Computer problems and time constraints prevented me from doing the paper round-up yesterday, but this has given me the chance to look at yesterday's news today. The Mail on Sunday reported this:
Lucas Moura will have a medical in Manchester today [Sunday] after travelling down last night from Newcastle for Brazil's Olympic Games quarter-final against Honduras at St James' Park, where he started on the bench.
So I'm assuming that today's papers will all be celebrating our great signing, especially the Mail, who'll be crowing about their exclusive. No? What's that, brushed under the carpet you say? Today's Mail's top story is on Robert van Persie coming to United, no sign of Moura:
And after it emerged that Sir Alex Ferguson had stayed in Britain while his team were in Norway in a bid to force through a £20million deal for the Dutchman, Mancini has revealed his club are no longer in the race.
Of course yesterday Sir Alex had stayed home to finalise the Moura deal but who's counting...
The Independent still have us finalising deals for both Moura and van Persie:
it appears United have prevailed. It is believed a fee has been agreed and United given the green light to hold talks with the teenager.Finalising the deal was probably the reason Sir Alex Ferguson missed United's pre-season trip to Norway for yesterday 0-0 draw in a friendly with Valerenga. Lucas is regarded as one of the brightest young talents to emerge from Brazil in recent years.The manager will also be on hand to press ahead with Robin van Persie's proposed £20m move to Old Trafford. Ferguson is optimistic that any further hitches will be overcome for the Netherlands striker to become a United player before the Premier League season starts.
Meanwhile, The Mirror, usually so happy to speculate on even the silliest of transfers, now has van Persie staying at Arsenal:
Club insiders believe van Persie, who has a year remaining on his contract, now wants to stay.The next challenge will be for the club to table a contract that gets him to commit to the club for the long term.
The main news coming out of our friendly with Valerenga yesterday is the return of Vidic. The Sun has quotes from him after his hour on the pitch:
Vidic said: "After eight months without a game it's obvious that you have to get used to your positioning."Fitness-wise it's not as it will be in a few weeks but my knee felt well and hopefully the next game will be better.
Although United were frustrated that they failed to turn possession into goals against Valerenga, Ferguson will be pleased to learn that Vidic came through the friendly without any problems. The Serbian was part of a strong United side that included four players — Nani, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Ashley Young — who were making their first pre-season appearance following their participation in Euro 2012.United dominated and had several decent chances although it was Valerenga who came closest to scoring when Rooney cleared Chuma Anene's header off the line in the second half. Shinji Kagawa, United's £17m summer signing from Borussia Dortmund, looked lively after coming on for Welbeck in a double substitution in the 61st minute that saw Anderson replace Vidic.
The Mirror report on Gary Neville's environmental campaigning - he was at Forest Green yesterday with a Manchester United team:
former United captain Neville was guest of honour at the New Lawn for the 2-2 draw.On one level, it was an opportunity for the likes of Tyler Blackett to enhance their reputations, on another, it was a chance for Neville to push his new Sustainability in Sport project at the most environmentally-friendly club in the football pyramid."Sports bring everyone together at all age groups," said Neville. "You saw the power of Euro 2012 and now it is the Olympics."That means we can combine children and young people with the fact that sustainability, energy and climate change are huge issues in today's society. Hopefully it is a good marriage."

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