UNITED SIGNINGS: Alex Ferguson's hectic summer of transfer activity should culminate this week with Manchester United beating off competition from Real Madrid and Chelsea to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, the hottest property in Portuguese football.
Ferguson also expects to tie up the £6 million transfer today of the Brazilian midfielder Kleberson after United said he had finally been given a work permit. "We can confirm that a work permit has been granted," said a spokesman. "We now hope to conclude the deal in the next day or so."
Cristiano, Sporting Lisbon's raw yet hugely talented forward, has been identified to fill the role for which Ronaldinho had originally been earmarked and is understood to have been at the club's training ground in Carrington yesterday to meet his prospective new colleagues.
Luis Correira, one of Cristiano's advisers, later described the transfer negotiations as "very, very advanced", with Sporting apparently willing to let their player stay behind as the team returned to Portugal last night, having drawn 0-0 with Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
If the deal goes through, it will cost United £8 million and constitute a rare defeat for Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, who was willing to match Sporting's asking price but powerless to do anything about the official tie-up whereby United get first option on all the young players available for transfer at Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Cristiano, born in Madeira as Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, is six months short of his 19th birthday. He made 25 appearances for Sporting last season and, though he scored only three times, quickly forged a reputation as one of Europe's most creative young attacking players.
Kleberson should, over the next 24 hours, become the first Brazilian to play for Manchester United.
Only the loose ends need to be tied up on the deal that will take the World Cup winner from Sao Paulo outfit Atletico Paranaense, and there is an outside chance he could be involved in the final pre-season friendly, at Stoke tomorrow.
United first moved for Kleberson when Chelsea initiated their interest in Juan Sebastian Veron, who eventually completed his £15 million move to Stamford Bridge last week.
"He is young and we certainly think he is one of the most progressive players in Brazil at the moment," said Ferguson of Kleberson on his club's recent US tour. "He is athletic, creative and quick."
Attempts to lure Hatem Trabelsi to Old Trafford are proving more complicated. Uppermost in Ferguson's mind is that if the Tunisian right back plays for Ajax in a Champions League qualifier against Grazer AK tonight he will be unavailable for any of United's European ties this season.
Ronald Koeman, the Ajax coach, has criticised Trabelsi's representatives for apparently proposing the deal against their wishes.
Meanwhile, Chelsea chairman Ken Bates has revealed that Roman Abramovich considered buying into Manchester United but did not like the atmosphere at Old Trafford. Bates said: "He went to Old Trafford, liked the game but did not like the atmosphere. He did a survey of all 20 Premiership clubs and settled on a London club."
Guardian Service
