United captain to come back next week

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says skipper Nemanja Vidic could play in next week's Champions League dead rubber against Cluj.

Vidic has endured a torrid 18 months. After suffering a calf injury that kept him out for over two months at the beginning of last season, the 31-year-old then ruptured cruciate ligaments against Basle in December that prevented him from playing again in the entire campaign.

Vidic returned in pre-season but after only five games he complained of feeling tightness in the knee again and after a further examination was forced to undergo surgery in the middle of September.

"He has started training, which is good news," said Ferguson.

"He has not been involved in the real competitive part but he has done OK.

"For the last year-and-a-half he has probably only played 10 or 12 games (13) or something like that.

"The best way is for us to leave it to 'Vida' himself. He has the experience to know what is best for him and when the time is right for him to come back into the team.

"He would be short of match practice but I wouldn't be averse to playing him on Wednesday."

Nistelrooy pays tribute to SAF.

Ruud van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford on Friday for the first time since leaving the club because, he says, he was keen to pay his respects to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Dutch striker left United under a cloud in 2006 after he fell out with the manager. The pair spoke on the phone earlier this year – Ruud told the press he "wanted to apologise... it was a shame it ended like it did" – but Friday's meeting, at a ceremony to unveil a Sir Alex Ferguson statue at Old Trafford, was the first time they'd come face to face since van Nistelrooy's exit.

"It's great to be back," Ruud said, "especially as it is to pay respect to the manager, who deserves all the credit for today. He's the reason we are here.

"I have a great five years and I want to pay my respects. I'm very grateful for the chances Sir Alex gave me.

"What stood out for me was Gary Neville's comment [in the ceremony's video tribute]. He's able to get the best out of people. He did that with me as well. Not just on the pitch but off it he gave me a lot, which I am very grateful for.

"Of course, we had our things with the way it ended at the club. But overall I look back on a great time here with a lot of respect for him."

Van Nistelrooy, who netted 150 goals for United in just 219 appearances, bears no grudge towards the man who called time on his Old Trafford career.

"When he is building new teams he is willing to do that [be ruthless]. That is all credit to him. The club is the most important thing.

"That is what he always said. It is his most-repeated sentence. He proves that. You move on. I moved on to Madrid and had four great years there. He moved the club further onwards. It is fair enough.

"I didn't find it hard to deal with. I accepted it. I am grateful for five great years here and it gave me another opportunity to be part of Real Madrid for a good while and be successful there. It opened up a door and I moved on. Thank God, that was a successful period as well."

Sir Alex took charge of United when van Nistelrooy was just 10 years old. Since then, Ruud has forged one of the most successful professional careers of the modern era and now, aged 36, is enjoying retirement.
And still Sir Alex goes on.

"It is incredible," he said. "It is difficult to get your head around. Twenty-six seasons!

"Ten years in football is an awful long time for a manager to be at a club. He is going on and on. In three or four years we will be talking about 30 years. It is out of this world.

"But he's doing it. As he said, he has outlived death. He is outliving everyone."

Wenger: Fergie has to be immortal

Arsene Wenger has paid a glowing tribute to Manchester United rival Sir Alex Ferguson.

A statue of Ferguson was unveiled earlier today. 

Wenger said: "I don't remember anybody else being at the top level for such a long time. 

"In some ways it is scary because when this guy leaves the club, no matter the quality of who comes in after him, it will be a huge hole. 

"The club will be destabilised even if the guy who comes after him is top quality because the print of everything, the life of everything, revolves around Ferguson so much at Manchester United. 

"He has to be immortal so the club doesn't suffer! His commitment is always there, you never feel it is weakened. 

"What I admire maybe the most in him is his forward-thinking. He is always ready to move with the times and never speaks about what he has done before. 

"He knows when to renew the team, when you have to make changes, and that is exceptional because you can sometimes be a little bit lazy when you have so much success. 

"He's never been like that, he's always on his toes and he can renew what is needed, when it is needed. 

"It is a job where you need to dedicate your life to football and Ferguson has done that and that deserves massive respect. 

"He has won absolutely everything and, of course, that is something exceptional."

Beckham parts way with LA Galaxy

Manchester United  legend David Beckham has announced he's leaving LA Galaxy after the MLS Cup final.

The 37-year-old is in line to end his six-year Galaxy stay in style as they defend their title against the Houston Dynamo on December 1 before seeking to extend his playing career elsewhere. 

He told the Major League Soccer website: "I've had an incredibly special time playing for the LA Galaxy, however, I wanted to experience one last challenge before the end of my playing career. 

"I don't see this as the end of my relationship with the league as my ambition is to be part of the ownership structure in the future. 

"In my time here I have seen the popularity of the game grow every year. I've been fortunate to win trophies, but more important to me has been the fantastic reception I've had from fans in LA and across the States. 

"Soccer's potential has no limits in this wonderful country and I want to always be part of growing it."

Ronaldo's agent reveals UNITED's interest.

The agent of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jorge Mendes has revealed interest from three heavyweights as reports break of the Real Madrid star considering his future.

AS says Ronaldo is seriously weighing up quitting Real at the end of the season after becoming fed-up with the lack of public support he's received this season. The latest episode at Levante involving the elbow incident with David Navarro has left Ronaldo questioning whether Real officials are fully behind him. 

Aware of developments, agent Jorge Mendes has already been contacted by Manchester City, PSG and former club Manchester United to register their interest and to ask to be kept up-to-date on the situation. 

Only over the weekend, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson floated the idea of having first refusal on Ronaldo should he become available.