Who you kidding?
Real Madrid last night insisted they are not chasing David Beckham - but no one believes them. The Spanish giants put out a statement denying a near-£40million swoop for the Manchester United midfield star. The report read: " We have had no contact with Beckham and have no intention of trying to contact him." Yet the European champions issued an identical statement last summer, when they were bidding to lure striker Ronaldo away from Inter Milan.
Phil Thomas, The Sun
Don´t bet against it
The message from Madrid last night was that the move for David Beckham was off.
But do not be fooled - the Real deal could still be on. Bernabeu president Florentino Perez wants him and, after the events of this year, Becks is seriously considering leaving Manchester United. Their claims that none of the speculation surrounding Beckham, 27, has come from them is quite frankly rubbish. Various spokesmen from the Spanish club, including Perez himself and coach Vicente del Bosque, have emphasised what a great player he is. Neither until now have tried to quell the rumour mill that United´s star player is heading their way.
Neil Custis, The Sun
Fergie after Athirson
Manchester United have made a £4.8million bid for Juventus left-back Athirson. The Brazilian is currently on loan at former club Flamengo until next month and they wanted to keep him for good. But Flamengo president Helio Ferraz insists United have priced them out. Ferraz said: " He will return to Juventus in June and they´ll then sell him. We cannot compete with these figures - it´s going to be Manchester United that take the player and not us." Athirson, 26, is in the Brazil side to face Mexico in Guadalajara tonight and is an attacking wing-back in the Roberto Carlos mould.
Phil Thomas, The Sun
I have three more United years
Roy Keane is on a double mission. First he wants to savour Manchester United´s greatest comeback of all time as they head towards their eighth Premiership crown. Then the real hard work will begin as the inspirational captain sets himself a target to get back to the top of his game. Even a Keane at 50 per cent is better than most midfielders but he is convinced he can confound the critics. He admits that he has never had the criticism that he has suffered this season as people have questioned whether his best footballing days are behind him. According to Keane there are another three years of his best to come as he reconditions his body for yet more glory at Old Trafford. Keane, 31, said: " People are saying I´m not the player I was and I´m finished with football. I have not played as well as I can but I have no doubt that I will get back to my best, no doubt at all."
Neil Custis, The Sun
Saluting right Van Man
The Football Writers´ Association name their Footballer of the Year on Friday. Until a month or so ago, I would have fallen into line with PFA members who voted in Thierry Henry this week. Now, though, the case for Ruud van Nistelrooy looks cast-iron. While fatigue has finally eaten into Arsenal´s sinews, Manchester United have flexed their muscles. And at the centre of it all is the 26-year-old Dutchman, aided and abetted by the magnificent Paul Scholes. In the last 10 matches, Van Man has scored 13 times for club and country at a time of year when players start to concentrate more on the sort of form that, come the summer, will be poured into bikinis and cocktail glasses. Not Van Nistelrooy. He has gone from strength to strength. His tally for the season is 43 in 56 games - 21 in the league, 14 in Europe, four in the FA Cup, one in the Worthington Cup and three for Holland.
Steven Howard, The Sun
Kenyon demand
Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon wants FIFA to pay £40m to compensate Europe´s top clubs for providing players for the 2006 World Cup. In return, the G-14, which represents Europe´s richest clubs, is offering to drop its opposition to the Confederations Cup and the CLub World Championship. Kenyon, speaking as a G-14 vice president, said: " We think there is a way we can work with FIFA." The clubs want a 20 per cent cut of World Cup profits, which could reach £200m in Germany in 2006.
Sports staff, The Sun
Never Never Never
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez last night crushed any chance of David Beckham moving to the Spanish giants this summer. Sir Alex Ferguson´s remarkable decision to leave Beckham out of the starting side for last week´s Champions League knockout by Real seemed to open the way for the England skipper to make his dream move. Beckham´s wife Victoria fuelled the speculation in a TV interview in which she said she could not comment on the prospect of a £38million-plus transfer - and then enthusiastically nodded her head. But if Perez has his way, it will be a case of " never, never, never´´ for Beckham.
Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror
Just face it Arsenal... you´re not up to it yet
David Beckham has warned Arsenal they will not be considered in the same class as Manchester United until they can match Sir Alex Ferguson´s side´s haul of Premiership titles. Fergie´s resurgent squad have staged a remarkable comeback this season to overtake the Gunners and stand on the threshold of their eighth Premiership title in 11 seasons. It has taken United just 53 days to turn an eight-point deficit into a five-point advantage over Arsene Wenger´s shell-shocked troops.
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror
Real: We don´t want Becks
David Beckham is NOT moving to Real Madrid - and that´s official. Rumours that the Manchester United and England ace would be moving to the Champions League favourites in a £45m deal were firmly put to rest in an official statement from the Spanish giants.
Scott Coleman, Daily Star
Barthez to ditch France for Reds
Fabien Barthez is set to quit international football in a desperate bid to save his career at Manchester United. The French keeper - who is due to play for his country against Egypt tonight in a friendly in Paris - had a heart-to-heart with national coach Jacques Santini yesterday. This comes amid fears for his state of mind, after he failed to turn up to speak to the French press yesterday.
Danny Fullbrook, Daily Star
It´s clown ´n out for Fabien
Alex Ferguson turned the clock back nearly 13 years to tell Fabien Barthez his Manchester United days were numbered. Keeper Barthez was given the same ruthless treatment as Jim Leighton after the 1990 FA Cup final.
Matt Barlow, Daily Star
Fergie´s double Dutch
Manchester United had Barcelona´s Patrick Kluivert and Marc Overmars watched at the Nou Camp on Sunday, fuelling speculation that they could be part of a sensational double swoop for next season. The club´s top scout Martin Ferguson and United No 2 Carlos Queiroz watched the Dutch duo. And Kluivert scored in the 2-1 win over title-chasing Real Sociedad. But Sunderland´s David Bellion is poised to be the first part of Fergie´s summer rebuilding programme. The forward was a target during the January transfer window. United are also said to have made a £4.8m bid to Juventus for Brazilian defender Athirson.
Geroge Scott, Daily Star
Glittering Giggs earns reprieve as Fergie has a rethink
There will be no high profile departures from Manchester United other than Fabien Barthez, providing the Premiership trophy returns to Old Trafford. When United were faltering alarmingly and seemingly out of the title race a few months ago, there was an authentic tone to murmurings that wholesale changes were imminent with the name of Ryan Giggs at the top of everyone’s departure list. Ferguson accepts there will be departures, but they will come from the fringes of his squad.
John Edwards, Daily Mail
