity work, aiding the campaign to rid football of racism, plus his role as a UNICEF representative working to eliminate the use of land mines.

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Rossi eager for chance at Man Utd

Striker Giuseppe Rossi has pleaded with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to let him prove himself at Old Trafford next season.

The 20-year-old was loaned out to Newcastle at the start of last season before joining Parma, where he enjoyed a good run in the first team.

"It is all a bit confusing at the moment," said Rossi.

"All I will say is that my main goal is still what it always has been - to cut it with Manchester United."

Rossi, who is currently playing for Italy at the European Under-21 Championship, could take advantage if fellow United forward Louis Saha is not fit for the start of the next campaign but he could still face a battle for a first-team place.

Saha has undergone knee surgery but his agents have insisted he will be ready for the new season.

Plus, recent newspaper reports had suggested Alan Smith would move away from Old Trafford if he was not guaranteed regular first-team football but now it is believed the striker may be ready to stay and fight for his place.

Rossi's goalscoring exploits at Parma have attracted interest from other Serie A clubs but he does not want that to divert his attention from his primary aim.

"Joining Juventus is just talk. I've read about it once or twice but it's not on my mind," he added.

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Vaz Te backs Nani to be great

Ricardo Vaz Te is tipping Nani to set the Premier League alight like Cristiano Ronaldo, but has urged Manchester United fans to be patient with the young Portuguese.

Vaz Te and Nani have been part of Portugal's Under 21 squad for the European Championship in Holland, but the pair will be heading home later this week as Jose Couceiro's side failed to reach the semi-finals.

Nani will now begin preparing for life with United, who have signed the starlet from Sporting Lisbon for £17million, and Bolton striker Vaz Te believes the 20-year-old has all the qualities to succeed in the Premier League.

"He's an amazing player, he's an amazing kid as well, he works very hard and has got a big heart," Vaz Te told Sky Sports News.

"He got a gift from god which is his talent obviously.

"I think he can follow in the footprints of Cristiano Ronaldo and I think he's doing it right now.

"If (assistant manager Carlos) Queiroz deals with him like he did Cristiano he will be a very, very important player for Manchester United."

Vaz Te is confident Nani can go on to be one of the world's greats, but as with Ronaldo, says it will take time for his international team-mate to show his full potential.

"Nani is just beginning right now, Cristiano Ronaldo two years ago was just the kid with skills but looking to be big, now he's big," Vaz Te added.

"Now he is one of the best in the world, maybe the best in the world.

"Nani is just working that way, obviously he's not the best in the world but he's got all the talent to be the best."

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Quagliarella: United still want me

Sampdoria striker Fabio Quagliarella has revealed he could be tempted by a move to Manchester United this summer.

United reportedly made a £10million offer last month to sign the Italy international and, according to Quagliarella, the Red Devils have now increased that amount in the hope of winning the race against top Serie A clubs who are also keen to acquire his services.

When asked about United's offer, Quagliarella told Gazzetta dello Sport: "It seems a serious offer, they have raised it and it is an important figure. Manchester United are a big deal and if it ended up going that way, I would gladly join the Premier League. It is a fascinating and beautiful competition."

Quagliarella joined Samp last summer from Ascoli, although his sporting rights are co-owned by both the Genoa outfit and Udinese.

The 23-year-old made 35 league appearances for Sampdoria last season, scoring 13 goals, and his performances earned him a call-up to the national team, where earlier this month he scored his first two Azzurri goals during Italy's 2-0 Euro 2008 qualifying win against Lithuania.

Samp have confirmed only an "extraordinary offer" would see Quagliarella, who is under contract until 2010, leave the club this summer.

Quagliarella insists his first choice would be to remain in Serie A and keep his place in the national team.

"I am really happy at Sampdoria," added the striker.

"I would prefer to remain in Italy, having continuity and having the trust of (national team coach Roberto) Donadoni."

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Anderson to hit heights


UNITED new boy Anderson can become a huge European superstar according to World Cup-winning coach Luis Felipe Scolari.

Scolari, who was the FA's first choice to become Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor as national boss ahead of Steve McClaren, knows a bit about talent.

The South American steered Brazil to 2002 World Cup success in Japan and has since led Portugal to the Euro 2004 final and the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

And the 58-year-old has put his seal of approval on Sir Alex Ferguson's £17m capture of 19-year-old Anderson from Porto.

Scolari has monitored the midfielder's progress at Porto whilst running the rule over players for the Portuguese national squad.

"Anderson has joined a good English club and he is one that, probably inside the next two years, will be one of the biggest names in Europe," said the Brazilian of his fellow countryman.

"He'll achieve that if he continues the progression that he had with Porto."

United are still waiting to hear whether their application for a work permit for Anderson has been successful.

If it is rejected, the Reds are still expected to be successful on appeal.

Anderson does not meet the Home Offices Immigration department's criteria of having played 75 per cent of his country's international matches in the last two years.

He has yet to be capped by Brazil but is in the South American's squad for the Copa America.

Anderson was snapped up by the Reds in a double swoop on Portugal this month when they also sealed the arrival of Sporting Lisbon winger Nani.

Nani's potential impact on the Premiership and his £17m price tag has been derided by Chelsea scout Piet de Visser.

But the 20-year-old is itching to ram those words down his throat when the Reds meet the Londoners again in the Community Shield clash at Wembley on August 5.

"I am already thinking about that game," says Nani.

"I want to make my mark and to show Chelsea that buying me has been a great move by United."

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Ferdinand looks for clean sweep

UNITED defender Rio Ferdinand has set his sights on winning the quadruple next season.

The Reds have added Anderson, Nani and Owen Hargreaves to their title-winning squad and are now looking for a striker.

England centre-back Ferdinand believes the new-look side should be aiming to win every competition they enter.

"Next season we won't be talking about what happened last season, it's about what we want to win in the future," he said.

"We want to win the league, the FA Cup, the Carling Cup and the Champions League.

Standards

"We know it's going to be difficult, but you've got to set your standards."

Ferdinand is looking forward to playing with foreign duo Nani and Anderson, even though he admits to knowing little about them.

"We played against Porto in pre-season and Anderson played for them," Ferdinand told Sky Sports News.

"He was someone a few of the lads were talking about anyway.

"I've not seen Nani play. A lot of people say he is very similar to Cristiano Ronaldo.

"If he is similar to him and he comes half as good as him, we've got a fantastic player on our hands, so it's exciting."

[tenggiri]

Moanrinho and his cronies are already starting the mind games ions before the season begins. And Manu seems to be their main target besides the perennial Liverpool. I wOnder why??

Do i smell Fear emanating from St. Bridge??

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by tenggiri

Moanrinho and his cronies are already starting the mind games ions before the season begins. And Manu seems to be their main target besides the perennial Liverpool. I wOnder why??

Do i smell Fear emanating from St. Bridge??

That is Mourinho. He is trying to get the world to focus and heap expectations on other teams. Nothing new.

[qbdp]

Chelsea in Champions League boost

Chelsea have finally been named among the Champions League's top seeds, alongside Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United.

The Blues had previously not amassed enough 'coefficient' points to be among the top eight sides in the competition.

Liverpool are the highest ranked English club followed by Arsenal, with United and Chelsea on equal points.

Each English side will avoid fellow top seeds AC Milan, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid in the group stages.

England is the only country to have all of its representatives seeded.

Italy's AC Milan, who lifted the trophy last season after beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final in Athens, are the highest ranked team for next season.

Barcelona, winners in 2006, are the second highest seeds and 2005 winners Liverpool are ranked third.

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea will be delighted to be included among the top eight teams after having to negotiate very difficult groups in recent years - including being drawn with Barcelona twice in the last three years.

That was something the Blues boss found difficult to accept, complaining: "For three years we had the European Champions in our group.

"The first season we had Porto, the second Liverpool and the third Barcelona."

As the Stamford Bridge side had only qualified for the tournament once - in 1999 - before 2003, their ranking - which is based upon a team's results over five years, as well as the ranking of their national association - had kept them out of the elite group.

Mourinho moaned: "Being a second seed, you always have a very strong opponent. So when you say, 'What do we have to do to win it?', I think Chelsea need to be first seeds."

The draw for the Champions League qualifying rounds will take place on 29 June.

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Now that Chelsea are a top seed Abramovich will expect Mourinho to deliver the European Cup next season or else...

Good luck, Jose! Hope you're still at Chelsea in season 2008/2009

[tenggiri]

Originally Posted by qbdp

Good luck, Jose! Hope you're still at Chelsea in season 2008/2009

Yup bro , totally agree with your earlier comments on attention seeking Moanrinho and his same old tricks. He's getting even more desperate nowadays with very little money to spend.

Nice of you to wish him good for the 08/09 season haha. However, he may not even be around to start this coming 07/08 EPL season!!

[yinyang]

Extract of my post on other EPL gossipy thread.. on things MU

Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER RUMOURS
Sven-Goran Eriksson will take over as Man City boss next week - and will launch an audacious bid for Newcastle striker Michael Owen. (Various)

Newcastle have won the race to sign Man Utd misfit Alan Smith for £3.5m. (Daily Mirror)

Real Madrid say they are winning the race to sign West Ham's Carlos Tevez - and will pay £30m. (Various)

Liverpool's hopes of landing Fernando Torres have hit a setback as Atletico Madrid are refusing to drop their £27m asking price. (The Sun)

AND FINALLY
Wayne Rooney is relaxing with Coleen McLoughlin after last weekend's England WAG wedding fest with a break in Las Vegas - and will cheer on Ricky Hatton against Jose Luis Castillo on Saturday. (Daily Mirror)

Man Utd winger Ryan Giggs is considering a new career when he retires from football - as a reality TV star. (Daily Star)

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by tenggiri

Nice of you to wish him good for the 08/09 season haha. However, he may not even be around to start this coming 07/08 EPL season!!

Mourinho ought to be around for the coming season. Maybe the EPL title and FA Cup Double will save him if he fails to deliver the European Cup to Ambramovich again.

[Pramoda]

Originally Posted by qbdp

Mourinho ought to be around for the coming season. Maybe the EPL title and FA Cup Double will save him if he fails to deliver the European Cup to Ambramovich again.

Only winning the CL will save his ass next season

[alex18122003]

Originally Posted by Pramoda

Only winning the CL will save his ass next season

Then wat's winning trophy to let him to shut his mouth for
next season..... Hee..kee..hee..kee