Ruud van Nistelrooy is still not a Real Madrid player, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson emphasized during a press conference today in Cape Town. While his move to Spain looked certain
according to reports last night, Ferguson revealed that the Old Trafford club turned Real Madrid down. "There is no agreement with Real Madrid and Manchester United over Ruud," said Ferguson. "We have
refused their offer." That offer is understood to have been £10 million; Ferguson, who yesterday compared the player with £30 million Chelsea signing Andriy Shevchenko, values him at
closer to £15 million. How did the stock of one of the world's greatest strikers sink so quickly? The Daily Telegraph asks. He's one of United's all-time great goalscorers, but nevertheless, the
club's supporters aren't exactly up in arms over his probable sale. The Telegraph says things have been souring ever since Van Nistelrooy submitted a transfer request last year three days before
United's FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal. In truth Ruud had a poor 2004-2005 season, hampered by injury, and though he appeared to bounce back last season, he failed to reclaim his place after being
preferred to Luis Saha in February's Carling Cup final. A training ground bust-up with Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of the season was the last straw Ferguson. It appears that Ruud, like Dwight Yorke
before him, is now no longer wanted at Manchester United.
Read the whole story at The Daily Telegraph »
