Villarreal ace Rossi admits he fancies Man Utd return

Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi would welcome a return to former club Man Utd.

The Italian striker, 24, says he is ready to quit the Yellow Submarine — but only for a move to one of the world's three biggest teams.

Rossi said: "I think it's a dream for all soccer players to play for the biggest clubs whether it's Man Utd, Barca or Real Madrid.

"Those are the best clubs in the world, so I'm no different. Therefore, I want to keep working hard and see what can come out of it."

Solskjaer recommends Molde American duo to Ferguson

Molde coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has urged Sir Alex to take a look at his two American prospects.

The United legend believes his team's youngsters Joshua Gatt and Sean Cunningham deserve a crack at Old Trafford.

Molde winger Gatt, 19, and 18-year-old left back Cunningham are regarded highly by Solskjaer, who has told United they should take a closer look at the duo.

Ferguson is likely to invite the pair to preseason later this summer.

Released midfielder Hargreaves waiting for offers

Released Man Utd midfielder Owen Hargreaves is waiting for offers.

The Sun says Hargreaves' career is in the balance, with few takers for the injury-hit midfielder.

The ex-England ace, 30, released by Man Utd after just 39 appearances in four years, is willing to take a pay-as-you-play deal with the right club.

A return to Canada and the Vancouver Whitecaps has been mooted.

Butt has eyes on Sir Alex Man Utd job

Nicky Butt is eyeing a return to Man Utd.

Butt wants to follow in the footsteps of Sir Alex and manage Man Utd.

"You've got to get the highest level that you can and for me that would be manager at United or with England," Butt, who was attending the FA's Uefa A Licence course in Berkshire, told theIndependent.

"Hopefully the next part of my life will be as a coach or manager."

Forlan told De Gea with a legend on Sir Alex

Diego Forlan has told David de Gea to join Manchester United, insisting: "You'll be working for a legend."

Despite a disappointing four-year spell at Old Trafford under boss Alex Ferguson, hitman Forlan raved about the Scot when Atletico Madrid team-mate De Gea asked for advice.

The Uruguay star said: "David is a very good keeper with a bright future. He asked my advice about moving to United and we talked about it a lot.

"It is a great place to experience as a player.

"The manager is a legend, the staff are all really good and the fans were always very supportive of me, even when I wasn't scoring."

Peter Schmeichel sees Neuer as next goalkeeper for United!

Former Man Utd star Peter Schmeichel has heaped praise on FC Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

The Danish great feels that German number one Neuer, who performed impressively for Schalke in last night’s Champions League loss to United, would be the perfect replacement for retiring Dutchman Edwin van der Sar.

“He (Neuer) is probably the best goalkeeper in the world," Schmeichel said on Sky Sports News.

"He is 25 years of age. He's been captain for that team for a number of years. He is very mature in the way he plays.

"He doesn't make mistakes - I haven't seen him make a single mistake - and the way he played yesterday, he wasn't lucky in the way that he saved the shots and one-on-ones, it was very calculated.

"I just thought his overall game was fantastic and absolutely well-suited for Man Utd."

And Schmeichel added that Neuer’s trip to Old Trafford next week may convince him to choose the English giants when he leaves the Veltins-Arena in the summer.

"Maybe he (Neuer) will have another think," the Dane added. "He's seen what Man Utd are capable of first hand,” he added.

"He's going to Old Trafford on Tuesday and it's just such a special place to play.

"He will probably experience, if nothing happens within that week, an Old Trafford crowd that absolutely welcomes him and sees him as the next goalkeeper for United."

Ferguson: I will always take Ronaldo over Messi

Sir Alex Ferguson would take Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo over Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

Ferguson admits his admiration for both players.

He said: “Messi or Ronaldo? They’re two great players. I’ve got ­loyalties towards ­Ronaldo and know the qualities he’s got. He’s an unbelievable, fantastic player, with two great feet, he’s quick and great in the air.

“Messi is a different type of player altogether, but equally brings ­fantastic qualities to his football."

Saha: Sneijder could never replace Scholes at Man Utd

Louis Saha says Man Utd will never replace Paul Scholes.

Saha is a former United teammate of Scholes' and read yesterday afterWesley Sneijder being linked with his old club.

The Everton star said on his Twitter account: "Sneijder to replace Scholes.

"Little Genius will never be replaced by anyone. A one and only genius."

Stoke captain Shawcross does not expect Man Utd to buy him back

Ryan Shawcross doesn't expect Manchester United to buy him back in the summer.

Shawcross left Manchester United in 2008 when it became clear his first-team chances would be limited.

But Alex Ferguson made sure there was a buy-back option written into Shawcross' contract.

That means with the inevitable interest in the defender this summer, Fergie could get him back by matching any offer.

But Shawcross insisted: "It is good for your confidence, but I don't take too much notice.

"The club have always said I'm not for sale. I'm sure if somebody came in with a ridiculous offer it might be different but the club has shown in the past that we haven't sold any players.

"I hope Stoke can help me fulfil my ambitions. I'm very happy here and I hope I stay for a long time and get into the England squad."

Carroll: Man Utd boss Ferguson always good with me

Roy Carroll says Man Utd boss Sir Alex was always good to him.

The Northern Ireland goalkeeper is back in England after leaving Denmark's Odense.

He won a Premier League medal in 2003 and an FA Cup medal 12 months later and admitted to The Sun: "Sir Alex brought me on against Millwall with five minutes to go because he said I'd done well in the semi-final.

"He actually offered me a new four-year contract in 2005 but would not guarantee first-team football.

"Yet he was always fantastic with me and, even when I left, he always said if I ever needed anything I should ring."

Cantona fears for Man Utd when Ferguson steps down

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona fears for the club when Sir Alex retires.

Speaking to the New York Times, Cantona insisted Ferguson is crucial to United when asked whether he is staying away from the club until the Glazers are no longer the owners.

Cantona said: “All I will say is that I think Ferguson will stay as the manager, after that, there will be more problems. Today, he is like Gandhi on the game side. With Manchester, I prefer to say, to think, to realise that Ferguson is a kind of genius.

“He had so many different generations of players now. He’s 70 (later this year) and works with players 18 years old, but adapts himself to all generations.

“This one is especially different. With [Dimitar] Berbatov, he worked hard and waited because he knew he had a great player.

“Ferguson takes strong personalities and works with them psychologically. It is very important. It worked for me, 100 per cent. It was for the team. I accepted everything because he gave me freedom on the pitch.

“He gave me the No. 7 shirt and it became important to me, though I might not have realised its importance in the beginning.

“I never felt the pressure. He had a kind of confidence in me to give me the No. 7. It was an honour.”

Ferguson: Heinze agent engineered him out of Man Utd!

Sir Alex Ferguson blames Gaby Heinze's agent for his controversial exit.

The Marseille defender faces his former club tonight.

Ferguson avoided any further acrimony last night by blaming Heinze's agent for the fall-out.

"I had no issue at all with Gabby when he left," insisted the United boss. "He was a fantastic player for us, a warrior.

"I thought he had a bad agent who engineered the situation and tried to trick (chief executive) David Gill.

"We then proved it had no foundation and stopped the agent's attempts to get him to Liverpool at the time."

Heinze: I regret falling out with Man Utd manager Ferguson

Olympique Marseille defender Gaby Heinze admits regrets over the way he left Manchester United.

Heinze fell out with Sir Alex as he pushed to join Liverpool before eventually being sold to Real Madrid.

"I don't have many regrets from my career as a footballer, but that episode with Ferguson [has] to be one of them," said Heinze. "I'm impulsive and strong-willed and this has got me into trouble at times, which was the case at the time when I left United.

"On reflection, it is easy to see that Ferguson was a major influence on my career, in a positive way. I thought my mind was set to be a winner before moving to United, but I had only completed part of the journey. Sir Alex makes every player he comes into contact with so much more driven and committed. He demands that his players dig as deep for the cause and I'm sorry that we fell out in the final days because I still have so much respect for him."

Cristiano Ronaldo: Ferguson is my best friend

Cristiano Ronaldo regards Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson among his best friends in football.

Ferguson has made it no secret he would love to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford.

And Ronaldo said: "I have often said that he was a father figure for me in football.

"I keep saying that because he is a good friend and someone I learned a lot from.

"He's in my heart."

Ferguson admitted he never wanted to sell Cathcart to Blackpool

Sir Alex Ferguson is happy seeing Craig Cathcart doing so well at 

Speaking before last night's dramatic win, Ferguson admitted he did not want to lose the Ulsterman.

“Cathcart has done really well,” said Ferguson.

“He was always a good player – excellent talent. The problem was he had a few injuries with us, and then we had Pique, Shawcross and Evans.

“I didn’t really want to let him go to be honest, but he had to go for his career. The only thing I could have done was put him on loan again.”

Pique: I joined Man Utd too young

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique admis he joined Manchester United too young.

Since leaving United, Pique has won every top honour in the game.

He told fifa.com: "I was just 17 when I joined United. I came on a lot there, by training in the first-team squad with players like Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand.

"I think I was too young , and barring my path were two of the best centre-backs in the world in Rio and Nemanja Vidic, who Sir Alex Ferguson rated more highly. But it was a very good experience, I still get on well with the coach and my former colleagues and I think it was a very useful period."

Revealed in Details: How Sir Alex signed Henrik Larsson on loan for 13 months.

Henrik Larsson only played a total of 13 games for Manchester United.

As far as superstars Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were concerned, he was still worthy of a legend's farewell.

To a man they, and the rest of the United stars, were on their feet applauding Larsson as he bowed out of the Red Devils at Middlesbrough.

His final game was a 2-2 FA Cup sixth round draw on March 10, 2007.

The lethal Larsson had once more proved himself to be a consummate professional by playing out the final stages as a central midfielder.

He did it without complaint, responding immediately to Sir Alex Ferguson's tactical change.

Fergie will never forget Larsson's inspirational two-month stint at Old Trafford after striking a shock loan deal with Swedish side Helsingborgs.

Only three goals came from it - but even then they were each in different competitions, the FA Cup, Premiership and Champions League.

Larsson's overall performances were superb, hence that emotional dressing room salute on Teesside.

Fergie revealed: "The players took to him very well. That's the thing I'll always remember.

"Sometimes when players see you bring an older player in they think 'What the hell is he doing that for?'.

"They took to him really fantastically and in and in his last game at Middlesbrough we were definitely struggling.

"Henrik played centre midfield for the last 20 minutes and he was unbelievable. He was all over the place, tackling, running and sprinting forward to support the only front player we had.

"At the end of the game, when we walked into the dressing room, all of the players stood up and applauded him because it was his last game.

"It was a really touching moment."

Fergie had tried to sign Larsson from Celtic eight years previously.

He was a huge fan of the Swede's phenomenal striking prowess.

In late 2006 when his chief scout suddenly told him there was a chance of finally getting Larsson - even at 35 - he JUMPED at it.

Fergie said: "We were looking for experience for the side and we had tried in the summer and nothing happened.

"Then my chief scout said he'd been speaking to Stuart Baxter, the coach at Henrik's team in Sweden, who said Henrik was out of his class in that league.

"My scout said: 'Why don't we make a move for Henrik Larsson?'

"I said 'That would be a bit difficult, would it not?'. I felt he was coming to the end of his career and he'd moved to Sweden because he'd always wanted to settle back there. My chief scout, though, said that according to his coach Henrik would be desperate to go to a club like Manchester United.

"So I said 'OK, we'll see how we get on with it'. We spoke to the coach and to Henrik - who said that he would love to go to United.

"His coach said they needed him back for the start of their season in March, which was a bit difficult for us, but we took it anyway.

"We thought he would give us an injection of what we needed, a bit of experience and he was fantastic.

"We kept saying to him that it was a pity he couldn't stay but he'd made his promise to them and I think he'd promised his wife also that it would only be a short spell.

"His workrate was UNBELIEVABLE, his movement in the last third of the field was terrific."

Larsson relished every moment at United. so much so, that his only career regret is that he didn't extend his brief Old Trafford adventure.

On the thrilling temporary move he said: "Stuart Baxter told me he had had a phone call from Man United to see if I was interested in going over for a loan period.

"I was thinking: 'Wow'. I'd already made my mind up, that I was going, but I needed to have a chat with the missus.

"I went home and I opened the door with a big smile on my face and I said to Magdalena 'You'll never know what's happened - Man U have called and want to take me on loan. What do you think?'. She said: 'Of course, you should go'.

"I went over there and it was absolutely fantastic. I felt at home straight away.

"Maybe the only regret I have in my career is that I didn't stay on. They wanted me to stay, but that's football, you can't have everything."

Officially, Larsson didn't play enough games to qualify for a Premiership title medal but such had been his impact United successfully appealed to the Premier League for him to get one.

Fergie even contributed one of several video tribute messages beamed from a giant screen on the night of Larsson's final game as a player, for Helsingborgs in October, 2009.

He simply said: "I can't speak more highly of a player. I wish you every success and you know you are welcome at Carrington any time. We look forward to that day."

Laurent Blanc confirms interest in succeeding Ferguson at Man Utd

France coach Laurent Blanc is definitely interested in succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager.

The 44-year-old former France international spent two years playing at Old Trafford until 2003 before hanging up his playing boots following an illustrious career.

The ex-Barcelona, Marseille and Inter Milan defender has been tipped as a potential successor to Ferguson once he eventually retires and the Frenchman is not ruling himself out of the running.

"I could be attracted," Blanc told Reuters.

"It would be a very exciting challenge, very difficult, but conceivable if he presides at the process of his own succession.

"I would like it very much, but it would be difficult to find him a successor. He is at the helm for 24 years.

"Anyway, I am not concerned by that project so far. I have another challenge!"

Peter Schmeichel backed Pepe Reina as ideal signing for Man Utd

Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has backed his old club's pursuit of Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Sir Alex is looking to replace goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, and Schmeichel believes there is only one candidate.

"I’m pretty sure they would go for someone like Pepe Reina from Liverpool," said the great Dane.

Schmeichel had hoped manager Sir Alex was going to splash out on a creative midfielder over the summer.

But Schmeichel predicted that United will continue to prosper.

"I would have loved to have seen Wesley Sneijder in the team or Mesut Ozil," he told the US website Beyond the Pitch. "But I like the way Sir Alex Ferguson is building for the future, he’s bringing in exceptionally good players.

"Yes, five or six draws already is not great but we’ve had key players out, some players are not playing up to their top level, we’ve just come through a World Cup. It’s normal.

"Chelsea are flying but they will probably hit the wall. If you look at Manchester United I’m very confident and I’m optimistic. We have the future there."

Andy Cole claims Rooney's agent dumped him when the money ran dry. He's a man motivated by cash!

Andy Cole claims he was dumped by Wayne Rooney's agent when the money ran dry.

Former Manchester United striker Cole was represented by Paul Stretford during his move from Newcastle to Old Trafford in 1995.

He accuses the agent of being a controlling man motivated by cash.

Talking to Abu Dhabi newspaper The National, Cole, 39, said: "He gave me advice about everything I did. I made him so much money that he became a wealthy man but I didn't mind because I considered him to be a decent agent and a friend.

"But he obviously considered me to be a client and nothing more. As soon as I stopped making him money I didn't hear from him.

"I expected much better. He was a small-time agent when he took me on and used my name to attract other players.

"Stretford wasn't motivated by friendships but money. I moved to Manchester and stayed at Stretford's house as part of the family.

"I thought it was a generous gesture - I later found out that he had been deducting rent from my earnings.

"He hated the idea of anyone getting close to me. He was very domineering but I let him be like that because I thought he had my best interest at heart."