After a weekend during which several journalists told Red Issue they had been briefed by O.T. and/or Fergie that Ruud would not play for United again, it has been suggested to us by more than one source that the player will hold a farewell dinner tomorrow night for his friends before leaving Manchester for good. Destination unknown, but safely assumed to be either Munich, Madrid or Eindhoven
Curiously his agent - who does not have a reputation for saint-like honesty & openness, it should be remembered - was telling papers on Saturday that there hadn't even been a bid for Ruud so far and that he would be meeting Gill & co on Tuesday to discuss the future. Yet at least two generally good sources heard suggestions that Real were agreeing personal terms with Ruud's people on Saturday afternoon, subject to the clubs agreeing a fee in due course. Good sense suggests he would do the same with Bayern at some point. Ruud was on holiday until late last week and has supposedly come back to Manchester purely to do his farewells and pack up.
If all this is confirmed tomorrow, then it's one less excuse for Ronaldo's people to demand a move, anyway...
There is nothing to confirm - yet - about Torres, Lippi, Fergie, Ronaldo or Carrick, although on the last-named it can be said that it would be sensational were he not to complete a move to OT.
Slightly worryingly, we can confirm that - unbeknownst to the player's agent - United made a last-gasp enquiry direct to St Etienne about Didier Zakora days before he joined Spurs. Given that Zak's agent was told last November by the then chief scout that the player "wasn't good enough" for United - a judgement the agent, with disarming honesty, said he could agree with! - the fact that United have gone back to the reject bin for a sniff does not inspire confidence...Then again, we are informed that United have "scattered Europe" with low bids and tentative approaches for midfielders over the past 6 weeks, so one of 'em is bound to come off, hey?!