The future of Manchester United's Portuguese winger Nani appears increasingly uncertain with the club expected to complete the £3m signing of 20-year-old France Under-21 international Gabriel Obertan today. ...
Obertan's trickiness on the left flank presents more competition for 22-year-old Nani, who did not develop as United might have hoped last season. Zoran Tosic, another left winger signed by United from Partizan Belgrade in January, has not as yet demonstrated the physical presence to stamp his mark at United. Antonio Valencia's £17m arrival from Wigan suggests he will regularly take a right-sided role with Obertan on the left.
"Manchester United have been tracking him for a long time. They certainly hope to advance him, something that Bordeaux and Lorient have failed to do. He has the potential, but he must overcome psychological and mental challenges so he can express his true value."Ben Foster signs a new deal, and Sir Alex has words of praise, and Foster comments:
"We are delighted that Ben has signed a new deal."Ben is seen as one of the best young goalkeepers in England and we genuinely see him as a successor to Edwin."
Foster added: "I'm really happy to commit my future to the club.
"The spirit here is fantastic and working along side Edwin and Tomasz has been a great influence."
Kleberson, 30, now with Flamengo back in Brazil, signed for United for £5.93m. He was sold to Besiktas for £2.5m two years later after just 24 starts and two goals. Fatally, he never got on with Alex Ferguson.
He admitted: "I arrived in Manchester, along with Ronaldo, with a lot of hope but left with huge sadness. An injury in only my second league match proved a very negative factor and in my second season I wasn't given many chances.
"My Brazilian coach Dunga had more faith in me than Ferguson. I believe I could have been a bigger success in English football. But not everyone is guaranteed success at United."
"Cristiano was more a fan of Barcelona then than Real. But now he is in Madrid, he will win many titles."Make of that what you will...
One last thing, an article on The Guardian Blog by Paul Wilson compares to Manchester City:
United are in a better position than City in that most players already want to join them, but when that is not the case, think Alan Shearer in the past or Karim Benzema this summer, they accept defeat with dignity and look elsewhere. It is interesting that United have just signed Michael Owen on a free. They might have liked him in his pomp, but it is simply not United's style to lay siege to rival clubs or try to wear down their star players with repeated offers. Everton fans might protest about Wayne Rooney, but the club needed to sell and in the end the player wanted to go. Dimitar Berbatov was desperate to leave Spurs once he discovered United were interested. Ferguson knew he was pushing on an open door and at least Spurs did what selling clubs have to do and extracted top price. Forest were looking to sell Roy Keane, Leeds did not know what to do with Eric Cantona, then could not afford to keep Rio Ferdinand, and so on.
At risk of provoking an argument within the city, United seem to know what City have yet to realise. That the more money you spend on a player the more important it is that he wants to join your club. He must be excited by the prospect, and keen to make the step up. If not, don't bother. Money alone is insufficient motivation. The players United have signed or agreed deals for this summer may be low key, from Wigan, Newcastle and, in Gabriel Obertan, Bordeaux reserves, but what links Owen to Antonio Valencia and Obertan is that they are all thrilled to get the chance to play at Old Trafford. Not one of them thinks they are about to become the new Cristiano Ronaldo, but all are flattered to be part of Ferguson's team-building for the new season.
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