careers to Manchester United after agreeing new five-year contracts at Old
Trafford. The England defenders, both given extended summer leave following Euro 2004, have cut short their holidays to sign the £50,000-a-week deals in Chicago, ahead of the club's US tour opener against Bayern Munich tonight.
Talks took place between the players' father and agent, Neville Neville, and
United's chief executive David Gill during Euro 2004. The contracts will keep
the brothers at Old Trafford until 2009, by which time Gary will be 34 and Phil
32. The Nevilles have become the first to pledge their future to the club in a
new round of contract negotiations. Paul Scholes and Wes Brown are next on the list.
Bojan Djordic, looking forward to taking his chance on tour:
"It looks like he believes in me following my successful season at Red Star,"
Djordjic told Sportbladet.
"Manchester United have got about 70 players on their books and it is a big
thing that I get to go to the USA.
"Certainly, that (playing) would be really fun. I want to show what I can do."
Michael Stewart, disappointed to be let down by Rangers:
"I am bitterly disappointed. I need to move on but in what direction that will
be in I do not know.
"I could have done a great job for Rangers and felt positive I could net a deal.
"Sir Alex holds the key now and I'm looking for guidance from him.
"I need to see if I can go out on loan or negotiate a settlement for the rest of
my two-year deal at Manchester United.
"There is no real possibility of resurrecting my career at Old Trafford so
either Sir Alex is going to be extremely helpful or he is going to stunt my
career growth. It's out of my hands now.
"The chances of another club as big as Rangers being interested are zero."
Lee Sharpe and Paul Gascoigne played for Radcliffe Borough yesterday against our reserves. We beat them 2-1. Marcus Neumayr and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake scored for us.
The Express and The Screws say that Nicky Butt will finally move to the Barcodes when he returns from tour.
Young Real Madrid player Javi Garcia says he has rejected a move to United:
"The first thing I knew about the offer from Manchester was from my father and
then my agent," Garcia explained to AS.
"I cold not believe it, it is very pleasant to known that a side like Manchester
is interested - as they are one of the best side's in the world.
"But I never wanted to leave Madrid, not for Manchester or any club.
"I am very happy here and they deal with me very well, Madrid is Madrid - the
club of my soul."