Little more than five weeks after Manchester United’s crushing defeat in the Champions League final and Sir Alex Ferguson’s players returned to pre-season training on Monday. Ferguson’s squad reports back to Carrington for seven days fitness assessment and intensive training ahead of the club’s summer tour to America that will take in Boston, Seattle, Chicago, New York and Washington.
Returnees include most of Ferguson’s squad, including new signing Ashley Young, although Javier Hernández will be given an extended break following his Gold Cup exploits and Antonio Valencia is away with Ecuador at the Copa America in Argentina. David de Gea, Phil Jones, Tom Cleverley and Chris Smalling have been given additional time off following the European Under-21 championships this summer but should all make United’s American trip at some stage.
Ferguson’s players set off for the States on 11 July, spending three weeks criss-crossing the continent, playing games against New England Revolution, Seattle Sounders, Chigcao Fire, a repeat of last summer’s fixture with MLS All-Stars, before concluding the tour with a game against European Champions Barcelona in Washington.
But the tour is, as always, part preparation and part commercial operation. Ferguson’s players will spend a week of intensive training at Nike’s headquarters in Portland, Oregon where Wayne Rooney was exciled last autumn, while the Scot’s squad will also rack up more than 8,000 miles in North America alone and have a rash of commercial commitments. Old Trafford’s bean counters can expect the tour to generate significant revenues for the club: around £5 million was pulled in from last summer’s games in Canada, US and Mexico.
Ferguson returns to Carrington with much having changed at the club in the weeks since the chastening loss to Barcelona at Wembley. In the wake of defeat Ferguson promised that United will “rise to the challenge”. It is no easy task following a second humiliating loss to Pep Guardiola’s side in the past three years.
Indeed, the challenge of closing the gap to Barça is made more difficult with a rash of retirements this summer; Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville have called it a day since this time last year, while Owen Hargreaves has left the club with no known destination.
The turnover of playing staff is likely to increase with Darron Gibson, Wes Brown and John O’Shea certain to leave the club, while Bébé has joined Besiktas on loan. Gabriel Obertan and several members of United’s reserves look set to move on before the window closes in August.
Change will be felt in the backroom too, with Scholes joining Ferguson’s coaching staff, although no role has been defined yet for the 36-year-old former midfielder. Ferguson would also like van der Sar to remain with the club in more than an ambassadorial role, although the great Dutchman is committed to spending more time with his family.
The club’s reaction to the outflow has been to spend more heavily than has become the norm under the Glazer family’s regime. de Gea’s acquisition was widely expected as van der Sar’s replacement, while Jones offers additional defensive cover with Brown and O’Shea off to pastures new. Young will bring a new attacking option to an area that has been hit by injuries to Park Ji-Sung and Valencia in the past season. The former Aston Villa player will is unlikely to bridge to gap to Barcelona but will certainly be deployed more often than Gabriel Obertan or Bébé have in the past year.
Yet, the marquee central midfield signing that most supporters crave is has not materialised this summer, although Ferguson’s pursuit of Arsenal’s Samir Nasri is real. It had better be; neither Luka Modric nor Wesley Sneijder is likely to join the club unless United ups to bidding to unprecedented levels. Moreover, should either Manchester City or Chelsea pursue early interest in the 25-year-old French midfielder then United is also unlikely to start a bidding war for Nasri.
Pre-season also begins with doubts remaining about senior members of Ferguson’s squad, most notably Nani and Dimitar Berbatov. While the Portuguese has publicly declared his desire to remain at Old Trafford, Ferguson’s failed pursuit of Alexis Sanchez begs the question of how much faith the Scot still holds in Nani. The feeling may well be reciprocal with Jorge Mendes letting it be known to Nani’s many suitors that the winger is open to a move.
Meanwhile, Berbatov is reportedly of interest to a host of European clubs, including newly enriched Paris Saint Germain, Valencia and Juventus. The striker, who is out of contract next summer, will be allowed to leave for around half the £30 million fee United paid three years ago. The Bulgarian’s new-found role as 30-year-old part-time squad member may tip the balance in favour of a move.
It has been a busy 36 days. With 58 to go before the transfer window shuts there is likely to be more drama yet.
I read that Valencia strained his ankle yeterday.
If Nasri leaves Arsenal, I don’t think he’ll stay in London, and he’ll only join City if money is his main motivation. He makes noises like he’d prefer United.
And I really don’t think Barca will sign both Fabregas, AND Sanchez unless Undinese are willing to accept installments… Sanchez is still a possibility.
And… there’s no “c” in exiled…
Sorry… couldn’t resist.
Thats okay! I was about to make the same comments, but yes from what I’m reading, Sanchez is still a possibility. I don’t think Valencia’s injury is too serious, at least I hope not. SAF seems determined to get one big name player before the transfer window closes, so we will have to wait and see how this all plays out.
We wont sign Nasri and Sanchez either. Nasri any day for me.
I thought it was already established that Scholes was set to take over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s role as reserve team manager? I forget where I read that now, but that was my understanding.
Spud – Speculation. Warren Joyce remains reserve team manager.
I would be surprised if we made more than one more signing. I’m not that convinced that we will add to De Gea, Young and Jones either.
The main movements will be out, either sold outright or on loan.Kusczak, Brown, Gibson, Diouf likely to be sold, Macheda and Obertan to go out on loan.
At the moment we are weaker than last year. We have lost the experience of VDS, Scholes & Neville & Giggs is a year older. Berba, another experienced player, could be on his way. Buying Nasri would swing things round dramtically.
If Nasri were to say “I want to go to United” it would be very difficult to stop the move. His agent could then say “We will wait until Jan & then sign a pre-contract”. Deal almost done.
If his agent is angling for an auction, I can’t see it happening. Probaby off to City for the wages.
What is the fascination with Sanchez? No experience of EPL; Young can play on the left; is he a better player than Nani?
It’s like watching dominoes fall, isn’t it? Today reports say Wenger will sanction a Nasri sale to Inter. Doubt that’s what the player wants but he’ll get his cash there for sure. This, of course would free up Sneijder for us. Same with the Barca/Sanchez/Fabregas triangle. Buying Fabregas would leave Sanchez in the shop window. I’m certain a new CM is in the cards but which one? In Sanchez, SAF clearly sees a Ronaldo-break the game wide open-type of talent. In Nasri, he gets youth and a proven performer in the premier league. In Sneijder, proven world-class but huge wage demands and Modric, kind of a Nasri (PL experience)/Sneijder (wonderful skill) blend but with an astronomical fee (45m?). At this point, I’d bet on Nasri but if SAF can get Sneijder, I’ll buy his shirt, that’s for sure. Still not sure who wins the ball for us….
I think that SAF will try Jones in front of the back four in key matches, particularly away. (Possibly Smalling might be tried in that position too). Both look huge talents. But unless Anderson suddenly grows up & becomes consistent -it did happen with another Brazilian, Lucas- or we buy soemone with the quality of Nasri we are buggered.
You watch it happen – Giggs and Jones to take games left by Scholes and Gibson. Young to take Giggs wing orientated selections.
Very unlikely we will be getting a marquee midfielder this summer. Wait for that next summer when Giggs will be alot closer to retirement.
Interested in Meulensteen’s comments about Sneijder. Has anyone any idea whether what he’s saying will have any bearing on who we are targeting? Ed?
Waxfoot – Meulensteen said that Steklenberg was the ‘keeper United really wanted. I’m not sure his word is oracle. I’d still be really surprise if United commited £80m in fee and wages to Sneijder who is 27 and could not be sold on at a substantial profit at the end of a five year contract. It’s against current club policy so would mark a dramatic change.