Manchester United Closing In On Antonio Valencia From Wigan

Manchester United have been watching Antonio Valencia for a long time now. With the departure of Steve Bruce from the JJB and the arrival of Swansea manager Roberto Martinez, Valencia has decided it is time to move on. Especially with all this upheavel.

Manchester United are in pole position to beat Real Madrid to the signing of Antonio Valencia. United are embroiled in a tug-of-war for his signature with Real Madrid although agent Diego Herrera says the Spanish giants have yet to make a move. The Ecuador winger has caught the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson this season and the United manager has reportedly made a £16million bid for him.

Madrid were said to have made a bid themselves but Herrera has heard nothing - paving the way for United to pounce. Florentino Perez sanctioned the world record breaking transfer of Kaka from AC Milan but as far as Valencia is concerned, he's kept quiet.

"The only official offer from Real Madrid for Antonio was last January. The offer came from the previous president but Florentino is over there now so I don't know if they are going to go for him again.

"It is the right time for him to leave, now that the manager has left, he feels it is time to move on."

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Real Madrid And Manchester United Chase Brucie's Bonus

The battle to sign Luis Antonio Valencia is still raging on in the background and it looks like Steve Bruce holds all the aces for this one. Manchester United and Real Madrid are both casting their envious eyes in the direction of Luis Antonio Valencia and as far as Wigan Athletic are concerened they are prepared to do an 'EL Zamalek'.

With the Egyptian outfit preparing to sell Latics' loanee striker, Amr Zaki, to the highest bidder, Steve Bruce will do likewise with regards to Valencia.

It is expected that the English and Spanish giants will now have to break through the £20 million barrier in order to get their man.....Back To Home Page...

Wigan Boss Bruce: "Hughes Is No Friend Of Mine !!"

Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce admits he's no friend of former Manchester United teammate Mark Hughes. I think that's such a shame too. After all the success and good times they had as part of the same team.

Hughes' Manchester City faced Wigan today and Bruce admits he's still upset over losing his former Birmingham No2 Mark Bowen .

The pair fell out when Bruce was at Birmingham and Hughes was manager of Wales. Hughes tried to tempt Bruce’s assistant Bowen to become a permanent part of the Welsh set-up.

Although Bruce initially won the battle, Bowen did later quit to join up with Hughes.

And before long he was installed as Blackburn’s assistant when Hughes took the job in 2004.

That was followed by Robbie Savage also heading to Rovers against Bruce’s wishes.

Bruce said: “We are not really pals although I have a mutual respect for him.

“I don’t think I have spoken to him for him years. The Mark Bowen issue tainted it a bit.”

Giggs The Gaffer

Ryan Giggs has confirmed he could look into taking up a manager's role when his playing career at Manchester United comes to an end.

I can't believe he will be will be 35 in November. Gradually though, he is being phased out of Sir Alex Ferguson's first team plans at Old Trafford, having made just four appearances this season.

However, Giggs, who scored in the 3-1 Carling Cup victory against Middlesbrough on Tuesday, insists he is happy to keep playing until Ferguson feels he can longer offer anything to the team.

"I'm relaxed about my future and I've got this year left on my contract," Giggs told the Daily Star.

"I'm feeling good at the moment and, as long as I feel healthy, I'm getting picked and I still enjoy it, then I'll carry on.

"But if any of those things change, I'll have to consider when I retire and it will be sooner rather than later."

In the meantime Giggs is working towards gaining all of the necessary coaching qualifications as he plots to follow several of his former United team-mates into management after his playing days are over.

He added: "I think working under the manager here is the best schooling there is and you can see that by the managers in the Premier League.

"There's Roy Keane, Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Steve Bruce and they have all played under the manager, so there is definitely something in that.

"Coaching would be an option and it is a natural progression for a lot of footballers. There are a lot of different roads that footballers can follow after they stop playing.

"I just want to be prepared for when I finish because, if I do decide to go into coaching or management, I want to make sure I've got my qualifications and the necessary coaching badges.

"I started about three or four years ago with my B badge. I picked it up again in the summer with my A badge and A licence.

"I've enjoyed it and hopefully I can get all the badges for when I finish."

It's right what he says too. We have Fergie himself plus four of his former players managing in the Premiership !!! That's 25% of all the teams are run by former United players or Fergie himself.

Giggsy is so professional, so methodical in everything he does I believe he will be a good manager, he deserves it after all he has given us down the years.