News Update

Robben And Heinze To Miss Madrid Derby .Arjen Robben and Gabriel Heinze will play no part in Real Madrid's opening day fixture against Atlético after signing for the club on Thursday.

The duo will watch their new team play from the stands as coach Bernd Schuster does not believe that either of them is up to the level that he requires.

Madrid's coach could now draft in Royston Drenthe to play at left-back as Miguel Torres has been ruled out after failing to recover from a knock.

Drenthe played his first game in midfield for Madrid in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup last weekend against Sevilla.

Heinze admitted that he may not be ready to play after being given an extended break by his former club Manchester United as he appeared in the Copa América at the end of last season.

The Argentinian was then unable to train with the Red Devils as he unsuccessfully attempted to force through a move to Liverpool.

Robben explained in his first press conference in Madrid that he was still feeling the affects of an operation that underwent last year and would need to rediscover his best level.

There was some good news for Schuster as Iker Casillas has recovered from a knee injury in time to play, while Sergio Ramos is also available after overcoming a foot problem.

United Deny Making Any Approach For Berbatov .After a day of claims and rumours that Manchester United had made a bid for Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov, the Premier League champions have denied making any offer for the Bulgarian.

Dimitar Berbatov's agent had earlier claimed that United had made an enquiry for the Bulgarian international, and that Tottenham would make a decision over his future next week.

Spurs manager Martin Jol admitted earlier on Friday that he had rejected an approach for Berbatov from an unnamed club - and insisted that the player was going nowhere.

But United have made it clear that any offer made had not come them.

"Manchester United is linked with many players in every transfer window," United chief executive David Gill told the club's official website.

He added: "The club has categorically not made a bid for Dimitar Berbatov."

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that earlier in this current transfer window he failed in a bid to buy a striker - and now he concedes that he is unlikely to sign any new players before the window closes again next week.

"We made an inquiry about a striker not so long ago. The club concerned would not sell and it remains that way," Ferguson told XFM.

"With a week to the transfer deadline, it would be impossible to get anyone else in now."

Earlier, Berbatov's agent Emil Dantchev told Bulgaria's Darik Radio: "We had a 90-minute meeting with Tottenham's chairman Daniel Levy and sporting director Damien Comolli.

"They informed us that there's a query from Manchester United about the possibility of Berbatov joining them.

"They told us they will have a meeting in the next day or two to decide his future."

Berbatov scored 22 goals during the 2006-07 season - his first at Tottenham after joining them from Bayer Leverkusen for £10.9m

And earlier this year, Jol insisted that the 26-year-old captain of Bulgaria would not be sold, although unsubstantiated reports this week claimed that the Dutch manager had fallen out with his star player after having substituted him in the opening match at Sunderland.

But Dantchev told BBC Sport: "I can tell you for sure that there is not a problem."

And Jol added on Friday: "Berbatov loves me. If he is playing well he gets all the praise and if he is not doing well I have to tell him.

"I had one approach and I said 'I'd rather die than sell him'."

Ronaldo was controversially sent off against Portsmouth last week after an alleged head-butt on Richard Hughes.

TV replays and Hughes himself suggest that there was little in the incident, however Ronaldo received the red card, and the three-match ban that came along with it.

As a result the Portugal international was absent for United’ 1-0 defeat at the hands of rivals Manchester City on Sunday, a result that meant the club had managed to accumulate just two points from their first three games.

The fleet-footed 22-yar-old admits that he has become frustrated with the situation, but is sure United can turn around their form.

"I'm feeling sad not being able to play," Ronaldo told the Daily Mirror.

"It is so frustrating, particularly when we are not able to win right now.

"But I'm optimistic and I have confidence in United, even though the beginning of the season is bad.

"But the situation will change soon and we will be positive."



Contrary to reports emanating from Argentina, Gabriel Heinze has not yet signed for Real Madrid, and will instead appeal against a Premier League decision not to sanction his move to Liverpool.

Yesterday a Premier League arbitration panel ruled that United were within the laws of the game to refuse Heinze his desired move to Liverpool.

Using a letter received from United as evidence, the Argentinean stated that he was told that he could join any club offering the £6.8million asking price.

Liverpool duly offered the full amount, however United were adamant that the player would not join a close rival, a decision that prompted the left-back to seek legal advice.

The arbitration panel ruled that as the letter did not specify a certain club, it did not represent a legally binding document.

Heinze will now appeal against the decision and will be buoyed by the news that the Premier League will allow him to switch clubs after the transfer window closes even if he is unsuccessful in the appeal.

"My fight is for freedom to negotiate with any club," Heinze told the Daily Mail.

"United never wanted me to leave for one of the big clubs, but this anti-Liverpool clause is incredible."

Speaking about speculation linking him to clubs like Lyon, Real Madrid and AC Milan, the Argentina international admitted his future was still up in the air.

"I still don't have a clear future," Heinze added.

"I have not spoken with Lyon because I believed my option was Liverpool.

"I would like a solution. Not playing would be a negative for me and also for the club."



Injury Scare For Van Der Sar

United have made a slow start to the Premiership campaign, bagging just two points from three games. The squad has been ravished by injuries, particularly in attack, with Wayne Rooney out for seven weeks and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and Luis Saha also missing the start of the season.

The latest injury worry concerns van der Sar who was involved in a collision with Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt during training with the Dutch national team.

The keeper needed immediate treatment to his foot and is now a doubt for Holland’s match against Switzerland on Wednesday.

"Edwin had a pain in his foot and we will put some ice on it," Holland manager Marco van Bastern said last night.

"We will see what the reaction is, but if it is wrong then we will have to call up another goalkeeper."

The full extent of the damage is not yet known however van der Sar may not feature in United’s crucial Premiership match against Tottenham on Sunday.

Alternatives are also thin on the ground. Preferred second-choice keeper Ben Foster is still four months from full fitness after surgery on a cruciate knee ligament. That means Tomasz Kuszczak could make his first start since May, with untested reserve keeper Tom Heaton taking his place on the bench.