Sotiris Ninis is already a regular in Greece’s international
team
Manchester United are set to capture Greek wonderkid
Sotiris Ninis at the end of the season.
United are ready to trigger an £8million clause in the
20-year-old Panathinaikos contract after Sir Alex Ferguson
identified him as the answer to his team’s need for a creative
midfielder.
The Reds have already opened negotiations with the Athens club
about taking Ninis to Old Trafford for next season.
Ninis, who was born in Albania, is already a regular in Greece’s
international team.
He is also one of three club captains at Panathinaikos and has
attracted interest from Real Madrid and AC Milan.
But United are now in pole position after telling the Greek side
they will pay the get-out clause in the four-year contract that
Ninis signed in 2008.
Any Greek club that wants Ninis has to pay £15million. But that
figure drops to £8million if he moves abroad.
Ferguson is trying to bring in fresh talent from around the
globe in relatively modest deals as the financial realities brought
about by the Glazers’ ownership of United takes effect in the
transfer market.
United spent £25million this summer to recruit the potential of
Chris Smalling, Javier Hernandez and Bebe. Ninis fits the same
profile.
Ferguson has made finding a long-term replacement for Paul
Scholes, United’s midfield play-maker, a top priority. That’s why
United were keen to pursue Germany international Mesut Ozil before
he decided to join Real Madrid last month.
Ferguson is rightly proud of discovering emerging talents. Ninis
may even develop like Cristiano Ronaldo.