Neville enjoys centre stage
Phil Neville played his way into contention for next week´s crunch against Slovakia with a man-of-the- match performance in the friendly win over Serbia and Montenegro. And the Manchester United man marked his recent comeback to the England fold by captaining his country for the first time - albeit only for half an hour. The honour means that Phil gets one up on injured elder brother Gary - he has now captained both United and England, while Gary has only skippered his club. " It was a dream - it was only for 20 minutes but it was still a dream to have that armband on," said Phil, who was recalled to the England squad last month after more than a year in the wilderness. The only problem is that it was passed around to about ten different players before it got to me!"
Stuart Brennan, Manchester Evening News
Barcelona in Becks talks
Manchester United have begun talks with Barcelona over the sale of David Beckham. United chief executive Peter Kenyon has met a representative of Barca´s new president-elect to hear details of their £30million bid. Beckham will have the final say, but it is clear United are now ready to cash in on one of the biggest stars in the world game. Joan Laporta is clear favourite to be voted in as Nou Camp president - and has promised to deliver Becks as a reward. The £30m fee will be underwritten by his own family´s fortune.
Neil Custis, The Sun
Wenger steps up the hunt for Harry
Arsene Wenger has offered flops Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Francis Jeffers to Leeds as he steps up his bid to land Harry Kewell. The Arsenal boss has already proposed a swap deal for Kewell of Ray Parlour plus £4million. Now he is willing to give Leeds boss Peter Reid a wider choice of either Parlour, van Bronckhorst or Jeffers and the balance in cash. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has also been tracking Kewell for months and is preparing a £7m bid for the Aussie international. But the player would prefer a move to Highbury believing first-team opportunities would be better. Wenger does not have the money to compete with Ferguson and hopes Reid will be swayed by his offer of a player-plus-cash deal.
David Anderson, Daily Mirror
Read the first report linking Kewell with United >
Fergie wants Blanc to stay
The United manager wants Laurent Blanc to postpone his retirement and play another few months for the club. Ferguson is contacting the Frenchman, who will be 38 in November, to ask him to return to pre-season training. United will be without Wes Brown for six months at least, and Gary Neville may be out for two months, so Blanc would save Ferguson a fortune.
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror
Oops! Beckham´s £2m adidas deal as kids wear Nike
It´s enough to make two of David Beckham´s biggest backers want to weep. You pay him £2million to promote adidas and he kits his kids out in rival Nike footwear. You give him £1million to plug Pepsi and his wife appears clutching a bottle of Coke. It was funtime for the Beckhams yesterday at Disneyland, California. But for sponsors of football icon David it was more spills than thrills. Sons Brooklyn and Romeo both sported Nike trainers. Dad, who had their names inscribed on his adidas football boots, did at least stick to the brand himself when he stepped out at the theme park. But then wife Victoria, who once had a tie-up herself with Pepsi, came up with her Coca-Cola own goal.
Stephen Moyes, Daily Mirror
Now Phil´s a pass master ( England 2-1 Serbia & Montenegro)
Phil Neville, so often the target of ridicule, answered his critics last night. The Manchester United utility man was given the key holding role and ended up wearing the skipper´s armband. In between he gave a performance that, statistically at least, will have raised a few eyebrows. In the 88 minutes he was on the pitch, Neville had a 95 per cent pass completion rate, making 52 passes to one of his own players. He said: " We´ve played in a new stadium, on a great pitch. It´s a great feeling. I really enjoyed it in midfield."
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror
Kewell fears fans from Ell
Harry Kewell may turn his back on a dream move to Manchester United because he fears an angry backlash from Leeds fans. Aussie Kewell was shocked at the reaction of the Elland Road faithful when Rio Ferdinand left for Old Trafford last summer in a £30m deal. The England star became the target of a hate campaign and even needed his own security guards when he returned to Leeds for a match with his new club last season. Leeds fans would see a Kewell switch to their hated rivals in the same light given that the 24-year-old winger has made his name in eight seasons at Elland Road.
Neil Custis, The Sun
Window shopping
Manchester United are well placed to sign Geremi as former club Middlesbrough are still well short of Real Madrid´s £10million valuation of the Cameroon midfielder. The Teessiders have bid just £3m, while United are expected to offer £8m for the 24-year-old.
Sports staff, Daily Mail
Let´s do lunch
The cat and mouse pursuit of David Beckham between some of Europe´s biggest clubs was revived yesterday by the arrival in London of a Spaniard on a mission. The Spanish sports newspaper El Mundo Deportivo claims Sandro Rosell was meeting Peter Kenyon at a London restaurant to thrash out details of Beckham´s transfer to Barcelona if Joan Laporta win the Barcelona presidential election on June 15. But Rosell is not only a canvasser for Laporta. He holds a position with Nike, one of United´s sponsors, and is also playing a part in deciding the future of PSG´s Ronaldinho.
Steve Curry, Daily Mail
