It looks like Dimitar Berbatov is interested in a move to Paris St Germain.

United rumoured to be edging closer to signing Shinji Kagawa.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...und?CMP=twt_gu

Seven Reds at Euro 2012

Manchester United will have seven representatives at Euro 2012 after the final squads were delivered to UEFA on Tuesday.

Anders Lindegaard has made the Denmark squad after proving his fitness and should compete with Stephan Andersen for a starting spot after Thomas Sorensen was ruled out. Peter Schmeichel's son Kasper has been drafted in as cover for the Stoke keeper.

Roy Hodgson's England have four Reds in their ranks, although Wayne Rooney is suspended for the first two matches. Rooney wears his favourite No10 shirt with in-form Ashley Young taking 11. Phil Jones is at 14 while Danny Welbeck, who is travelling despite taking time to recover from an injury, gets 22.

Nani is in Portugal's party, along with former Old Trafford favourite Cristiano Ronaldo, and Patrice Evra is included in Laurent Blanc's 23-man France squad. David De Gea, as expected, will not feature for Spain as he's instead earmarked to be No1 at the Olympics.

Hodgson might gamble on Man Utd striker Welbeck

England coach Roy Hodgson has indicated he may be prepared to make an exception to his plan not to take injured players to Euro 2012 in order to squeeze Danny Welbeck into his squad.

The Manchester United forward has not played a competitive match since April 30, when he sustained an ankle injury in a challenge with Nigel de Jong during the key Barclays Premier League defeat to Manchester City.

Hodgson said: "We didn't want to take anyone who wasn't 100%. But given the shortage of front players we have and the fact Wayne Rooney can't play until the third game, if we are going to make any allowances whatsoever, it would be for a forward."

Welbeck carried on having intensive treatment after the domestic campaign drew to a close but has still only been able to do light training sessions and has no chance of being involved in England's friendly with Norway on Saturday.

Hodgson has previously stated his preference not to select injured players for the finals in Poland and Ukraine this summer and he does have Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge on standby in case Welbeck fails to make it.

However, Hodgson has now suggested he may be willing to bend his own rules, even though there is a long list of England managers who have picked players for major tournaments despite fitness doubts and been forced to regret it.

"Danny's injury has cleared up less quickly than we would have hoped," he said. "I fully expect to name him in the squad but on the other hand, it could be that he might still not be capable of taking part in all the training sessions next week. But the doctor Ian Beasley is telling me he doesn't think there is a major problem."

The news surrounding Scott Parker and Glen Johnson is more optimistic. Parker has shown no ill effects from the injection he had in his Achilles injury last week, while Johnson's toe problem is being described as "an irritant" by the new England boss.

Like Welbeck, Johnson will not be involved on Saturday. Parker will though, in a team captained by Steven Gerrard and including Robert Green in goal, his first cap since that disastrous mistake against the United States during the opening World Cup game in South Africa two years ago.

Leighton Baines and Phil Jones will occupy the full-back berths, while Liverpool striker Andy Carroll gets a berth, further recognition for his superb performances in the latter weeks of the campaign.

"He Wants to play at Manchester United . Not for money." -Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke on Shinji Kagawa.

Hans-Joachim Watzke (Dortmund CEO) talking about the potential Kagawa deal: "Both sides have a desire to conclude the deal". #MUFC

German paper reporting about the Kagawa story.

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/b...erschrift.html

United is world's most popular FC

New international survey finds 19-times English champions have 659 million followers

The largest global football follower survey ever conducted has today named Manchester United the world’s most popular club, with 659 million followers worldwide.

The survey was carried out by leading market research agency, Kantar, and gathered 54,000 respondents from 39 countries. The club that Forbes recently named the most valuable in world sport was identified as the favourite team of 659 million followers around the world. Kantar found that football remains the world’s most popular sport, with 1.6 billion followers globally, reinforcing the results of a recent FIFA survey which produced a similar figure.

Richard Arnold, the club's Commercial Director, commented on the long-term strategy that has made Manchester United the number one club in the world’s number one sport:

"Manchester United has built on a tradition of iconic players, iconic teams and iconic achievements – Beckham, Busby, Benfica ’68. Now our games are broadcast to 1.15 billion households globally, to an audience of over four billion a year.

Manchester United resonates with followers all over the world, and it’s their passion and support that means year after year we can continue doing what matters most to everyone at the club: playing attacking football and competing for trophies.

"The growth in our followers since 2007 correlates with what we have seen as we have rolled out our new approach to reaching fans. From the increase in TV viewership from two to four billion last season, to the demand from millions of media subscribers in 72 countries through our media partnerships, to the way the footage of Wayne’s overhead kick echoed around the world on social media, we can see that the connections to the club are growing exponentially.

"With the DHL Champ19ns Trophy tour we have seen that passion from our community of followers face to face in 38 cities across the globe, and there does not seem to be a beach or street in the world where you do not see the Aon and Nike shirt.

"This survey shows that our family of followers is going from strength to strength."

Manchester United has 659 million followers worldwide:

- 71 million in Americas
- 90 million in Europe
- 173 million in Africa and the Middle East
- 325 million in Asia

Reserves revived Scholes

Warren Joyce wonders if the seeds of Paul Scholes' surprise first-team return were sown when he trained with Manchester United Reserves last season.

The veteran midfielder's enthusiasm was rekindled while working with the youngsters in Joyce's squad after he initially quit football at the end of the 2010/2011 campaign and enjoyed a testimonial at Old Trafford in August.

Following a shock return in the FA Cup third round win at Manchester City in January, Scholes went on to play a key role in United's bid to retain the title that fell agonisingly short on goal difference and Sir Alex Ferguson has already stated that the 37-year-old will stay on for another year.

“It was good for them to train with Paul Scholes before Christmas,” Joyce revealed to ManUtd.com, when discussing his trophy-winning reserves squad. “To get him involved with training and see how to act properly. He didn’t want to not be top man. His pride wanted him to be the best player and he raised the bar in training.

“I think it was good for him as well. Maybe, he just trained like he did when he was 18 again and working under Eric Harrison in the youth team. He was at them and they were at him. There was great spirit – he was kicking them and they were kicking him!”

Joyce also insisted that Scholes and Ryan Giggs are the perfect role models for the likes of Larnell Cole, Jesse Lingard and Michael Keane - the trio he shortlisted for the Reserves' Player of the Year award. All three players have been at Carrington since an early age and have been able to learn from the elder statesmen at the club "You look at the likes of Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes, for all they have done in football, which is unbelievable," added Joyce. "Yet they are very humble and down to earth. Whilst these lads have done nothing yet, they are in a similar mould to that.

"I’m not saying they are as good as players or they will be but they are normal, humble lads who just want to be footballers and are not that interested in the other things that surround footballers and young players. They just want to work as hard as they can every day."

New contracts for Reds duo

Ben Amos and Paul Scholes have both signed new contracts to remain with Manchester United.

Promising young goalkeeper Amos has penned a three year deal which will run until at least 2015, while Scholes has signed until the end of the 2012/13 season.

Having made his Premier League debut for the Reds in January's victory over Stoke City and featured in all three 2011/12 Carling Cup ties, Amos has continued his impressive ascent through the club's ranks.

A commanding presence and an excellent communicator, Amos has made seven appearances during the course of his Reds career to date, keeping three clean sheets, and has also benefited from loan spells with Molde, Peterborough and Oldham Athletic.

Scholes, meanwhile, has completed the formalities of the one-year extension which Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed earlier this month.

Ashley Young interview about his first season at United, England duty and the upcoming Euro 2012 tournament:).

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...d-video-853199

Shinji Kagawa close to £12m Manchester United move

Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa after agreeing a deal in principle with his club Borussia Dortmund.

The 23-year-old has still to agree personal terms but United expect negotiations to progress smoothly.

The initial fee for Kagawa is in the region of £12m, rising to £17m depending on success and appearances.

"Some details are to be confirmed," Dortmund director Michael Zorc said.

The expected arrival of Kagawa is likely to excite United's vast Asian fanbase, with the future of South Korea midfielder Park Ji Sung uncertain.

On Tuesday, United claimed their fanbase had almost doubled in the past five years to reach 659 million "followers" globally. Asia accounts for 325 million of those.

United had hoped to have completed a deal for Eden Hazard, but with the Belgium midfielder opting to pursue a move to Chelsea, Sir Alex Ferguson has acted swiftly.

Kagawa has shone for Dortmund this season, scoring 13 goals in 31 Bundesliga matches, as the German club won a league and cup double.

Ferguson was present when Kagawa scored in Dortmund's 5-2 win over Bayern Munich in the German Cup final this month, with the player able to play wide or in a more central role.

Despite Kagawa's obvious appeal in Asia, United commercial director Richard Arnold denied any suggestion players were signed to boost profits.

He said: "Our popularity in certain countries or regions may depend, at least in part, on fielding certain players from those countries or regions.

"We don't sign players to sell shirts. We are reliant on 25 players and they are all massive stars. We have 25 George Clooneys.

"When you look at the success we've seen in that part of the world [Asia], it isn't down to any one player or person.

"For Manchester United, it's more than any one player. It was more than George Best, it was more than Bryan Robson, it was more than David Beckham, it was more than Cantona, than Park."

Damn Reggie, you've really made something of this thread. Hey, I still stand loyal to United but hopefully this time, next year, my loyalties in the premier league will lie with the great, Cardiff City ;)

Fair enough ha ha. I do hope Birmingham and Cardiff get promoted;).

Details of United's Summer 2012 pre season tour:

http://www.manutd.com/en/Tour2012Tea...hai-china.aspx

http://www.manutd.com/en/Tour2012Teaser.aspx

Will Keane picked up an injury on England Under 19 duty:(, hope he makes a speedy recovery.

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Fe...19-finals.aspx

Chicharito: I'm no superstar

Javier Hernandez is already a national icon thanks to his exploits with United, but the striker does not feel like the superstar of the Mexico team.

Chicharito has joined up with El Tri to prepare for their two upcoming CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, against Guyana on 8 June and El Salvador four days later.

With 23 goals in 34 international appearances so far, there’s a certain weight of expectation on Hernandez to fire Mexico to Brazil 2014.

But in typical fashion, he attempted to deflect that attention at a press conference in his homeland on Monday.

"I am simply proud to be involved each time the Mexico squad is announced," he said. "Whenever I’m mentioned, I do not feel differently to anyone else.

"I'm not a star, I feel the same as all my team-mates."

Hernandez, who will be 24 on Friday, burst onto the international scene with two goals at the 2010 World Cup finals, but is looking forward to playing in his first qualifying campaign.

"It’s very important for us to get off on the right foot," he added. "I’ve never played in the qualifiers as I missed them before the last World Cup."

Mexico beat Wales 2-0 in a friendly in New York on Sunday, and also play warm-up games against Bosnia on 31 May and Brazil on 3 June.

Ex-Red: Welbeck surprised me

Former Reds defender Arthur Albiston is looking forward to watching Danny Welbeck at Euro 2012.

The 21-year-old striker was confirmed in Roy Hodgson's final squad this week despite concerns over the injury he sustained in the derby defeat to Manchester City. Welbeck's growing maturity at Old Trafford has surprised the ex-United full-back, who felt the demands of playing as a central striker would have been too great for such a young talent. However, the local lad netted 12 times in a promising first full season with Sir Alex's team.

"I didn't think Danny was strong enough to play up front," admitted Albiston to ManUtd.com. "I thought he could be like Nani or Ashley Young, cutting in from the wing. He had goals in him but I didn't see him as a striker because he wasn't strong enough. But he's filled out, his legs are stronger and he wants to run which means defenders immediately back off to give you more space.

"It's great that he's going to the Euros. Even if he didn't play, he'd still benefit but both he and Phil Jones should come back better for us hopefully. Danny had a bit of experience on loan at Sunderland and did great. It was his first full season with us and it's not easy to play up front here.

"Although I like Jermain Defoe, I think Welbeck has a good chance of starting in the Euros if he does well against Belgium in the friendly on Saturday. Andy Carroll's not had the best of seasons even if he's had two or three good games at the end of the campaign, and Wayne's suspended of course for the first two games."

Manchester United: Chevrolet to be club's car sponsor

The General Motors (GM) has signed a sponsorship deal with Manchester United that will see the carmaker's Chevrolet brand become the football club's official car sponsor.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...14579721-2.jpg

The deal is to run for five years, but no financial details have been released.

The US carmaker said Manchester United stood "head and shoulders" above other football teams.

GM's UK-based Vauxhall business sponsors the England football team.

Chevrolet replaces Audi as Manchester United's car sponsor.

The German brand had sponsored the football club since April 2004.

GM said it hoped the deal would help it "build global icon status" for Chevrolet.

Chicharito grabs late winner

Javier Hernandez came off the bench to fire a 92nd winner for Mexico in a 2-1 friendly win against Bosnia.

The birthday boy, who has turned 24, took advantage of some catastrophic defending by Ognen Vranjes to bag the decisive strike in stoppage time. Vranjes twice failed to clear, attempting an outrageous overhead kick inside his own box, and Chicharito pounced to beat Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic.

Hernandez, who sat out the win against Wales, came on just past the hour mark at Soldier Field and has handed his country a boost ahead of a big game with Brazil on Sunday with his 24th goal in only 35 internationals.

"It was totally random," he said of his goal. "Everyone was joking right now in the dressing room. The most important thing was that we won 2-1 thanks to God.

"I'm happy," he told Medio Tempo. "I've always said I'm 100 percent [fit] and available for the team. If the coach plays me for one minute or 90, I will do my best."


Happy Birthday Chicharito!:):hugesmile:

Legendary Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel is returning to Old Trafford, according to The Sun.

It is expected that he will return as an ambassador for the club where he won five Premier League Titles, three F.A Cups, the League Cup and the Champions League.

“The Great Dane”, as he is affectionately known by supporters, etched his name into eternal Old Trafford folklore in 1999 when he helped Manchester United to a treble – the Premier League, F.A Cup and Champions League. United remain today the only English team to achieve this feat.

He made 393 appearances after joining from Bronby in 1991 and was regarded by many as the worlds best goalkeeper.

After leaving the club in 1999, he played for Portugese side Sporting Lisbon, Aston Villa and even rivals Manchester City. He has an exceptional record in the Manchester derby in that he never played on the losing side. During his time at Old Trafford, United were unbeaten against City, and during his solitary year at Eastland’s, City recorded a win and a draw over their rivals.

Scholes nets goal award http://dlvr.it/1fXSzr

Tomasz Kuszczak released by United.

Peter Schmeichel‏@Pschmeichel1

Thank you everyone for your kind words in regards to my new role as Manchester United ambassador, can't wait to get started.

:D