Anderson interview:

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Fe...eason-yet.aspx

Nick Powell interview:

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Fe...at-united.aspx

Reds name 22-man tour squad

A squad blending youth and experience flies to South Africa for the start of Manchester United's DHL pre-season tour on Monday morning.

The 22-man squad will head to Durban first before further stops in Cape Town and the Chinese city of Shanghai. Experienced players in the shape of tour captain Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes are all in the travelling squad alongside a host of youngsters including Davide Petrucci, Jesse Lingard and Ryan Tunnicliffe. Portuguese attacker Bebe is also included after returning from a loan spell with Besiktas.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men will take on AmaZulu FC in Durban on Wednesday night, before a friendly with Ajax Cape Town on Saturday. The Reds' final stop on the first part of the pre-season tour - the second will include visits to Norway, Sweden and Germany next month - will be in Shanghai to face Shanghai Shenhua on Wednesday week.

All the tour games will be live on MUTV and MUTV Online and make sure you keep an eye on the dedicated tour section on ManUtd.com for news, interviews and behind-the-scenes content. ManUtd.com journalists Nick Coppack and Gemma Thompson are travelling with the team and will provide regular updates in their tour blogs. The first blog, Today in Durban will begin on arrival in South Africa late on Monday evening.

Travelling squad: Lindegaard, Amos, Johnstone, Ferdinand, Veseli, Vermijl, Wootton, Blackett; Valencia, Anderson, Carrick, Scholes, Powell, Kagawa, Bebe, Tunnicliffe, Lingard, Brady, Petrucci; Berbatov, Chicharito, Macheda.

United podcast Red Voices with Rio Ferdinand:D.

http://www.manutd.com/en/Tour2012Tea...d-podcast.aspx

Pictures of United at the airport ready to fly to South Africa:).

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...rbatov-1144613

Dimitar Berbatov says it is better he leaves Manchester United:

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov says it is "better for everyone" that he leaves the club.

Berbatov, 31, made just 21 appearances last season, and has fallen out of favour with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

And now the Bulgarian, who cost United £30.75m in 2008, says he would leave to go in search of regular football.

"I love this club, but I am not going to be useful to anyone if I am not playing," Berbatov wrote on his official website.

Berbatov scored 14 goals in his first season at United after arriving from Tottenham, and featured in the club's Champions League final defeat by Barcelona.

He found the target 12 times in his second season before finishing the following campaign as top goalscorer with 22, including hat-tricks against Liverpool and Birmingham and five in the 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn.

But last season he found himself behind Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez in the fight for a starting place, and Ferguson admitted he would not be able to guarantee the Bulgarian regular first-team football.

"At 31, he is looking at first-team football," said Ferguson in March. "It is difficult for me to guarantee that so it could lead to him looking elsewhere."

Berbatov has been linked with several European clubs over the summer, but nothing has materialised and the former Spurs striker says he is desperate to sort out his future.

"I want to play, I want to help, but for unknown reasons it's not going to happen," added Berbatov.

"So it's better for everyone if we say goodbye. If not, I am professional and I will keep doing everything I can to help my team and my teammates, whenever I have the opportunity to do so."

I'll miss Berba:(. He does not fit the new attacking system that SAF wants now for our style of play, class player though and nice guy.

Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs is using his Olympic duty with Team GB to cram more info into his database as he prepares for life after playing.

The Great Britain captain for the London 2012 Games is gathering more ideas to add to a well of knowledge picked up during a 21-year playing career with United and Wales.

Giggs will be 39 in November and has signed on at Old Trafford for another campaign with Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad.

But it could well be a swansong season and Giggs is setting himself up for the day when his illustrious playing career finally comes to an end.

United’s most decorated player and number one appearance maker has already admitted he has future designs on being Fergie’s possible successor, while a crack at managing Wales is also on his dream wish list.

Giggs’ time with Stuart Pearce’s side is an opportunity to make more notes.

“Coaching is something I’m looking at more and more,” said Giggs. “In the middle of last season, I completed my UEFA A Licence, which was good. It’s a different side of things, completely different to being a player.

“I want to gather as much knowledge as I can and prepare myself as best as I can, if I do want to go into management or coaching.

“The Olympics is a great platform, it’s different being involved in tournament football to league football.

“I ask as many questions as I can at United and I’ve been the same here with Great Britain.

“I’ve always been a keen watcher of other sports. I love other sports to football. I think, as a coach, you have to look at other sports that are leading the way in different areas.”

Joyce pleased for Cofie

Reserves boss Warren Joyce is pleased John Cofie has linked up with Sheffield United on loan.

The young striker spent time away with Royal Antwerp last term and Joyce feels the experience garnered in Belgium will stand him in good stead ahead of playing in front of large crowds at Bramall Lane.

Danny Wilson's Blades came agonisingly close to promotion in 2011/2012 and it is likely that Cofie will be asked to provide a cutting edge in attack.

"It's a good move for him," Joyce explained to ManUtd.com. "Obviously, it helped him going to Antwerp for six months as it aided his development.

"Going to Sheffield United is another test for him. They are a big club with a big fan-base but he had a taste of it with Antwerp. Their fan-base is unbelievable and they have passionate supporters who could match the Sheffield fans really."

Another centre-forward who will be unavailable to Joyce, probably for the rest of 2012, is least season's top scorer Will Keane, who sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury whilst on England Under-19 duty.

"It's unfortunate after such a good campaign," added Joyce. "It was his last game before going on holiday really and he picks up an injury and it's one that will keep him out for a while.

"It's very disappointing for the boy and for the club."

Carrick knuckles down

Michael Carrick says he's enjoying pre-season training with Manchester United as he looks to dust off the cobwebs and focus on regaining the Barclays Premier League title.

The midfielder, who enjoyed arguably his finest campaign yet on a personal level in 2011/2012, is happy to be put through his pace during the exhausting work at Carrington. With the DHL pre-season tour now underway, the former Tottenham star is gearing up for the ideal preparation in a bid to wrest the title back from neighbours Manchester City.

"Whether you win the league or not, at the start of every season, we always try to start afresh," Carrick told MUTV. "We'll do that again this year and set out our objectives and goals to win trophies again.

"Pre-season is always quite gruelling although it's not as gruelling as it was when I first started my career 14/15 years ago because times have changed and the sports science side [of the game] has really developed.

"The training we do nowadays is more specific to position - we don't go charging round doing cross-country runs anymore which wasn't very pleasant! It's more geared to what happens on the pitch and we'll be as fit as ever come the start of the season.

"Sometimes you do enjoy pre-season - especially if you're ready to come back and get going again. When you have a long period of time off in the summer, you get a bit twitchy and want to come back into training. It's what we do and what we love.

"There are days when the training is tough but it's enjoyable and the tour gives us a chance to visit some great places and enjoy some great experiences. The pressure is off at this stage and we're just gearing up for the start of the season now."

The fixture computer has thrown up a tough start to the season, at Goodison Park, and television coverage means the Reds must wait until Monday night before getting going again.

"In some ways, it's good to start the season on a Monday night because there are internationals the week before so it gives us an extra few days to prepare and get players back and focus on the first game," he explained. "But, on the flipside, you want to get up and running as quickly as possible. That's how it is, though, and we'll just get on with it.

"It's always a tough game against Everton and a difficult place to go. We've had some good results there and some indifferent ones, but we'll be ready and raring to go."

Sir Alex has revealed the team news ahead of Wednesday's opening DHL tour game against AmaZulu.

Speaking after arriving in Durban, the boss revealed there will be a mix of youth and experience on show with Robbie Brady handed the chance to impress at left-back.

The winger has played there for the Reserves and is set to start, with Jesse Lingard operating further up the pitch and Shinji Kagawa making his debut.

"The priority is to get the experienced players fit but young players will play in each game. It's likely that Kagawa will start with Chicharito.

"Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes will play. So too Anders Lindegaard, Lingard and Brady at left-back. Antonio Valencia will play.

"Young Robbie Brady will be at left-back. He's actually an outside-left but we believe there's the possibility he'll develop into a left-back. He was on loan last year at Hull City and did very well. He'll certainly figure at left-back. I don't know how many substitutes will be allowed - we need to establish that - but I'm sure we can be flexible. It's important the young players get a chance to play on such a big occasion.

"Left-back is an area which we're paying attention to. Patrice, in the last five years has played an average of 45-50 games. It's phenomenal. I don't know if anybody else has achieved that. He's still a fit lad and has the same drive and ambition. He's a fighter.

"Fabio went to QPR, which was so important for the boy because he has enormous ability, but he needs to play. Because Evra, touch wood, is never injured, the opportunities haven't been there for the boy. He played a few games last season but it's not enough for a young boy of 21 years. He needed to continue with his progress. With Fabio at QPR for a year, we're just a little short in that department.

"That's why we're trying Robbie Brady at left-back. We also have Tyler Blackett here - he's a big, strong boy, tall and quick going forward. But he's only just turned 18. He has time on his side but he's here for the experience and he may yet surprise us."

The manager expects a tough work-out and will be looking to get a positive result, even though the priority is ensuring preparation is spot-on for the Barclays Premier League opener at Everton next month.

"We expect a difficult game," Sir Alex predicted. "AmaZulu will be well motivated to play us on such a special day [Nelson Mandela day].

"The first thing we always try to do with the pre-season tour is to get everyone fit and try to avoid injuries. The priority is to get the players match-fit. That gives us a platform to say that, come the first day of the season, we are ready."

Excited for tomorrow now. I cannot wait for the match and to see Shinji Kagawa make his United debut behind Javier Hernandez:).

Defenders making progress

United's injury problems at the back are expected to ease before the new season gets underway in earnest next month.

The Reds took only one senior defender on the DHL tour, Rio Ferdinand, for a variety of reasons but Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Chris Smalling and Nemanja Vidic are making good progress, even if Jonny Evans could miss the beginning of the campaign.

"Jonny Evans has had an operation," stressed the boss in Durban. "I'm not sure he'll start the season but he won't be far away. Vidic will start the season. I am sure of that. He's doing good amounts of training but not in the competitive sense in the way the lads out here have done.

"It was pointless bringing him with us. He's back at Carrington with the facilities and the physios so he can get to the next level. By the time we come back, we hope he'll be at the competitive stage of his comeback.

"Chris Smalling has actually done a bit of training. But the ruptured groin muscle he suffered needed a lot of attention. He's making progress and we expect him to start the season."

Sir Alex puts title first

Sir Alex has warned Manchester City and the rest of the Barclays Premier League that the Reds will be going all out to regain the title.

A record 20th league success was snatched from United's grasp in the dying seconds of the previous campaign and the boss has stressed it is vital his team recover from the devastating setback.

"It would be special," he replied, when asked at a Durban press conference what winning the championship back would mean. "If you look back over different periods, you see we recover.

"When Arsenal won the title from us in 1998 we went and won the Treble the next year. We accepted that challenge and did something about it. Then Chelsea came along and got off to a flyer in the league for the first two years. We changed our pre-season a little to make sure we got off to quick starts. That allowed us to get the title back.

"That's happened three times in the last 14 or 15 years. Recovery is so important and the same applies this season. There’s not any difference. It will be special but no more special than in previous years.

"We want to recover the title. That's our priority No1 - to win the title back."

Rio targets 35-game season

Rio Ferdinand believes he can make more than 35 appearances for Manchester United in 2012/13.

Although the defender, currently in South Africa captaining the Reds on the DHL 2012 pre-season tour, admits he's had his fair share of niggles in recent years, he's confident his body can still stand up to the rigours of top-flight football.

Speaking in Durban at a press conference ahead of United's clash with Amazulu FC on Wednesday, Ferdinand praised the Reds' medical staff and refuted claims he's now injury-prone.

"It's been well documented I had injuries over the last few seasons," he said. "But I think last season I played about 35 games for United [he played 38]. I felt I managed myself really well in terms of my back injury, with thanks to the physios and sports science team at United. They helped me through that as well.

"Long may that continue. Hopefully this season I can continue to play a similar amount of games. That would be great."

Indeed, Ferdinand's 38 appearances in 2011/12 was an improvement on his tallies in the two preceding campaigns (29, 21) and makes a mockery of claims that the 33-year-old can't handle life at the top anymore.

He's still one of the best centre-backs in the world... although he has no plans to force his way back into the England set-up following his non-inclusion in Roy Hodgson's squad for last month's European Championships.

"To be honest, I'm not thinking about playing international football," he said. "Manchester United is at the forefront of my mind. It's my club and this is what I love doing. If anything else comes of it then so be it.

"But I don't think about anything except for playing for Manchester United and, hopefully, winning back the league."

Rio is expected to start United's first Tour 2012 fixture on Wednesday when the Reds take on Amazulu FC at Durban's Moses Mabhida stadium. ManUtd.com, MUTV Online and MUTV will have full coverage of the match.

[Away Kit] The Manchester United away kit is launched this Friday, the official megastore open at 9:30am BST #MUFC

http://p.twimg.com/AyApaLxCMAMGIJD.jpg

Manchester United is the most valuable club in sport, according to Forbes magazine, which values the Premier League club at $2.23bn (£1.43bn).

United is rated top thanks to lucrative global sponsorship deals, including with AIG, Turkish Airlines, and DHL.

Second is Real Madrid at $1.88bn, with baseball team the New York Yankees and American Football club the Dallas Cowboys joint third on $1.85bn.

Fifth placed is American Football team the Washington Redskins at $1.56bn.

Earlier this month Manchester United applied to list on the US stock market in a share sale aimed at raising a minimum $100m (£64m).

In documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Premier League giant said it was listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

The club had earlier explored the possibility of a $1bn flotation on the Singapore stock market.

United, among the best-supported clubs in the world, said it would use money from the listing to repay debt.

The club has been controlled since 2005 by the Glazer family, the billionaire US sports investors who also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers American football franchise.

Manchester United defender Sean McGinty to join Oxford United
Oxford United are set to sign Manchester United's young defender Sean McGinty on loan until January.

The 18-year-old can play at left-back or as a left-sided centre-half and came through the ranks at Charlton Athletic before a move to Old Trafford in 2009.

"Sean is a player I have watched on more than one occasion and he is a good player who has always impressed me," said Oxford manager Chris Wilder.

McGinty's loan deal will officially start at the beginning of August.

The Republic of Ireland Under-19 international was part of the side that won the 2010-11 FA Youth Cup and moved up to the Manchester United reserve team whilst also going out on loan to Morecambe last season.

"He is very highly rated and will come into the group and give us another strong option," added Wilder.

"It's another example of the excellent relationship we have with Manchester United and we look forward to working with him."

Video: Young guns on tour: Watch footage of the nine rookies looking to make their mark in South Africa. http://bit.ly/OObgqL

The full ‪#MUFC‬ squad today in Durban on day 1 of ‪#DHLManUtd‬ Tour. The DHL bus will be couriering them around on.

http://twitpic.com/show/large/a8ny5f

Kagawa taking part in a bit of Fifa #mutour #MUTV

http://twitter.com/tomadamreece/stat...851456/photo/1

Lucky fans and DHL customers met with @CH14_ today on the #DHLManUtd Tour, pictures to follow...

http://twitpic.com/a8p5gb

That is the best football shirt i have ever seen........ever!

Berbs looks very happy

Page 1 of 2 Next .

Reds honour Nelson Mandela

Believe it or not, Manchester United does not dominate the headlines in South Africa today.

The Reds may be preparing to take on Amazulu FC in Durban tonight as part of the MTN Football Invitational challenge, but it's Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday that's captured the hearts of the country.

Rightly so, too. There are far more important things in life than football and one of those is Nelson Mandela.

He's one of history's great figures, revered universally. An inspirational leader, he led the fight for racial equality in South Africa and succeeded in removing the oppressive apartheid regime.

He spent 27 years - 1962 to 1990 - in prison before becoming the country's first democratically elected president (and its first black president) in 1994. Without Mandela, South Africa may still be divided, democracy but a dream.

Early this morning, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson appeared on live TV from the team's Durban base to take part in celebrations for "Madiba". Yesterday, too, he spoke of Mandela's great achievements.

"It's a privilege for us to be here on his birthday," Sir Alex said. "The impact he's made in South Africa is huge.

"The thing that strikes me most of all – and I’ve met him two or three times – is that there's no bitterness about him. It's an example to the world.

"After what he endured and suffered, he has no bitterness. You have to be special to do that, to put that to one side and try and get on with life and try and influence this country in a massive way.

"I remember when he spoke in Monaco after we won the Treble. Honestly, the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up. The speech he made was unbelievable. It’s a privilege for us to be here to help celebrate his birthday."

Tour captain Rio Ferdinand was similarly effusive in his praise for Mandela, a man he described as "an inspiration".

"Mandela was selfless," Rio said. "He gave up the majority of his life for everybody else. In today's society you see so much selfishness and me, me, me.

"For any young kid now, in the national curriculum, I think that's somebody they should be learning about and writing about - he gave up himself for a whole nation to make huge strides forward. There could be no better inspiration from one human being in today’s world."

Everybody at Manchester United would like to wish Nelson Mandela a happy 94th birthday.

Sir Alex Ferguson has pledged to give each of his 22-man squad a run-out during the DHL tour.

A number of fringe players have been included in the party and will be champing at the bit for a chance to represent the first team for the first time.

The manager has already revealed that Robbie Brady will play at left-back and Scott Wootton, Frederic Veseli and Tyler Blackett are options to partner captain Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the defence.

"We'll try and give them all a part of it," Sir Alex told MUTV. "I think that's very important. There's no point coming out on a 12-hour trip to South Africa and then over to China and back without them getting experience by playing in these games.

"I think, with Rio, we have young Scott Wootton with us and he can play centre-back. Frederic Veseli, the Swiss boy, can as well and Tyler, for instance, so it's not so bad.

"They're young and it's not a problem. That experience is vital to them to give some opportunities to see what their temperament is like. That's important too.

"With Robbie [playing at left-back], it's an interesting experiment. He's got a good attitude, is strong and had a good season with Hull. It's a worth a try but I'm not saying it's going to be the answer to that position."