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Today´s newspapers, tomorrow´s fish and chip paper... in this regular feature, we round up the United stories in England´s famously reusable tabloids. Now updated every weekday with extracts from the Manchester Evening News.
Fergie has a Nou Car
Manchester United are to sign the Barcelona defender Carlos Puyol. The tough Spanish international, still only 25, will join Tim Howard, David Bellion and Eric Djemba-Djemba as summer captures at Old Trafford. And there will be only ONE other signing by United before the big kick-off. The champions, linked with Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer, recently lost out to Barcelona in the signing chase for Ronaldinho. But they have gone back to the Nou Camp for Puyol, who can operate at right full-back, in the centre of defence and as an uncompromising man-marker. Puyol - remarkably spotted playing American football for the Barcelona Dragons in the World League - is one of the top defenders in the Primera Liga. The signing will give Sir Alex Ferguson more defensive competition as Puyol - a current international - will not expect to be warming the bench. With Wes Brown still crocked and Laurent Blanc retiring, Puyol could start alongside Rio Ferdinand if personal terms can be agreed.
Football Hotline, Sunday People
Fergie is offered Raul
Manchester United have been offered Real Madrid superstar Raul. We can reveal United were contacted before Chelsea made their shock £37million bid for the Spanish striker last week. Last night Raul´s agent, Gines Garvajal, refused to deny our story, saying only: " I do not want to talk about this." But he did add: " Raul regards Manchester United as a fantastic club. " Although he doesn´t know Sir Alex Ferguson on a personal basis, he has the highest regard for his professionalism."
Antony Kastrinakis, News of the World
Fergie makes a nice Living
Manchester United are poised to sign up ANOTHER feeder club — Scottish side Livingston. They have agreed a deal in principal with the Scottish Premier League outfit and will sign next month — making it their SIXTH partnership of the summer. Livingston are THE success side of football north of the border. Formerly Meadowbank Thistle, they have risen from non-league football to the Scottish top flight. Crucially, they are based in between Glasgow and Edinburgh — giving United the pick of the best Scottish talent. Sport of the World can reveal that the Premiership champions will have 12 deals with clubs across the globe by September which will give them access to the top young prospects. This summer they have signed up Brazilian outfit Sao Paulo, Nantes in France, Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, Welsh side Connahs Quay Nomads and First Division Walsall.
Antony Kastrinakis, News of the World
Ronaldinho? We´re much better off without him
Rio Ferdinand last night insisted that Manchester United are better off WITHOUT Ronaldinho, blasting: We only want players who will die for this club. The England centre-half believes Ronaldinho could have destroyed the dressing room harmony that led to Premiership glory last season because the Brazilian would not have been fully committed to United. Ferdinand insists the World Cup winner´s hesitation about joining United, coupled with his lavish demands, proved the club were RIGHT not to match Barcelona´s £21million bid. Rio opened his heart about the transfer saga and the secrets behind his roller-coaster debut season at Old Trafford. He also told how: He FAILED to meet his own high standards. Was FRUSTRATED by three operations. Felt winning the title JUSTIFIED his decision to quit Leeds. Ferdinand, 24, said: " We only need players who want to play here. If Ronaldinho doesn´t want to join then good luck to him. " He can go and play where he wants. It doesn´t matter to us.
James Fletcher, News of the World
Keane quit schock
Manchester United skipper Roy Keane last night confessed: I may have to quit at the end of this season. Keane still has three years left to run on his Old Trafford contract but he is poised to hang up his boots — and, incredibly, wants to become a manager. " Things come to an end. I will see how this season goes, but the next two or three...I am not so sure," he admitted during a break on United´s US tour. " The old Roy Keane has gone, the one that charged all over the pitch. I hope that doesn´t mean the end of my career, but time is going fast. I have three years left on my contract. But then, what do contracts mean?"
James Fletcher, News of the World
Veron gone
Juan Sebastian Veron will sign for Chelsea this week for £13.5million. And the Blues have also agreed a club record £20m fee for Roma´s Brazil captain Emerson. The two deals will take Chelsea´s amazing summer spending spree past the £70m mark. Manchester United midfielder Veron is just days from completing a move to Stamford Bridge. The Argentine could be unveiled, alongside the club´s other signings, at a press conference in the next seven days. Although Veron has attempted to play down a move to Chelsea during United´s tour in the United States, his agent Fernando Hidalgo has been negotiating his personal terms. Veron has failed to settle since completing a £28.5m move from Lazio two seasons ago and has been constantly linked with a move away from United. Pini Zahavi, who has acted as a consultant to Chelsea and billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, secured a release fee with United some two weeks ago. But the deal was put on ice while the club monitored other targets.
Sports staff, Sunday Mirror
I´ll follow in Fergie´s footsteps
Roy Keane will be haunted for the rest of his days if he fails to exorcise the ghosts of 1999 by lifting the Champions League. The Manchester United captain took time out from the Reds´ current tour of the USA to bare his soul about his regrets - and hopes for the future. The Irishman has admitted that, despite seven title medals, three FA Cups and the World Club Championship, his retirement will always be darkened by the memory of missing out on United´s epic European Cup triumph over Bayern Munich in Barcelona four years ago if he fails to get his hands on the trophy. In a revealing insight into what continues to motivate him, the controversial Keane also confessed: He has a maximum of three years to realise his Champions League dream. He may hang up his boots inside the next 12 months if he suffers more injuries and feels he isn´t having an influence at Old Trafford. He wants to follow one day in the footsteps of Sir Alex Ferguson by becoming United manager. That Ferguson´s shock summer decision to sell David Beckham will be justified.
Simon Mullock, Sunday Mirror
Reds sign up
Manchester United´s next big transfer is likely to come OFF the field. Experts reckon car registration plate 1 UTD will fetch around £70,000 from one of the players or management after it came on to the market last week. Plenty of interest in their London rivals, too. 1 CFC would fetch a similar sum, but the owner is banking on Roman Abramovich making a bid... and pocketing a cool £150,000.
Sports confidential, Sunday Mirror
Roman to try Juan more time
Chelsea supremo Roman Abramovich will make one final push to sign Juan Veron - with an improved cash offer and the promise of a £100,000-a-week deal to Manchester United´s Argentinian star. Abramovich is stunned that Veron has said ´no´ to his bid, but the South American ace is still on his hit list to be signed before the Champions League deadline. The Russian ruler of Stamford Bridge wants TWO new midfielders and is doubly keen on snapping up Veron after running into a row in his bid to buy Claude Makelele from Real Madrid. Veron is digging in his heels. He knows United were willing to sell him before the Ronaldinho deal fell through - so he wants cash off both ends. Chelsea will pay him around £100,000-a-week, while there may even be a golden handshake from Manchester... although that will only happen when Sir Alex Ferguson has found his replacement.
Steve Bates, Sunday People
Keano: Becks gone and I could be next for Fergie axe
THE ruthless act that saw David Beckham banished to Madrid has Roy Keane fearing he could be next out the door. Yes, even mighty warrior Keane - captain of the Champions and Sir Alex Ferguson´s bully on the pitch - reckons he will be cast aside if he fails to improve on last season. Haunting memories of a double ´spanking´ from Zinedine Zidane are burnt deeply into Keane´s memory banks. That and an injury fear that stalks his every challenge have convinced him his days at Old Trafford are numbered. " The manager does what he thinks is best for Man United. it´s as simple as that," explained Keane. " It will be the same for all of us. It will happen to me Giggsy, Gary Neville or Nicky Butt..."
Steve Bates, Sunday People
I sweated blood for England but no nobody wants me here - and it hurts like hell
England and Manchester United legend Bryan Robson never shirked a battle on or off the pitch. He´s not about to start now - even if the fight he´s enduring has left him feeling emotionally battered, bruised and beaten up. Most mornings these days the former Middlesbrough boss wakes up wondering: " What the hell have I done wrong?" as he contemplates long, tortuous days out of the game he loves. The silence of the telephone and the endless days waiting for the right offer at his Cheshire home have been tearing apart the hard man and driving force of England and United in the Eighties. But Robson´s never been a quitter and he´s determined to see it through and land a decent job back in the world he knows best - football.
Steve Bates, Sunday People
Come on Rio, show us you´re the best
Bryan Robson has challenged Rio Ferdinand to show Manchester United he REALLY wants to become a defensive legend for club and country. The former United and England skipper is a Rio fan but he believes there´s more to come from £29million British record buy Ferdinand - if he toughens up mentally. Robson says: " I really hope Rio will come on this year, I really do, because I´m convinced United haven´t seen anywhere near the best of him yet. Rio was settling in last year and still he won the title, which was good for him. But I think there´s more to come from Rio and I think if he wants to become truly great he´ll have to improve. The key issue is whether he wants to go on and become the best in the world. He has that potential and so does John O´Shea. But they both need to be that much tougher and harder as defenders. If they can bring that into their game they can be the best in the world, I have no doubt about that."
Steve Bates, Sunday People
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