Source: Daily_Mail
Vidic for Real! Man United defender set to join Ronaldo at Madrid in £20m deal
Real Madrid believe they have won the race to sign Nemanja Vidic and that he will follow his close friend Cristiano Ronaldo to the Bernabeu at the end of the season. [LNB]AC Milan looked to be edging towards a deal for the unsettled Manchester United defender after leading a chase that also involved their city rivals Inter and Spanish champions Barcelona. [LNB]But Sportsmail understands he is bound for Madrid in a £20million transfer that will end an increasingly uneasy relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson. [LNB] Real deal: Nemanja Vidic is poised to join Madrid at the end of the season [LNB]The United manager has been less than impressed with Vidic's longingfor a move to southern Europe and its detrimental effect on his formthis season. [LNB]Though the 28-year-old Serbia star has been troubled by injury,Ferguson has had misgivings about selecting him anyway when fit, due toconcerns over the centre half's concentration. [LNB]Resigned to sanctioning Vidic's departure, Ferguson is prepared to accept £20m from Real and use it for reinforcements.[LNB]Replacement: Smalling will join United in the summer [LNB] Fulham's Chris Smalling has already been bought for £10m and willjoin in the summer, and United are looking closely at Benfica's DavidLuiz, Palermo's Denmark centre back Simon Kjaer and Porto's experienceddefender Bruno Alves.[LNB] There were claims yesterday that Vidic has put his house up forsale, or is about to, in readiness for a move that will reunite himwith Ronaldo, 12 months after the former United winger joined Real fora world-record £80m.[LNB] The pair developed a strong friendship at Old Trafford and wereknown to sit together on the team coach and discuss their long-termfutures on the journey to games. [LNB]Though Vidic will be savouring the prospect of teaming up again withRonaldo, Ferguson may be less enthralled at having his hand forced by arepeat scenario of a leading player agitating for a move and Realcapitalising.[LNB] At the height of speculation linking Ronaldo with the Bernabeu lastseason, Ferguson famously growled: 'Do you think I'd do business withthat lot? I wouldn't sell them a virus.' [LNB]He subsequently climbed down and accepted the inevitability oflosing the Portugal star, just as he has reluctantly excluded Vidicfrom his plans for next season. [LNB]Signed from Spartak Moscow for £7m four years ago, the defenderinitially gave AC Milan cause for optimism by responding positively totheir overtures, but he was eventually swayed by his wife Ana'spreference for a move to Madrid. [LNB] Not so United: Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid last summer in an £80m-deal [LNB][LNB]Real sporting director Jorge Valdano has been working on a dealsince before Christmas and is believed to have told the Bernabeu boardthat an agreement has been reached on a £20m fee. [LNB]Off the pitch, United chief executive David Gill was involved in aterse exchange with a fan over the Glazer ownership during a visit toBirmingham University on Thursday. [LNB]The supporter raised a number of objections to United'scontroversial owners, who have burdened the club with £700m worth ofdebt, but Gill countered by asking: 'How many leagues have we won inthe last three years?'[LNB] It is the latest show of dissent against the owners and there istalk of a takeover bid being put together by a group of wealthybusinessmen who have been dubbed the Red Knights. Leading bookmakersFred Done are said to be in the group, along with Keith Harris, aUnited fan who has put together a number of football takeovers. [LNB] Keep magic-man Wayne Rooney fresh for World Cup! Fabio Capello's plea to Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson Sir Alex Ferguson's iron grip on Manchester United star Wayne Rooney: England striker speaks in court over agent's case The story behind the Manchester United protests: Good old days that unite fansMANCHESTER UNITED FC
