SIR ALEX FERGUSON has set the date for his retirement
and will quit Manchester United in three years.
Fresh from his second Champions League win, Ferguson dismissed
whispers claiming he would walk away on a high. But the United
boss, 66, admitted he would go before his 70th birthday.
Fergie said: "I won't be managing here when I'm 70. No, never. I
can assure you of that. "I won't be managing here any more than
three years at the very, very, very most — no question.
"There is a time when you have to think about time for yourself.
You know, my wife is getting older and I have to think about that.
"I think she deserves a bit of my time. The older you get, the more
guilty you feel about it. "What I would like to do in life is
travel to places I have never been to.
"I would love to go to the States and spend about three or four
months there. "I will still be involved with United in some shape
or form. I hope so because I have a good relationship. "There is no
chance of me ever being sacked. I think it will be my decision and
David Gill is happy with that."
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have resorted to more dirty tricks in
their bid to sign Cristiano Ronaldo (below) by claiming they are
negotiating with the Glazer family. The Spanish giants say they
have ignored Ferguson and chief executive Gill and contacted the
club's American owners directly.
But that has been denied out of hand by a spokesman for the
family, who said: "As Sir Alex and David Gill have already said,
Ronaldo is not for sale." In a further bizarre twist, Spanish
sports newspaper Marca claim Real have a club car ready and waiting
for wing wizard Ronaldo.
The top-of-the-range Audi has been pictured in a club car park
with a hand-written notice on the dashboard saying: ‘Deliver to
Cristiano Ronaldo'.