Save Ruud van Nistelrooy

Ruud van Nistelrooy is demanding a £4.5million pay-off to leave Manchester United, according to The Sun. The Dutch striker is furious at the way he was denied a place in both United's game against Charlton and Roy Keane's testimonial, as well as the hatchet job that has been done on him since the weekend by Sir Fergie's allies in the media.

But despite that, Van Nistelrooy will not ask for a transfer - meaning that if they sell him, United will be obliged to pay him an amount equal to one year of his £90,000-a-week contract - severely reducing the £8m United were hoping to make from the sale. United's next targets, however, are likely to come on the cheap, with Sir Fergie looking to tie up a deal for Fluminese's 15-year-old Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio - a left and right winger respectively - although the players will not be able to join United for another four years.


Fluminese boss Paulo Bhering said: "We are near an agreement. At the end of a three-year deal if United still decide to take them they'll have to pay a fee.


"The boys certainly have great skill and will be real stars." And that, lest we forget, is what people said about Eric Djemba-Djemba.