May 29, 2006
Milan 'eyeing Van Nistelrooy bid'
AC Milan are contemplating a move for Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy as a replacement for Chelsea-bound Andriy Shevchenko.
Van Nistelrooy is reported to have fallen out with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, while Shevchenko is about to begin talks with Chelsea.
"Van Nistelrooy is the man we want," an AC Milan spokesman is quoted as saying in The Sun newspaper.
"He is one of the few players in the world who could replace Sheva."
Van Nistelrooy, who has scored 150 goals in 200 starts for United since joining five years ago, has said he will not make any decisions about his future until after next month's World Cup.
The striker often had to settle for a place on the bench in the second half of last season and left United's final game against Charlton before kick-off.
Van Nistelrooy claims he was asked to leave the team hotel and was subsequently told he would not be allowed to appear in Roy Keane's testimonial.
The club are yet to comment on the situation, but after the Charlton game, Ferguson explained there had been "a couple of issues during the week that concerned us in terms of the spirit of the club".
Last week, former United striker Dwight Yorke said he expected Ferguson to make the right decision over Van Nistelrooy, no matter how ruthless it may appear.
"Sir Alex only sees what is right for Manchester United," Yorke told BBC Radio Five.
"If he sees Ruud as an asset to the club, he will stay. I don't see Ruud leaving, but if Alex thinks otherwise, that's how it is."
Yorke left United after being frozen out by Ferguson, who has reportedly fallen out with Van Nistelrooy.
"The manager is a winner, I respect him greatly. He sees things about people," added Yorke.
"It was no different for me, or Ruud and Jaap Stam. When he sees your time is up he only thinks about Manchester United and his players."
Yorke joined United in 1998 from Aston Villa for £12.6m and forged a productive partnership with Andy Cole, helping United to the treble in 1999.
But in 2002, after two disappointing seasons at the club, Yorke was told he had no future at the club.
After leaving Old Trafford, Yorke played for Blackburn and Birmingham, before joining Australian club Sydney FC.
Van Nistelrooy is reported to have fallen out with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, while Shevchenko is about to begin talks with Chelsea.
"Van Nistelrooy is the man we want," an AC Milan spokesman is quoted as saying in The Sun newspaper.
"He is one of the few players in the world who could replace Sheva."
Van Nistelrooy, who has scored 150 goals in 200 starts for United since joining five years ago, has said he will not make any decisions about his future until after next month's World Cup.
The striker often had to settle for a place on the bench in the second half of last season and left United's final game against Charlton before kick-off.
Van Nistelrooy claims he was asked to leave the team hotel and was subsequently told he would not be allowed to appear in Roy Keane's testimonial.
The club are yet to comment on the situation, but after the Charlton game, Ferguson explained there had been "a couple of issues during the week that concerned us in terms of the spirit of the club".
Last week, former United striker Dwight Yorke said he expected Ferguson to make the right decision over Van Nistelrooy, no matter how ruthless it may appear.
"Sir Alex only sees what is right for Manchester United," Yorke told BBC Radio Five.
"If he sees Ruud as an asset to the club, he will stay. I don't see Ruud leaving, but if Alex thinks otherwise, that's how it is."
Yorke left United after being frozen out by Ferguson, who has reportedly fallen out with Van Nistelrooy.
"The manager is a winner, I respect him greatly. He sees things about people," added Yorke.
"It was no different for me, or Ruud and Jaap Stam. When he sees your time is up he only thinks about Manchester United and his players."
Yorke joined United in 1998 from Aston Villa for £12.6m and forged a productive partnership with Andy Cole, helping United to the treble in 1999.
But in 2002, after two disappointing seasons at the club, Yorke was told he had no future at the club.
After leaving Old Trafford, Yorke played for Blackburn and Birmingham, before joining Australian club Sydney FC.
