United accept Vidic's European ban

Papers: Vidic ban accepted

Mark Ogden writes in The Telegraph...
United accept Vidic's European banNemanja Vidic will miss Manchester United’s Champions League clash against Benfica next Tuesday following the club’s decision not to appeal against the defender’s two-match ban for a red card against Otelul Galati last month. Vidic was dismissed by German referee Felix Brych for a late challenge on Galati forward Gabriel Giurgiu during the 2-0 victory in Bucharest, prompting Uefa officials on duty at the game to confirm that the Serbian would receive an automatic one-match suspension as punishment. Uefa contacted United prior to the home fixture against Galati earlier this month, however, to inform the club that Vidic would instead be banned for two games as a result of the challenge. With Chris Smalling sidelined with a broken foot, Vidic’s absence against Benfica could prove costly if United suffer further defensive injury problems against Swansea City this weekend. Sir Alex Ferguson initially described Vidic’s dismissal as “very harsh”, before conceding: “I can understand the referee’s interpretation because German football is different to England.” United have therefore opted not to contest the decision when Uefa’s disciplinary review panel sits in Nyon on Thursday.
UEFA has announced Wayne Rooney's appeal against the three-match England ban which is threatening his Euro 2012 participation will be heard on 9 December.
England coach Fabio Capello praised Phil Jones' performance in midfield against Sweden. "I changed the system," the Italian said. "It was important to see Jones in the position where [Scott] Parker usually plays. It's different to the back four. He played really well."
Meanwhile, Nani, who scored a stunning goal in Portugal's 6-2 Euro 2012 qualifying play-off win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, is in "no doubt it was my best goal in the national team, there are no words to describe it. It was an excellent shot, a great goal."
Several papers analyse United's latest financial results.

Round Up By James Tuck

Nani's new deal to ward off Italy interest

Papers: New deal for Nani?

Phil Thomas in The Sun writes..Nani's new deal to ward off Italy interest
Nani is to be given a mega pay-rise by Manchester United to see off interest from Italy. United plan to move the Portuguese winger, already on £90,000 a week, up to the next tier of their pay-scale alongside the likes of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand on a reported £130,000 a week. Both Milan clubs and Juventus are showing interest in a summer raid. But United top brass have pencilled in talks with Nani's representatives for early in the New Year, when the 24-year-old has 18 months left on his contract. Boss Sir Alex Ferguson will resist any attempts to cash in on the £30million- rated star, who he signed from Sporting Lisbon for £18.5m in 2007. That is likely to mean an improved four-year deal. The Old Trafford chief is convinced Nani can develop along the same lines as Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Daily Mirror believe United and Liverpool face competition from Real Madrid and AC Milan in a race to sign Sao Paolo youngster Lucas.
The Hull Daily Mail report Nick Barmby's elevation to caretaker manager of Hull City, indicating that a move to appoint United Reserves boss Warren Joyce as Nigel Pearson's successor fell through. It is claimed that Joyce decided to remain at Old Trafford instead.

Round Up By Adam Marshall

Scholes ready to move up managerial ladder

Papers: Step up for Scholes?

Scholes ready to move up managerial ladderPaul Scholes is ready to move up the Manchester United managerial pecking order – as his ‘boss’ Warren Joyce heads back to Hull City. Reserve team manager Joyce, 46, will be allowed to return to Humberside, where he was Tigers gaffer from 1998-2000. And assistant Scholes is set to step into his shoes at United. Hull could snap up Joyce without paying compensation, with Sir Alex Ferguson using the move to promote Scholes. Joyce takes charge of United reserves while Scholes listens and learns from the vociferous coach. Now the Old Trafford legend could assume control to see if he can cut it at that level. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer previously did the job before moving to Norway. Hull have considered MK Dons boss Karl Robinson, but are swaying towards Joyce – with Nick Barmby, 37, likely to be in his backroom team at the KC Stadium.
Alan Nixon, Daily Star
Meanwhile, the Guardian report that there has been a delay in the row involving Patrice Evra and Liverpool's Luis Suarez. The FA have told Evra he may not be able to prove his racism claims against Suarez due to linguistic subtleties. Suarez has categorically denied racially abusing the Frenchman and the FA's investigators are having to consider the different context with which words that would be considered offensive in England are commonly used in Uruguay and other Spanish-speaking countries.

Round Up By Gemma Thompson

When Sir Alex Ferguson dubbed Wayne Rooney "The White Pele"

Papers: Pele puts boot in

Stuart Pink writes in the The Sun...
Pele sticks the boot in
When Sir Alex Ferguson dubbed Wayne Rooney "The White Pele", the real deal was flattered but was hardly in agreement. Typical of the attitude that made him the world's greatest footballer, Brazilian legend Pele feels Rooney, 26, has a long way to go before he can be talked about in the same breath as him. Pele, 71, told The Sun on a visit to London: "I am a very big fan of Rooney. He always fights for the team. He is not too technical, his strength is his heart. He's a good player. But you can't really compare him to me. I scored a lot of goals. I don't know if Rooney has." The England striker shouldn't feel too disheartened — just look at what he has to say about Lionel Messi, the most breathtaking star in the game today and a contender to his status as the finest player ever. He said: "I think a 'great' player is defined by their performances at the World Cup. For example, watch Lionel Messi play for Barcelona. He is very good. Exceptional. But for Argentina, he's completely different. Compare him to Zinedine Zidane. He won the World Cup and was at the top for 15 years. He was a more complete player than Messi. Before Zidane there was Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini and Bobby Moore. Great players who won World Cups or, in Cruyff and Platini's case, starred in them. Wayne's aggression is a big part of his game - you cannot take that away from him. In my time we didn't have many yellow cards and red cards. Now, the players are very well protected. But a player does have a responsibility to behave himself. It's hard to change the personality of the player but maybe they can adjust."
The Times pick up on the story that Great Britain will open their London 2012 Olympic football campaign at Old Trafford.

Round Up By Adam Marshall

Vidic next in line for Alex

Papers: Vidic to Madrid?

Ian Ladyman writes in the Daily Mail...

Vidic next in line for AlexSir Alex Ferguson is prepared to rip the heart from his defence next summer and sell Nemanja Vidic to Real Madrid. Real coach Jose Mourinho continues to eye Vidic as he looks to build a team that can wrest the Champions League crown from their great rivals Barcelona. Ferguson understandably will not countenance letting his club captain go in the forthcoming January transfer window. But Sportsmail understands that, remarkably, Ferguson will consider selling Vidic next summer if his old friend Mourinho comes up with enough money to enable United to buy a replacement. With doubts over Rio Ferdinand’s long-term future at Old Trafford, selling Vidic at a time when young defenders such as Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans are still developing would appear to be a huge risk. However, it is understood that Ferguson is no longer convinced that Vidic is 100 per cent committed to life at United and has been less than impressed with the Serb’s efforts so far this season.
Elsewhere, the Daily Star carry quotes from goalkeeper David De Gea, who's warned Manchester City that the Reds are good enough to continue winning silverware. And plenty of it. “United can still win it all,"he said. "It is still not decided that City will finish first.” De Gea also praises Sir Alex Ferguson, calling him "an incredible coach, without doubt the best in the world.”
The Mirror report Rio Ferdinand has received a boost after being left out of Fabio Capello's current England squad. Despite his absence, Ferdinand has been reassured by the manager that he will definitely be going to next summer's European Championships.

Round Up By Nick Coppack

United have got Poz-itive vibes

Papers: Reds target Pozuelo

United have got Poz-itive vibesAccording to The Sun, United are keeping tabs on Real Betis striker Alejandro Pozuelo with the 20-year-old hitman rated in the £4.5million class. Barcelona and Villarreal have also been trailing the Seville-born starlet, who has played only 218 minutes of football in La Liga. United's scouts were spotted at recent matches and Alvaro Vadillo has already been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford.
The same newspaper claims Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo could return to the Theatre of Dreams to play in Rio Ferdinand's testimonial next year, although the event has not been confirmed.
Tomasz Kuszczak's interview in the Polish media has been picked up by several newspapers, including The Daily Mail. "I don't want to slander or criticise Sir Alex Ferguson," he stated. "It's not my style. I've talked to Ferguson recently and asked him to let me leave the club now, before the January transfer window." Sheffield United boss Danny Wilson has confirmed making an enquiry for the Pole and Doncaster are also admirers, it has been revealed in The Sheffield Star.
Andreas Pereira's suggestion that he has sealed a move to United in January is also covered in a number of newspapers. The Guardian pick up on the PSV Eindhoven teenager's comment that the personal touch from Sir Alex helped convince him to head to Manchester when he turns 16.
Finally, Luis Suarez has had his say on the on-field row with Patrice Evra during the recent 1-1 draw with Liverpool. His quotes are repeated in The Daily Telegraph as he says: "The FA will have to clear it up with him, because there is no proof at all that I have said anything racist. I didn’t say anything like that to him. Depending on who ends up in the wrong, one of us will have to apologise."

Round Up By Adam Marshall

Boss can stay for another five season

Papers: Five more years

David McDonnell writes in the Daily Mirror...
Nev: Boss can stay for another five seasonGary Neville reckons Sir Alex Ferguson has the hunger and desire to carry on in charge of Manchester United for another five years. Former United skipper Neville, who retired last season, paid tribute to Fergie ahead of his former manager’s 25th anniversary in charge at Old Trafford this weekend. And, far from slowing down, Neville said he could see the Scot - who turns 70 on New Year’s Eve - continuing until he has racked up 30 years at the club. “He has now done 25 years in the job and is still here, why should he leave?” said Neville. “He feels as determined as ever and it’s a continual challenge to be at United. “I know that from being a player. I know that from being a fan. That will keep him young. There was a period when people were talking about him retiring, but that has gone away. He knows the club, he knows how to make it successful. We have been developing a new side with a lot of young players coming into the squad and hopefully we can continue to bear the fruits of that. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was to go on for even five more years.”
The Mirror claims Wayne Rooney is "ready to be the next Paul Scholes," after his run-out in midfield against Otelul Galati.
Meanwhile, the Daily Star report that Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones have been left out of Stuart Pearce’s England Under-21 squad for the European Championship double-header against Iceland and Belgium, which suggests the pair will be named in Fabio Capello’s full squad for the friendlies against Spain and Switzerland.
The paper also features quotes from former Red Kieran Richardson says Sunderland are ready to gatecrash Sir Alex's anniversary celebrations this weekend. “Going back is a big event for me. We’ve been to Old Trafford before and taken something from the game and that’s what we’ll be aiming to do again," he said.

Round Up By Gemma Thompson

Manchester United are tracking Udinese’s Kwadwo Asamoah

Papers: Asamoah tracked

The Daily Mail writes...
Manchester United are tracking Udinese’s Kwadwo Asamoah. The Ghana midfielder, 22, can play on the left or in the centre and is valued at £8million by the Serie A club.
The Mail, who have gone a little transfer crazy today, also claim Nani is a target for Juventus, Schalke are vowing to keep Klaas-Jan Huntelaar supposedly from United's clutches and Leeds want Tomasz Kuszczak, even though Alex McCarthy looks set to join the Yorkshiremen from Reading.
The Sun, and others, claim as an exclusive that Fabio Capello will pick star striker Wayne Rooney for Euro 2012 - despite his suspension. However, the United ace looks unlikely to be included in the squad for the friendlies with Spain and Sweden as the Italian tries out other options. Rooney regrets his red card in Montenegro: "Obviously it's devastating for me but it's something that's my own fault so I can't really complain," he is quoted as saying in The Times. "It was stupid by me - I regretted as soon as I did it. It's no excuse but I still feel the punishment is a bit harsh. All the details we have been waiting on have come through, so we'll be making a decision as to whether we will be appealing. Even if it's reduced by one game, it will be a bonus for me."
Finally, L'Equipe reveal that Laurent Blanc left Patrice Evra out of the France squad because of a personal issue that could also lead to the left-back missing the Reds' game with Sunderland on Saturday. "He needs rest," said Blanc. "He has been hit by a family drama that will prevent him from being with us." It's reported that one of Evra's brothers died at the age of 42 from a heart-attack before the derby match against City.

Round Up By Adam Marshall

Vidic: United over City woes

Papers: Vida warning

Martin Blackburn writes in The Sun...
Vidic: United over City woes
Nemanja Vidic has warned Manchester United's rivals the champions are feeling more like their old selves again. Sir Alex Ferguson's men have responded to their 6-1 derby humbling against Manchester City with back-to-back wins and clean sheets. And they will be looking to make it three in a row when they tackle Romanian outfit Otelul Galati in the Champions League on Wednesday. Vidic revealed how United went back-to-basics to get back on their feet after the embarrassing show against City. The centre-back, 30, said: “It was important to show the 6-1 didn't affect the players and I think we showed that at Everton. It was important to defend like a team and get back to playing as a team. In the last 20 minutes against City we didn't do that. That's why we were disappointed. But since then we've come back to the way we used to play. When you lose a derby, especially by that scoreline, it is difficult to take — but we have shown character.”
Elsewhere, The Guardian features news of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first title win as manager of Molde. The United legend sealed the club's first championship in a century with a 2-2 draw against Stromsgodset at the weekend. “The club has waited 100 years for this,” said the former Reds striker. “We have been close several times so this was well deserved.”
In transfer news, the Daily Mirror’s gossip column claims Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will bid for Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen during the January window.

Round Up By Mark Froggatt

Sunderland want Kuszczak

Papers: Tomasz deal?

Sunderland want KuszczakSunderland are considering an emergency loan move for Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak. Manager Steve Bruce has admitted the club may seek special dispensation after Simon Mignolet underwent surgery on the badly broken nose he suffered during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa. Keiren Westwood came on at Villa, but Bruce is still short of keepers with Craig Gordon yet to resume training and Trevor Carson out with a back injury. Kuszczak, 29, also a target for Doncaster, is frustrated at becoming fourth choice at United behind David de Gea, Anders Lindegaard and Ben Amos.
Sportsmail Reporter

The Mail have also run news that came out of Sir Alex's press conference last Friday. They claim defender Rafael could return from three months out with a shoulder problem with United's Reserves meet Everton on Thursday. He's not played since picking up an injury on the training ground in the week following the Reds' August Community Shield win.
Meanwhile, the Daily Star claim Rio Ferdinand is "facing a losing battle to save his Manchester United career". Jeremy Cross claims: "Ferdinand is no longer one of Fergie’s first-choice defenders and the veteran is facing up to the prospect that this season could be his last with the champions."

Round Up By Nick Coppack