BITS AND BOBS

Last updated : 11 May 2006 By Ed

Sky:

Manchester United have snapped up Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio from Fluminense, skysports.com can reveal.

Sir Alex Ferguson has agreed a deal for the 15-year-old brothers to head for Old Trafford in three years' time when they will be allowed to move to England.

Neville quote on Rooney:

"If he makes it, he makes it. If he doesn't, we just have to win the tournament without him.

"If we don't win the tournament we will be criticised, and rightly so, because we have a good bunch of players.

"As important as Wayne is, we could not use his absence as an excuse for a poor tournament.

"It is a difficult time for Wayne. He is fortunate in the sense his break is not quite as serious as mine was because I had to rule myself out of the World Cup straight away."


And from the Sun:

Rio Ferdinand crossed his fingers yesterday as fans wished England well in the World Cup.

Rio, 27, was with Man United team-mates at the races in Chester - thought to be a stag do for the team's masseur.

But when Rio and Wes Brown, 26, went into the public stand, football was the only thing on everyone's mind.

One fan said, patting Rio's back: "Good luck mate - do it for England."

Wes grinned revealing his horse had romped home. "Yes, I just won. Get in!," he said. They happily mingled in a private enclosure briefly popping out to place bets.