Manchester United: Manchester United

Manchester United defender John O'Shea could miss the start of the club's pre-season tour of the United States due to a knee problem.

A club spokesman told the club's website, www.manutd.com: "John has undergone arthroscopy on his left knee and will be out for three to four weeks."

United's first match on their tour of America is due to take place against Bayern Munich on July 25.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has been charged by UEFA for insulting Swedish referee Anders Frisk after Holland's defeat in the Euro 2004 semi-final defeat to Portugal.

The Manchester United striker was furious with Frisk's performance and had to be led away after confronting the match official following the final whistle.

Frisk mentioned the confrontation in his report and UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against van Nistelrooy. They are expected to announce his punishment on Friday.

Manchester United have signed Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.

The centre-back, a Spain Under-17 international who can also play at left-back, rejected the offer of a new contract at the Nou Camp in favour of a move to Old Trafford.

No fee has been disclosed yet but Pique is reported to have signed a five-year deal.

Rangers manager Alex McLeish has invited Scotland international Michael Stewart to join the club on the pre-season tour of Austria.

The Manchester United midfielder faces a tough task to force his way into the Old Trafford first team with Roy Keane, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs ahead of him in the pecking order.

The 23-year-old spent part of last season on loan at Nottingham Forest and McLeish has jumped on the chance to take Stewart on trial with a view to a permanent deal, according to the club's official website, www.rangers.co.uk.

Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to take the extra pressure Premiership defences will put on him now he is a marked man after his Euro 2004 displays.

The 19-year-old has been a major success for Portugal and is one of the stars of the tournament - something which will not go unnoticed next season in England.

Ronaldo admits he will be a marked man next term and is prepared for Premiership defences making a special effort to contain him.

Barcelona have confirmed they are protesting to Fifa about Manchester United's unveiling of defensive starlet Gerard Pique.

The Premiership giants announced on Thursday that the teenager had signed a five-year contract with the club.

Details of the transfer, primarily the fee, were not disclosed with Barcelona feeling aggrieved at the situation.

The Spaniards appear to hint that they have received no compensation for grooming Pique and this has prompted their complaint in Fifa's direction.

Pique has spent the past seven years in Barca's academy and the Catalan club feel they are entitled to some form of remuneration from The Red Devils for their role in the 17-year-old's progress.

Barca president Joan Laporta has confirmed he has sent a letter to put the wheels of complaint in motion and he will not rest until the outcome has fallen in his club's favour.

Manchester United cannot afford to buy England striker Wayne Rooney, according to a newspaper report.

United chief executive David Gill told Daily Star Sunday that his club could not meet Everton's 50m valuation.

"We can't afford to spend 45m or 50m on one player. One reason why we run a successful operation is because we work within financial parameters," he said.

Gill added that he believed manager Sir Alex Ferguson had already made all the summer signings he needs.

Eric Djemba-Djemba may be forced out of Manchester United's American trip after injuring his knee.

The Cameroon midfielder was plagued by knee problems in his first season at the club and the injury flared up again in Sunday's win over the Ivory Coast.

Manchester United should wrap up the signing of Parma youngster Giuseppe Rossi in the coming week, with agent Andrea Pastorello confident that negotiations will go well.

Parma are less than delighted to part companty with one of their most promising youngsters, especially with another of their starlets Arturo Lipolo set to join Arsenal.

However the Italian side will be compensated for their role in the players' progression and there is no binding contract in place to stop their migration.

Although United are yet to agree terms on what is expected to be a two-year deal for the 16-year-old, Pastorello - of P&P Sportmanagement - confirmed that talks were underway.

Manchester United have signed Italian teenager Giuseppe Rossi from cash-strapped Parma.

Rossi had not signed a professional contract at Parma, meaning United will only have to pay minimal compensation.

The 16-year-old midfielder is regarded as one of the most promising young players in Europe.

He becomes the second teenager to arrive at Old Trafford this summer, after 17-year-old centre-back Pique joined on a five-year deal.

Manchester United are keeping close tabs on French youngster Florent Chaigneau.

The Old Trafford outfit have been given favourable reports on the Rennes keeper by scout Martin Ferguson, brother of manager Sir Alex.

Goalkeeping coach Tony Coton has reportedly studied videos of Chaigneau in action and it is likely that United will continue to monitor his development over the course of next season.

Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton has played down speculation linking the Red Devils with a move for England sensation Wayne Rooney.

Old Trafford director Charlton says United are satisfied with the strength of their squad and revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson has shown no desire to sign Everton striker Rooney.

Manchester United new boy Liam Miller admits he can hardly wait to get started at his new club after arriving at Old Trafford from Celtic.

Miller is a self-confessed United supporter and the 22-year-old Irishman is keen to make an earlier impression at the Premiership giants.

Manchester United have hired top fitness coach Valter di Salvo to join Sir Alex Ferguson's Old Trafford backroom team.

The 40-year-old Italian, who worked with returning Red Devils assistant boss Carlos Queiroz at Real Madrid last season, was criticised by David Beckham for the England skipper's lack of fitness during Euro 2004

Coventry City have taken Manchester United starlet Eddie Johnson on a season-long loan deal.

Johnson is one of the better prospects making his way through the ranks at Old Trafford and has been allowed to move to Highfield Road to accrue experience.

Manchester United could listen to loan offers for Nicky Butt after failing to find a buyer for the England player.

Birmingham, Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa have all been linked with the 29-year-old midfielder.

United have not received any firm offer for the player who is no longer guaranteed first-team football at Old Trafford and may now loan him out.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson told Butt last December that he was free to leave after falling out of favour.

Butt would probably be a good loan signing for all the clubs listed as interested, but would anyone really want to lay out money for someone who really has no talent? A loan deal is all the manc scum can really hope for.

Gary and Phil Neville have signed new five-year deals that will effectively see both brothers finish their careers at Manchester United.

The club confirmed on Saturday from their training camp in Chicago they had sealed the players' futures until 2009.

Originally posted by John Nada
You can't see how? Well then I'll tell you...

Rafael Benitez, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.

They'll laugh at Fergies stale mind games (as two already have) and will stick them up his arse royally. They may have worked with Kevin Keegan but they wont work with these shrewd guys.

If things go well next season, ManU could probably end up in fourth position by the end of the season behind Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.

As I've said before the bulk of the team is composed of a bunch of young uns. Rynoldo was not a superstar at Euro 04, but more of a liability. His foul in the penalty area gave greece the victory in the preliminary matches at euro 2004. Out of 14 shots he only had a combined total of 2 goals throughout the entire tournament.

[Edited on 7/24/04 by websurfer]

Manchester U is coming to Philly next week, maybe I should get tickets.

PHILADELPHIA | Manchester United was already without some of its top players for its United States tour. Now, it has to worry about opening the Premier League season without them.

Manchester United will likely be without striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who could be sidelined up to three months after a recurrence of a right knee injury that caused him to miss most of last season.

United and three other European soccer teams will play in Philadelphia as part of the Champions World Series this summer. Manchester United will face Glasgow Celtic on July 28 and European Cup champions AC Milan will play Chelsea FC on Aug. 2.

Manchester United beat FC Barcelona 3-1 last year in the first athletic contest at Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles' home.

In addition to missing Solskjaer, Man U will be without two players who will participate in the Olympics: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Gabriel Heinze of Argentina.

Seven other games are scheduled for the tour, including two games in East Rutherford, N.J., and one each in Seattle; Chicago; Hartford, Conn.; Pittsburgh, and Toronto.

www.mcall.com...