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Veron for Chelsea Manchester United sells Argentine midfielderPosted: Wednesday August 06, 2003 5:51 AM
LONDON (AP) -- Argentina star Juan Sebastian Veron on Wednesday became the seventh and biggest name to join Chelsea since the takeover of Russian billioniare Roman Abramovich. Hours after England international Joe Cole was signed from West Ham, Veron agree to join from Manchester United on a 4-year contract in a 15 million pound (US$23 million) transfer fee. He is the second big name to leave Old Trafford following David Beckham's transfer to Real Madrid and, like the England captain, suggested that he had differences with Reds manager Alex Ferguson. "Ferguson trusted me when I first arrived. But later on it seemed we didn't understand each other as well," Veron was quoted as saying in the Sun tabloid. "There were times when I felt he preferred some of my teammates.
"I think I'll understand (Chelsea manager) Claudio Ranieri better because of the language," he said in a reference to the fact that Ranieri, an Italian, had a spell in charge of Spanish clubs Atletico Madrid and Valencia. "I've nothing to prove to United. When I play against them I will play to win, like I always do. "I can do a job in English football and, in London, that will be reaffirmed." Ferguson said that, despite the departures of Beckham and Veron, he still had plenty of midfield talent, especially of Brazilian star Kleberson gets a government work permit to join next week. "It's always difficult to let good players go," the Reds manager told MUTV, the club's own TV outlet. "When the first opportunity concerning Juan Sebastian Veron and Chelsea came up I initiated the interest in Klebersen because I felt Kleberson was one for the future and in the long term was good for Manchester United. "The initial response from Chelsea was that they didn't come back and we carried on with the Kleberson deal. "The situation was we had a choice of central midfield players and then, when another offer came in for Seba (Veron), we decided to take it," Ferguson said. "I think there would have been problems ahead with the players in midfield." Chelsea, which was bought over the summer by Abramovich, has now spent almost 60 million pounds (US$96 million) on new signings. On Tuesday the Blues bought Cole from West Ham for 6.6 million pounds (US$10.5 million). Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon denied the move was solely a business decision. "It was a footballing decision," he told the Manchester Evening News. "We got an offer and the price eventually was acceptable." "It is all part and parcel of restructuring the team and ultimately balancing what we think we need for next season." Kenyon said Manchester United was still trying to arrange a work permit for Brazilian Kleberson, who plays for Atletico Paranaense. He said he hoped to have the Brazilian in the side by early next week. The last-minute signing makes Veron eligible to play in the Champions League, where Chelsea is hoping to challenge continental powerhouses, and top English sides Man United, Arsenal and Newcastle. Earlier Chelsea signed Damien Duff from Blackburn, Real Madrid midfielder Geremi, England defender Wayne Bridge from Southampton, West Ham defender Glen Johnson and goalkeeper Marco Ambrosio from Italy's Chievo. Red Devils accepts defeat over VeronMANCHESTER, England (Reuters) -- Juan Sebastian Veron's sale to Chelsea follows David Beckham's move to Real Madrid and has removed two of the biggest names from the Manchester United payroll. By accepting Chelsea's 15 million-pound ($24 million) offer on Wednesday, the English champions have acknowledged defeat in the battle to bring the best out of Veron. Signed for 28 million pounds from Lazio two years ago, United manager Alex Ferguson gave the Argentine international every chance to justify the fee. Fiercely protective of the 28-year-old's performances in his first season in the Premier League, Ferguson believed Veron would come good. There were glimpses in the Champions League which suggested that the former Parma and Sampdoria player would deliver the goods. But on the whole Veron struggled to produce his best form at the club and even Ferguson's loyalty did not run to rejecting Chelsea's money when the chance to cut their losses on the Argentine recently materialized. With no Veron, Beckham or Ronaldhino -- the Brazilian left Paris St Germain for Barcelona rather than Manchester -- it could be said that there is now an absence of top international quality in United's midfield ranks. Ferguson, however, is more interested in winners than big names. Having signed Kleberson and Eric Djemba Djemba, Ferguson felt he might be over-staffed in central midfield. But that is now not the case and the duo are ready to fill the shoes of Roy Keane or Nicky Butt when required. United are expected to play with a less rigid four-man midfield with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer taking over Beckham's duties on the right. Replacing Beckham's set-piece delivery may not be so easy. The departure of Veron and the non-arrival of Ronaldhino does leave United short in one department. They lack a player able to provide something a bit different in an attacking sense. Ferguson is, however, now armed with a large cash-sum and there are three weeks until the transfer window shuts. A midfielder able to probe, pass, penetrate and score to support Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs will be top of the wanted list. If such a player touches down in Manchester before the end of August, Veron will not be missed. Ferguson: Veron sale a footballing decisionLONDON (Reuters) -- Juan Sebastian Veron's sale to big-spending Chelsea was a footballing decision, as well as a financial one, says Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. "The overall package, in terms of what we are saving on his salary and what we are getting from Chelsea made it too interesting for us," Ferguson told United's MUTV channel. "But I don't think we needed that (money). It's more to do with the number of midfielders we already have. Ferguson said last week he did not expect Veron to be sold following a successful pre-season tour of the United States. But in Wednesday's interview with MUTV he said an abundance of talented midfielders at his disposal, coupled with Chelsea's offer, had prompted Veron's sale. "If you look at the job that Phil Neville and Quinton Fortune did last year, plus you have the fact that Kleberson is going to be a very, very good player, Eric Djemba Djemba is a good player... and we have Roy Keane, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and young Darren Fletcher." Brazilian midfielder Kleberson is currently waiting for a work permit but Ferguson does not expect any problems. Massive buyer Ferguson said he would have preferred not to have sold Veron to rival Chelsea, which has embarked on a massive spending spree since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich purchased the club. "They were the only club to come in for him. If it had been an Italian club we would have preferred him to go there. But there's not that kind of money in the game in Italy," he said. "There's one massive buyer and that's Chelsea. All the rest are trying to be sensible in a market which has had its fingers burnt quite severely. "It's happening throughout Europe, not just in England. You have some English clubs, like Leeds United, who are on the brink... Chelsea were on the brink of financial disaster until the golden goose came along. There are problems out there. "But United have always kept a good ship... very well balanced in terms of salaries, money paid out and money taken in. But we're always competitive in terms of winning things." Ferguson praised Veron's contribution to the club, saying: "He was a marvelous player for us, always wanted the ball, very good skill. He did a good job for us." With the money raised from Veron's sale, and that of England captain David Beckham to Real Madrid for up to 35 million euros, Ferguson will now turn his attention to strengthening his squad. "We do need another two players. I've said this for a few weeks that we can add to what we've got up front and we do need a defender. It's something we are looking at."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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