A round-up of news and gossip relating to Manchester United over the past 24 hours.
According to TalkSport, Real Madrid are set to offer £19m for United winger Nani as negotiations stall on a new contract. Nani’s contract runs out in 2014 and despite United’s willingness to extend his deal, the two parties are yet to come to an agreement. In a surprise move, Madrid are looking to take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding his contract.
19-year-old youth product Ryan Tunnicliffe has spoken of his determination to break into the United first-team fold. The central midfielder has seen his chances boosted after Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison’s departure leaving central midfield spots open. The teenager scored the opening goal in a 6-2 win for Manchester United XI’s against Market Drayton on Wednesday.
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has denied the charge for improper conduct relating to a comment made on Twitter. The player was charged after he retweeted a ‘choc-ice’ comment referring to Ashley Cole.
Sir Alex Ferguson named the back four to start Manchester United’s pre-season friendly against Valerenga in Oslo this Sunday. Phil Jones, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic will start the game as United’s only fit senior defenders. The game will mark Vidic’s return from injury following a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained in December 2011 in the Champions League game against FC Basel. Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans are still sidelined by injury.
Sir Alex Ferguson has today issued a statement denying that he will gain financially from the club’s flotation on the New York Stock Exchange. The manager has been criticised for publicly supporting the club’s owners and has said he feels ‘insulted’ by claims that him doing so was motivated by possible financial gains. The statement was released in order to prevent a rift growing between himself and the fans: “I’ve spent 25 years of my life pushing this club forward and not only could I not have done that without those fans, I do it for them.”
Birmingham Mail report that Manchester United are amongst a host of Premier League clubs interested in signing Birmingham’s 13-year-old Foday Nabay. The youngster, who turns 14 on Sunday, has impressed in the Birmingham City academy and was recently called up for England Under-16s. The player has been compared to Yaya Toure for his pace, power and ability to drive forward with the ball.
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