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Improved offer Ferguson in the dark over Veron move claimPosted: Wednesday July 30, 2003 1:57 PMPISCATAWAY, N.J. (Reuters) -- Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says that a British newspaper story claiming Juan Sebastian Veron is on the verge of signing for Chelsea is news to him. "I don't know anything about it," Ferguson told reporters as his players trained for Thursday's friendly against Juventus. The Argentine international midfielder rejected a move to Stamford Bridge last week but Wednesday's Guardian newspaper quoted his agent as saying an improved offer could mean a deal with Chelsea being done by Thursday. But after watching Veron train at Rutgers University Ferguson said: "Sometimes players think differently from their agents. "Seba is a mature man, he knows what he wants. I do not know if [his agent] has acted without our knowledge. "Seba said last week he wanted to stay and I was fine with that, I thought it had settled down." Asked if a deal could be done by Thursday, Ferguson said: "It's going to be difficult." Ferguson said that Veron, who cost 28.1 million pounds (US$45.42 million) when he joined United from Lazio in 2001, will play against Juventus at Giants Stadium on Thursday. Injured Gary Neville sent home by Man UtdPISCATAWAY, NJ (Reuters) -- Gary Neville will be sent home from Manchester United's preseason tour of the United States after sustaining a hamstring injury which will keep him out for three weeks, the English champions said on Wednesday. Neville, the England full-back, underwent a scan after picking up the injury in United's 4-0 victory over Celtic in Seattle on July 22. He will fly home for treatment later on Wednesday and is set to miss the start of the new Premier League season on August 16 and an England friendly against Croatia four days later. Scholes: United players always fighting for a futureNEW YORK (Reuters) -- Manchester United's Paul Scholes says no player can be guaranteed a future under manager Alex Ferguson following David Beckham's departure. The Premier League champions have adjusted quickly to the end of Beckham's era but the England captain's move to Real Madrid last month provided a reminder of how fickle life can be at Old Trafford. Scholes and Beckham were part of the “Class of 92” at United, a group of young players who emerged as first team regulars in the mid-1990s to help Ferguson build a dynasty and spirit which appeared unbreakable. "The ideal scenario as a footballer is to stay at one club all your career," the England midfielder told reporters on Tuesday. "But the ideal thing doesn't always happen. "Players rarely stay at one club their whole life...you know that here, you have to perform and compete and make sure you deserve a place in the team. "[But] there might be a time when you can't get in the team...and you do not want to be hanging around as a player. "I don't feel more vulnerable [post Beckham] but you know there's a chance you could be playing for someone else [in the future]," said Scholes, halfway through the club's preseason tour of the United States. Future success Ferguson, having bought midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba and agreed a deal with Brazilian Kleberson, is aware of the need to lay foundations for future success. "It's definitely the strongest competition in midfield we've had in my time," said Scholes. Scholes, born and bred in the Greater Manchester area and a United fan as a youngster, has previously stated his desire to remain at Old Trafford his entire career. Like Beckham, he has incurred the wrath of Ferguson when, after a Premier League defeat at Liverpool in 2001-02, he failed to turn up for a League Cup match at Arsenal, blaming a mix-up in travel arrangements. But Scholes smoothed over the cracks, scoring 20 goals in all competitions last season after a wretched campaign the year before. He said the title triumph -- United's eighth in 11 seasons -- was welcome. "We needed a reminder of what we were about [as a football team]," said Scholes. "The season before was a major disappointment...we don't like seeing other teams winning trophies and we celebrated this one more than usual." United play Juventus in a friendly at Giants stadium, New Jersey, on Thursday.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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