FIRST RUUD OFFER REJECTED

"There is no agreement with Real and United over Ruud. We have refused their offer," "We have refused their offer. He remains a Manchester United player."

He also admitted that Tottenham have rejected United's bid for Carrick.

"We are trying to sign another central midfielder. We have made a bid for Michael Carrick but Tottenham Hotspur turned it down."

No doubt because it was as piss-poor as Real's.

He continued:

"We have to look at the situation in Italy particularly at Juventus with the likes of Patrick Vieira, Gianluigi Buffon and Sabier Cannavaro. There's going to be a question mark over where they are going to be next year. So we have to wait on that. We may keep Giuseppe Rossi, because if van Nistelrooy does leave he would certainly be a consideration to remain.

"Ideally I'd like Rossi to go on loan somewhere for six months, but we'll have to wait and see."

This morning The Times says United will be lucky if Real match the £14 million asking price for van Nistelrooy.