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Veron for Chelsea Manchester United sells Argentine midfielderPosted: Wednesday August 06, 2003 5:51 AMUpdated: Wednesday August 06, 2003 6:51 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- Manchester United agreed to sell Argentine international Juan Sebastian Veron to big-spending Chelsea for 15 million pounds (US$24 million) on Wednesday. The 28-year-old midfielder, who cost 28 million pounds when he joined United from Italian club Lazio in 2001, was set to tie up a contract and undergo a medical at the west London club. In a statement to the London Stock Exchange, United confirmed they had accepted Chelsea's bid "subject to contract and player medical." Chelsea chief executive Trevor Birch told the club's Web site: "They have accepted our bid of 15 million pounds. "And now providing he wishes to speak to us we can proceed with negotiating personal terms and putting him through a medical." Veron is set to sign a four-year contract and his agent Fernando Hidalgo was quoted as saying by Sky Sports television on Wednesday: "He is happy. It has been a club decision, and he has accepted it.
"He is ready to do the best he can with this new opportunity at Chelsea." United's decision to sell Veron came a week after manager Alex Ferguson expressed confidence in the Argentine on the club's pre-season tour of the United States and suggested he did not expect the player to be sold. Cole competition Chelsea will be anxious to agree personal terms with the Argentine quickly as the deadline for registering players for the Champions League third qualifying round is 1000 GMT on Thursday. United said that 2.5 million pounds of the 15 million fee was "conditional on the performance of the Chelsea team over the next four seasons." Veron would be the sixth high-profile signing made by Chelsea since the takeover by billionaire Russian businessman Roman Abramovich last month. On Tuesday, Chelsea agreed a fee of 6.6 million pounds with West Ham United for promising young England midfielder Joe Cole. That came after they had signed up Ireland winger Damien Duff from Blackburn Rovers for 17 million pounds, West Ham defender Glen Johnson (up to 6.0 million), Cameroon midfielder Geremi (6.9 million) and England defender Wayne Bridge (7.0 million). Veron's departure from United would end a disappointing two years for the Argentine, who struggled to produce his best form during most of his time at Old Trafford. The former Boca Juniors, Sampdoria and Parma player helped United to the league title last season but injury and form restricted his appearances in a fiercely competitive United midfield. Ferguson was forced on several occasions to defend Veron against media suggestions that the Argentine did not fit into his preferred system of playing. 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. The Premier League champions announced on Wednesday that they had agreed to sell the Argentine international to the west London club for 15 million pounds ($24 million). The 28-year-old, who cost 28 million pounds when he joined United from Italian club Lazio in 2001, was set to tie up a contract and undergo a medical at Stamford Bridge. 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 rivals Chelsea, who have 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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