Post by Scott on May 19, 2006 16:53:22 GMT
From The Times:
Inter ready to put Van Nistelrooy out of his misery
INTER MILAN are preparing to offer Ruud van Nistelrooy an escape route from Old Trafford but Manchester United will not allow him to leave for less than £14 million, even though his position seems untenable after rows with Carlos Queiroz, Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant, as well as several team-mates.
Massimo Moratti, the Inter owner, declared in March that he was interested in signing the Holland forward, saying that Van Nistelrooy was "not happy in Manchester". David Gill, the United chief executive, accused Inter of "mischief-making" at the time, but subsequent events have indicated that Moratti's information was correct, with all parties now accepting that a parting of the ways is inevitable after the player clashed with Queiroz in the final week of the Barclays Premiership campaign.
Van Nistelrooy remains indignant at his treatment by Ferguson, who left him out of the starting line-up for several matches before excluding him from the squad for the final Premiership game of the season, against Charlton Athletic on May 6, and the visit of Celtic for Roy Keane's testimonial match three days later. But the 29-year-old recognises that a change of club would benefit everyone and hopes that a successful World Cup will result in offers from big clubs in Italy and Spain.
Queiroz, meanwhile, has emerged as a possible rival to Sven-Göran Eriksson, the England head coach, for the coaching vacancy at Benfica, but he is expected to turn down any approach for his services because he hopes to succeed Ferguson at Old Trafford.
Reports in Portugal claim that Ferguson and Queiroz have identified Petit, of Benfica, as a possible solution to their midfield conundrum, but Mahamadou Diarra, of Lyons, is their first choice.
It is possible that United would consider signing both players, but Diarra remains the top priority if Lyons can be persuaded to drop their asking price below £20 million.
Inter ready to put Van Nistelrooy out of his misery
INTER MILAN are preparing to offer Ruud van Nistelrooy an escape route from Old Trafford but Manchester United will not allow him to leave for less than £14 million, even though his position seems untenable after rows with Carlos Queiroz, Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant, as well as several team-mates.
Massimo Moratti, the Inter owner, declared in March that he was interested in signing the Holland forward, saying that Van Nistelrooy was "not happy in Manchester". David Gill, the United chief executive, accused Inter of "mischief-making" at the time, but subsequent events have indicated that Moratti's information was correct, with all parties now accepting that a parting of the ways is inevitable after the player clashed with Queiroz in the final week of the Barclays Premiership campaign.
Van Nistelrooy remains indignant at his treatment by Ferguson, who left him out of the starting line-up for several matches before excluding him from the squad for the final Premiership game of the season, against Charlton Athletic on May 6, and the visit of Celtic for Roy Keane's testimonial match three days later. But the 29-year-old recognises that a change of club would benefit everyone and hopes that a successful World Cup will result in offers from big clubs in Italy and Spain.
Queiroz, meanwhile, has emerged as a possible rival to Sven-Göran Eriksson, the England head coach, for the coaching vacancy at Benfica, but he is expected to turn down any approach for his services because he hopes to succeed Ferguson at Old Trafford.
Reports in Portugal claim that Ferguson and Queiroz have identified Petit, of Benfica, as a possible solution to their midfield conundrum, but Mahamadou Diarra, of Lyons, is their first choice.
It is possible that United would consider signing both players, but Diarra remains the top priority if Lyons can be persuaded to drop their asking price below £20 million.