Save Ruud van Nistelrooy

By D Ferguson - 29th May 2006

AC Milan are on the verge of making a move for Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Dutchman’s days appear to be numbered at Old Trafford after falling out of favour with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Milan are looking for a World-class replacement for Andriy Shevchenko who is on his way to Chelsea and Ruud looks like he is the man to fill the Ukraine international’s boots at the San Siro.

AC Milan are ready to move for Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Italian giants are lining up the unhappy Dutchman as a replacement for Chelsea-bound striker Andriy Shevchenko.


A Milan source told the News of the World: "Van Nistelrooy is the man we want. He is one of the few players in the world who could replace Sheva."

Van Nistelrooy looks certain to leave Old Trafford in a cut-price £8.4million move after a bitter bust-up with boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

The former PSV striker has been touted across Europe.

And AC Milan's city rivals Inter have already been offered the chance to sign the player.

But it is understood Van Nistelrooy would jump at the chance to join Milan five years after moving to United for £19m.

tribalfootball.com - May 29, 2006

Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has supported Sir Alex Ferguson in his row with Ruud van Nistelrooy.

"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.

"If he sees what you can do and can't do. And if he feels that you are not doing the job he wants you to do then he will change it, it is as simple as that."

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.

Ruud van Nistelrooy does not expect his future at Manchester United to be resolved until after next month's World Cup, though he admits he cannot understand why he is being forced out of the club he loves.

The Dutch hitman fell out spectacularly with boss Sir Alex Ferguson towards the end of last season, beginning with his omission from the Carling Cup final, with Louis Saha getting the nod up front alongside Wayne Rooney instead.

Van Nistelrooy continually found himself playing second fiddle behind the Saha-Rooney partnership, culminating in him leaving Man United's team hotel after being told teenager Giuseppe Rossi would start for the last league game of the season against Charlton.

To make matters worse, the striker was then forbidden from attending ex-skipper Roy Keane's testimonial.

'I know a lot of people in Manchester don't understand it, well it is the same for me. I love Manchester United. That is why I don't really understand it,' said the 29-year-old.

'But I am not naive and the fact I wasn't involved in the last Premiership game or Roy Keane's testimonial was not a good sign, but nothing is going to happen until after the World Cup.'

It is next month's tournament in Germany that Van Nistelrooy is fully focusing on now, as he attempts to put the disappointment of the last season behind him.

He said: 'What has happened has happened. I have a World Cup in front of me with Holland, so I need to try and forget about it and move on.'

Although he claims his departure is far from certain, the striker has been linked to a host of top clubs, including Italian giants AC Milan and Inter, as well as English champions Chelsea and striker-collecting Tottenham, while Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder reportedly sees him as the ideal replacement for departing captain Alan Shearer.

The leading striker for each of the top four has ended the season amid rumours that they might be leaving. This situation may have eased with the news about Thierry Henry, but for the other three - Djibril Cisse, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Didier Drogba - next season may start with a call to Pickfords.

With Thierry Henry set to become the biggest non-mover in the Premiership hit-parade this week attention can switch to these other 'want-away-strikers'. The 'news' that Didier Drogba doesn't want to play for Chelsea due to 'victimisation' - an expression many footballers prefer to 'fair comment' - may be creating bigger splashes, and Liverpool would happily consider offers for Cisse. But the big striker most likely to move on remains Ruud van Nistelrooy.

According to the Mirror today, Inter Milan are ready to make a £10m bid for Ruud van Nistelrooy. For a striker that cost £19m and then bagged 150 goals in 219 games this may seem a bit cut-price, but the Dutchman is 30 in July and the injuries and strain of life at the top seem to be taking their toll.

A move to Serie A where van Nistelrooy's predatory instincts would not have to be allied to too much pointless tracking back would rejuvenate the player and Inter Milan would be guaranteed 15-20 Serie A goals and a good number in the Champions' League - injury permitting.

For United a good return would further allow them to reduce the average age of the squad (which is already similar to Arsenal) to a level that will be competitive for the next 3-4 years - which is sure to take the team into the period of interregnum that will follow Ferguson. Rossi would become competition for Rooney and Saha and there would be cash to address the yawning gap in midfield.

All in all this is a transfer waiting to happen, but I would expect the likely auction to push the final figure closer to £14m that the reported £10m.

May 16, 2006

Manchester United have warned striker Ruud van Nistelrooy not to seek any compensation over his exit this summer.

The Sun says Van Nistelrooy was also told he will not be sold cheaply - with the asking price set at £10million.

Van Nistelrooy, 29, has two years left on his current contract and the £90,000-a-week ace will want a year of that - £4.5million - if he is sold.

But manager Sir Alex Ferguson will rather pay him as a reserve than do that.

He will also deny Van Nistelrooy a move back to his old club PSV Eindhoven for a cut-price fee of around £5m.

However, both Milan clubs may be interested and French champs Lyon would DEFINITELY take him on board.

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.

Ruud van Nistelrooy is demanding £4.5m to leave Manchester United. (The Sun)

tribalfootball.com - May 10, 2006

Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy hit out at manager Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to stop him from being involved in last night's testimonial for Roy Keane.

Back in Holland, Van Nistelrooy said: "The fact I cannot be there for the game is the most painful thing of all. I have spoken to Roy, I wanted to respect Roy but I wasn't allowed to."

Dutch boss Marco van Basten said: "It can only be good for us that a great striker of the calibre of Ruud feels hurt and angry prior to appearing in the World Cup finals."

Next article: --

Previous article: Ruud upset at missing Keane game

Will Ruud van Nistelrooy still be at Old Trafford next season?

Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy said he was "not allowed" to play in Roy Keane's testimonial.
Speculation continues that the 29-year-old's United career may be over after he left Old Trafford before Sunday's game against Charlton.

He had expected to play in Keane's testimonial against Celtic but instead travelled to a World Cup training camp.

"I wanted to pay my respects to Roy. I wasn't allowed to so that was the most painful thing," he said.

Keane said he was disappointed his former team-mate missed the game.

"I spoke to Ruud. It was unfortunate and disappointing he wasn't here but everyone has their own path to go down," said Keane.

"I don't think it is right for me to start commenting on Ruud's situation."

"But I did get on quite well with him and I do know there are two sides to every story. Maybe one day we will find out what happened.

"Ruud is still under contract to United and I wish him well."

Meanwhile, Holland coach Marco van Basten called up 17 players for a four-day training camp in Katwijk and added Van Nistelrooy on Sunday.

"Ruud called me on Sunday, explained the whole situation and that he was asked to leave," said Van Basten.

"Because he wouldn't be playing in the match for Keane we added him to the squad."

Van Nistelrooy found first-team opportunities hard to come by for United in the second half of the season.

The Dutchman drove away before Sunday's game at Old Trafford, amid reports that he was unhappy at being left on the bench.

Speaking after the game, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "There have been a couple of issues during the week that concerned us in terms of the spirit of the club.

"On such an important day, I felt that Ruud should be left out. We will be discussing it with club directors."

Next article: Man Utd's Van Nistelrooy furious at Keane block

Previous article: Jesper Olsen suffers brain haemorrhage

Former Manchester United star Jesper Olsen is recovering in a Melbourne hospital after collapsing with a brain haemorrhage.
Olsen's company said he was admitted to hospital after a sub-arachnoid haemorrhage last Thursday.

His business partner John Grimaud said the former Denmark international had not undergone surgery.

Olsen joined Manchester United in 1984, and scored 24 goals during a five-year spell at Old Trafford.

United paid Ajax £350,000 for Olsen in June 1984, and he helped the Old Trafford club to lift the FA Cup in 1985.

He was sold to Bordeaux for £400,000 in 1988.

Olsen settled in Australia in 2003 with his wife and four children, where he heads Proactive Management's Australian division, in addition to running a grass-roots training programme for young footballers.

Next article: --

Previous article: Keane exit did in Man United

Manchester United secured second spot and automatic qualitication for the Champions League with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Charlton last night. the New Paper's football analyst TOHARI PAIJAN reviews United's season with LIM HAN MING


May 09, 2006 (Electric Newspaper, Singapore)

SO Manchester United finished second. So they won the Carling Cup.

By their high standards, it was a fairly disappointing season for the Red Devils, says The New Paper's football analyst Tohari Paijan.

'The stark reality is that they have not won the Premiership title for three seasons now,' he said.

'Yes, they may have improved on their League position from last year (third), but finishing second is not good enough for a club of United's stature.

'What's more, they were knocked out in the early rounds of the Champions League and lost to arch-rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup.

'The fans expect them to win trophies season after season.

'But even the most die-hard fans will have to agree that United are some way off from challenging Chelsea in the Premiership next year.'

So what went wrong for the Red Devils?

The goalless draw against Sunderland was undeniably one of the turning points of the season.

But, for Tohari, United's season was as good as over the day Roy Keane walked out on the club.

The former United skipper made a shock exit midway through the season when he launched a scathing public attack on his under-performing team-mates.

His outburst earned the ire of Sir Alex Ferguson and that brought a premature end to the Irishman's United career.

Tohari said: 'Rinus Michel, the former Dutch national coach, said in his book on team building that when a key member of a football team - be it the management, the coach or a player - makes a public statement, whether interpreted rightly or wrongly, it can be pure poison for team spirit and performance level.

'That was exactly what happened in Keane's case. His outburst on MUTV upset the harmony in the dressing room and brought disarray to the team.

'If you ask me what went wrong most for United this season, it would be the Roy Keane saga.'

Tohari felt that Ferguson should also shoulder some of the blame.

'Who was the one who gave so much power to Keane?' he asked. 'Who else but Ferguson?

'He has stood by his captain all these years, so much so that Keane thought he could do and say what he wanted.

'In the end, Ferguson had to decide whether to side with Keane or lose the respect of the players.

'It was a lose-lose situation. He chose to let go of Keane, but once Keane was gone, you could tell that United sorely lacked a leader on the field.

'Ferguson tried Alan Smith, Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea, Ryan Giggs and even Rio Ferdinand in his position, but they are not Keane.'

If United hope to challenge Chelsea next season, they will have to improve on their consistency.

Tohari said: 'You can't expect to win titles when you lose to lower teams such as Blackburn and Manchester City, and drop points to Sunderland and Birmingham.

'Chelsea won the title because they were the most consistent team in the League.'

Looking ahead, Tohari said that the most pressing issue for United was to find a replacement for Keane.

'That's easier said than done. There was a time when players queued up to join United,' he said.

'Now, the Red Devils have problems getting the players they want.

'Everyone wants to be associated with a winning team. That is why Michael Ballack would choose Chelsea over United.

'At the moment, United are only second best in England.'

Besides looking for a holding midfielder, Ferguson might also have to shop for a new striker.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's future at Old Trafford is in serious doubt after the 29-year-old stormed home last night when he was not named in the starting line-up who faced Charlton.

'Van Nistelrooy may have played his last game for United,' Tohari said. 'He is not someone who can tolerate sitting on the bench every game.

'At 29, he is not getting younger. You can tell that Ferguson is building his team around Wayne Rooney, who represents the future.

'And with Louis Saha back to his best and the emergence of Giuseppe Rossi, Ferguson might just let van Nistelrooy go.'

Next article: Jesper Olsen suffers brain haemorrhage

Previous article: €21 million plus van Nistelrooy for Torres

By: ThinkSpain

Rumours suggest that Ruud van Nistelrooy's Old Trafford future may be in some doubt after he was seen driving away from the ground three hours before yesterday's final league game of the season against Charlton Athletic.

According to a report in yesterday's Sunday People, Sir Alex Ferguson, who is said to be fed up with the Dutch striker's attitude, is willing to exchange him, plus a further €21 million, for Atletico Madrid and Spain striker, Fernando Torres.

With van Nistelrooy valued at €17.5 million, a total package worth €38.5 million seems slightly on the steep side for the largely unproven young striker, who Sir Alex considers to be the perfect replacement for the Dutch star, who is rumoured to have a disruptive influence on the dressing room.

Next article: Keane exit did in Man United
Previous article: Van Nistelrooy preparing for United exile

08/May/2006 - 16:09:51

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s row with Alex Ferguson has cost him an appearance in his old mate Roy Keane’s testimonial at Old Trafford tomorrow.

As one of the few United first-team stars to speak up for Keane following the Irishman’s well-publicised, but never publicly heard, MUTV lambasting of the Red Devils lamentable performance in their 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough in October, Van Nistelrooy was looking forward to the chance of meeting up with his old captain again.

Instead, the Dutchman will join him only in his exile from Old Trafford.

Although there has been no official confirmation from any party over Van Nistelrooy’s availability to face Celtic, it is understood the 29-year-old has already returned to the Netherlands to begin preparations for this summer’s World Cup.

Sir Alex Ferguson is due to speak with United chief executive David Gill in the next 24 hours to determine Van Nistelrooy’s future. However, it seems the player’s fate has already been sealed and once the World Cup is done, he will begin looking in earnest for a new club.

In truth, the process began some time ago, with Van Nistelrooy having at least one conversation with fellow countryman Clarence Seedorf about the possibility of him linking up with him at AC Milan, a club who are believed to be interested in acquiring the former PSV Eindhoven’s services.

Van Nistelrooy has so far opted not to speak out about the accusation from Ferguson that his attitude in training last week was undermining team morale to such an extent that he opted to select 19-year-old Giuseppe Rossi above him for yesterday’s win over Charlton.

There is a counter-claim to the perceived theory that Van Nistelrooy walked out of United’s team hotel yesterday lunchtime though, with suggestions being raised that the Dutchman – who only last month became one of only eight Manchester United players to score 150 goals for the club – was ordered out by Ferguson.

That presumably came following Van Nistelrooy’s negative reaction to learning Rossi had been given a starting spot against Charlton.

It has not gone unnoticed by the striker that Ferguson, having effectively decided Keane’s position at United was untenable following his MUTV tirade, has now launched such a public broadside himself.

Whether Van Nistelrooy will opt to break his own silence before Holland face Cameroon in the first of their pre-World Cup friendlies on May 27 remains to be seen but clearly his relationship with Ferguson has deteriorated markedly from the night he stood in the bowels of the Stade de France in November and reflected on an unexpected defeat to Lille just four days after the Middlesbrough debacle.

At the time, with Keane and Gary Neville missing, Van Nistelrooy was United captain. And, though disappointed at the Red Devils downturn in fortunes was apparently determined to pull them through the bad times.

"When I came four and a half years ago, United were unbeatable," he reflected on that dark Paris night.

"Now, in bad times I just want to give it my all to get United back to where everyone wants to see them."

"I am going nowhere. Over the coming years, it is personal to me to take the club back to where I want to see it."

At the time, the captain’s armband seemed to bring an extra 20% to Van Nistelrooy’s game. Ferguson’s totally logical decision to hand Neville the honour of permanently replacing Keane as skipper seemed to have the opposite effect.

Ferguson is said to have been intensely unhappy with Van Nistelrooy’s performance in the FA Cup defeat to Liverpool on February 21. A week later, he sensationally dropped the striker for the Carling Cup Final win over Wigan.

Louis Saha totally justified his inclusion at the Millennium Stadium and nothing that has happened since would lead any neutral observer to believe United are not a better side with the Frenchman in it.

And, as he reflects on his next career move, that is the bitter truth which will hurt Van Nistelrooy most of all.

Next article: €21 million plus van Nistelrooy for Torres

Previous article: Ruud van Nistelrooy makes Dutch squad whilst David is left out

Davids has played 65 times for Holland

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Edgar Davids has been left of Holland's 28-man pre-World Cup squad by coach Marco van Basten.
Aston Villa defender Wilfred Bouma is also not in Van Basten's squad.

The Dutch coach has not said whether or not omitted players could be included in his final 23-man squad, which must be named by Fifa's 15 May deadline.

He had previously named a 33-man group but has added Ajax's Johnny Heitinga while demoting six players.

As well as Davids and Bouma, goalkeeper Patrick Lodeqijks, defenders Urby Emanuelson and Ron Vlaar and forward Martijn Meerdink have failed to make the grade.

Bayern Munich striker Roy Makaay and AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf were notable absentees from Van Basten's first squad.

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Holland 28-man pre-World Cup squad:

Keepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (AZ Alkmaar)

Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Hamburg SV), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Tim de Cler (AZ Alkmaar), Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Jan Kromkamp (Liverpool), Joris Mathijsen (AZ Alkmaar), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Johnny Heitinga (Ajax), Barry Opdam (AZ Alkmaar)

Midfielders: George Boateng (Middlesbrough), Mark van Bommel (Barcelona), Phillip Cocu (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong (Hamburg SV), Denny Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar), Hedwiges Maduro (Ajax), Wesley Sneijder (Ajax), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg SV)

Strikers: Ryan Babel (Ajax), Romeo Castelen (Feyenoord), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Dirk Kuyt (Feyenoord), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Eindhoven).

Next article: Van Nistelrooy preparing for United exile


Previous article: Robson fearful for Van Nistelrooy

Will Ruud van Nistelrooy still be at Old Trafford next season?

Former Manchester United captain Bryan Robson says if boss Sir Alex Ferguson wants Ruud van Nistelrooy to leave, the Dutchman is on his way out of the club. Van Nistelrooy, 29, drove away from the ground on Sunday before the game with Charlton and Ferguson will discuss his actions in a board meeting this week.

Robson told BBC Radio Four: "Once Sir Alex makes his mind up about players he does it and nothing stands in his way.

"The signs are there and there could be something in him leaving the club."

Van Nistelrooy is thought to have been unhappy at being left out of the side to face Charlton, after spending much of the second half of the season on the bench.

Speaking after the game, Ferguson said: "There have been a couple of issues during the week that concerned us in terms of the spirit of the club.

"On such an important day, I felt that Ruud should be left out. We will be discussing it with club directors."

Van Nistelrooy was at Old Trafford on Sunday morning and is understood to have been fully fit and expecting to play alongside Louis Saha because Wayne Rooney is sidelined with a broken bone in his foot.

But he had left the ground by the time the team ran out and Giuseppe Rossi was selected to play alongside Saha.

Recent newspaper speculation has suggested that Van Nistelrooy may leave United in the summer - but Ferguson has not made any comment on his future.

Next article: Ruud van Nistelrooy make Dutch squad whilst David is left out

Previous article: Sir Alex To Meet Board To Discuss Ruud Situation

Sir Alex Ferguson says Ruud van Nistelrooy was left out of the team because of a "number issues" during the week leading up to the Charlton game.

Van Nistelrooy left the ground before the game, but without elaborating on the specifics, Sir Alex said he will be discussing the situation with the club's directors.

"There have been a couple of issues during the week that concerned me in terms of the spirit at the club. On such an important day, I just felt that Ruud should be left out.

"It's straightforward," he added. "We'll be discussing it with the club's directors tomorrow and Tuesday and that's it."

The club had confirmed in a statement before the game: "Ruud van Nistelrooy has gone home and will not play against Charlton."

The Dutchman had been at the ground for the match, but later left the stadium. The club added: "We are not prepared to say anything further as we are concentrating on the game against Charlton."

Louis Saha and 19-year-old striker Giuseppe Rossi start the match up front for the Reds, which United won 4-0.

Next article: Robson fearful for Van Nistelrooy

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