Chevrolet's United Deal Clicks into Gear

Manchester United have confirmed a five-year partnership with US car giant Chevrolet to become the club's official automotive partner.

United officials flew into Shanghai on Wednesday and will unveil the deal later on Thursday. Although no figure is being placed on the partnership it is reported the Red Devils have secured a significant increase on their previous deal with Audi, which has now expired.

Despite losing their status as Premier League champions to Manchester City and missing out on the signing of Lille playmaker Eden Hazard to Chelsea, United believe they remain at the forefront of the world game.

And, after announcing earlier this week that they have 659 million fans worldwide, the club are keen to maintain their commercial power, especially as media revenues will be affected in the Champions League.

This season United were knocked out in the group stages for only the second time, whilst next campaign, their percentage of the English 'pot' will be reduced due to a combination of City's title win and Chelsea's Champions League success.

"With 659 million United fans and followers around the world, the commitment that Chevrolet is making to football and its plans to bring these fans closer to our club is very exciting for us," United commercial director Richard Arnold said.

"This is also the first time we have teamed up with a US automotive partner and with the growing popularity of the club and English football in America, we are hoping the relationship will allow us to further expand our fan base in the country."

Leverkusen Rule out Berbatov Move

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov's future remains up in the air after his former club Bayer Leverkusen ruled out the possibility of signing him.

Earlier this month, Berbatov, 31, said his time at Old Trafford was "running out" and that he no longer felt valued at the club he left Tottenham for in 2008.

But Leverkusen - where the Bulgarian spent five seasons before switching to London - say they would not be able to meet United's asking price.

The club's chief executive, Wolfgang Holzhauer, told the Rheinische Post: "We are looking to find a striker, one that works well alongside Stefan Kiessling.

"However, the return of Berbatov is not an option for us. We are still on good terms with him, but he would only be an option if he was available on a free transfer."

United Confirm Scholes Contract

Manchester United have confirmed Paul Scholes has signed a one-year contract extension that keeps the midfielder at Old Trafford until the end of the 2012-13 season.

Scholes initially retired last summer but was persuaded to return to the club in January by manager Sir Alex Ferguson, as the 37-year-old went on to provide a stabilising influence in the United midfield as they narrowly missed out on the Premier League title.

Ferguson confirmed earlier in the month that the experienced midfielder had agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension, and that deal has now been formally completed - while goalkeeper Ben Amos has also agreed a new three-year deal to remain at Old Trafford.

"I've spoken to him and he's staying," Ferguson said of Scholes two weeks ago. "I'm delighted. He knew he'd made a mistake.

"He now realises that if he plays 25 or 30 games next season, they'll be of real quality. We know our player very well. We've had him since he was a kid and we know how to use him."

Utd: Kagawa Deal not About Shirts

Manchester United commercial director Richard Arnold insists the club are not looking to sign Japan playmaker Shinji Kagawa simply to sell shirts.

Kagawa is reportedly close to moving from Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund to Old Trafford on a €15 million transfer, which could rise to €22 million with add-ons. Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke fuelled speculation further on Tuesday evening, telling Derwesten: "Both sides want to conclude the deal."

Meanwhile, United's South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung may exit the club this summer, sparking talk the club are looking to the sign Kagawa to boost brand recognition throughout Asia. Arnold, though, believes United's individual players do not drive the club's off-field profitability.

"We don't sign players to sell shirts." Arnold said. "We are reliant on 25 players and they are all massive stars. We have 25 George Clooneys.

"When you look at the success we've seen in that part of the world [Asia], it isn't down to any one player or person. Of course, Ji is a fantastic player, was captain of the South Korea team and continues to be a key part of our squad.

"But for Manchester United, it's more than any one player. It was more than George Best, it was more than Bryan Robson, it was more than David Beckham, it was more than Cantona, than Park.

"Ji is very popular in Korea, just as Javier Hernandez is hugely popular in Mexico, but Paul Scholes has his own Chinese character. These are huge stars and the big stars are the big stars in every country. Our games are shown 1.1 billion homes across the globe and you think 'which film does that 60 times a year?'

"Be it George Clooney or Brad Pitt, what is there where that is shown? There just isn't anything like it."

Baines Ignoring United Speculation

Everton defender Leighton Baines is refusing to be distracted by rumours linking him with Manchester United and insists he is concentrating only on representing England at Euro 2012.

Baines, 27, is currently preparing for the European Championship, where his role will likely be as back-up to Ashley Cole. But there is talk that at club level he could be set to replace Patrice Evra as Sir Alex Ferguson's first-choice left-back after enjoying another superb campaign with Everton.

However, while Baines admitted that being linked with a move to Old Trafford was "flattering", he stressed that he is happy with life at the Toffees and pledged not to lose focus on his immediate future - with England in Poland and Ukraine.

"The United link is flattering," Baines said. "There is no harm in people talking about it because it is a great club. But I'm at a great club as well, a club that I love.

"The focus now is all on the tournament. There's not much time to let other things seep in. It's about getting your head on this job for the next six weeks and trying to do the best you can.

"Would it be hard to turn United down? I'm not letting my focus shift to that while I am in camp. I'm focused on what I'm doing at the moment.

"Would it be hard to leave Everton? Yes, obviously. You know what it means. I've been there for five years myself but also know first-hand what it means to a lot of people so, yes it would be.''

Baines is now relishing the prospect of his first senior tournament with his country even though he recognises the size of his task to replace Ashley Cole in the side.

"To go to any tournament is great. Hopefully the disappointment of missing out last time is wiped away a bit for me. I was a bit of a late runner and only came into the squad a couple of months before so it was a strange situation.

"Six months before I was nowhere near, was never in the squad, and then you make the 30 and have a chance. You get your hopes up and then you miss out and have the disappointment.

"I think this time I've been involved in pretty much all the squads leading up to it. It was just nice to make the final cut."

Man Utd Close on Kagawa Deal

Manchester United are closing in on the €15 million signing of Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa, according to reports in Germany.

Kagawa, 23, has been linked with United for some time and it appears the deal may be close to coming to fruition, with Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc stating "some details are still to be confirmed".

Kicker suggests that the two sides are close to agreeing an initial €15 million fee, potentially rising to €22 million with add-ons.

Kagawa recently confirmed that he has met with Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson over a move and, amid talk of other suitors, it appears that United are leading the chase for the playmaker.

Formerly of Cerezo Osaka, Kagawa moved to Dortmund in 2010 and helped inspire the Westfalenstadion side to Bundesliga titles in both seasons at the club, as well as the 2011-12 DFB Pokal trophy.

Berbatov Open to PSG Move

Dimitar Berbatov's agent has invited Paris Saint Germain to firm up their interest in the Manchester United forward.

Berbatov is likely to move on from Old Trafford this summer, after slipping down the pecking order a season after scooping the Premier League's golden boot.

Big spending PSG were linked with Berbatov in January and although the trail has gone cold in recent months, the Bulgarian would appear open to the prospect of a move to the French capital.

"In the press, there are many speculations regarding Dimitar," Berbatov's agent Emil Danchev told RMC. "But the truth is, that PSG's project can really interest him because he wants to play the Champions League next year.

"Plus, there has never been a Bulgarian player at PSG, so it could be good."

Hazard Weighing up Options

Lille star Eden Hazard has said he will make a decision over his next move based on his prospective playing time and on-field position.

Hazard, 21, is currently considering offers from Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea and his agent has said he plans to announce his next move before Belgium's friendly game with England at Wembley on June 2.

Reports in France had claimed that he had agreed a five-year contract with United, but he maintains that he is still weighing up his options.

"I do not know when I'll make a decision about my future club," he said in HLN. "It will be Manchester City, Manchester United or Chelsea. My decision will depend on my position and how much playing time I will get.

"Not everyone can say that they have a choice between three top clubs."

Hazard also said he was enjoying his playmaker role for the Belgian national team. "I'm happy that I'm playing for the Red Devils [Belgium] in my best position, as a true No. 10," he said.

Whelan: One More Year for Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson will step down as Manchester United manager at the end of the 2012-13 season, according to Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan.

Ferguson, 70, has been at the United helm since 1986, leading the club to incredible success during his tenure which has included 12 Premier League titles.

The Scot has toyed with the idea of calling time on his coaching days, announcing plans to do so at the end of the 2001-02 campaign, but then decided to stay on as Red Devils manager. Although in December 2011 he did set a timeframe when he expressed his hope that he will be in charge at Old Trafford for three more years.

Whelan, however, believes his close friend will step down at the conclusion of the 2012-13 season, telling ESPN: "After next season, Sir Alex will call it a day. The pressure is telling, especially when you are at the top for so long.

"The older you get the harder it is to cope with all that pressure, and eventually it will affect you. Sir Alex is resilient and I know he will want to carry on until he drops, and I respect what he has achieved as everyone does.

"In fact, I would say he is the best manager that there has ever been, and if and when he does pack it in, he will be an enormous loss to the game, that's for sure.

"The way he has had such unparalleled success, the way he knows how to choose the right players and then get even more out of them, that makes him the best manager ever, the best we have ever seen.

"I am sure his intention was to carry on for two or three, maybe even more years, but he has had a little scare in the last week or so and that tells me he will think very hard, and realise there is no point trying to carry on for another five years and take the risk."

Cleverley Bemoans 'Nightmare' Season

Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley says there were moments this season that he felt like "the unluckiest footballer in the world" but he is determined to put his injury woes behind him.

Cleverley, 22, hit the ground running after making his Premier League debut for United last August and was instrumental in the Red Devils' impressive start to the campaign.

His influential displays in midfield had many tipping him to become a long-term replacement for the then-retired Paul Scholes, but a series of injuries hampered his progress and he did not start a single league game after October.

However, the England Under-21 international believes he now values his career more than ever and is hoping the fitness problems that plagued his season are now a thing of the past.

"It has been a nightmare at times but I am only 22 and have around 15 years ahead of me yet. I just hope I have got it all over and done with now,'' he told the Manchester Evening News. "There were times during the season when I thought I was the unluckiest footballer in the world.

"From a great start it became the hardest season of my life but it has made me mentally stronger. I've always had to cope with disappointments in my career. I had two injuries over the years (undergoing shoulder surgery and having a knee problem in loan spells at Leicester and Watford respectively) but I got through them.

"This was the hardest yet. If you had said to me after the Everton game in October that I wouldn't start another Premier League game in the season I would have been massively gutted. But that turned out to be the case and it was tough to come to terms with.

"There is nothing more exciting in life than to be playing for Manchester United. To have that taken away is very hard to deal with. I don't feel I am owed anything. I've had some bad luck and now I have just got to get on with it.''

Evra Hoping for One Last Twist

Manchester United skipper Patrice Evra believes the key to the Premier League title will be for the Red Devils to hit the front quickly at Sunderland.

United head to the Stadium of Light in the uncomfortable position of knowing that even if they win, it will mean nothing unless QPR ensure their own top-flight survival by nicking a point off Manchester City.

It looks like a hopeless cause given QPR have an abysmal record away from home, whilst City have only dropped two points at the Etihad Stadium this term and on their last outing secured a deserved triumph over the Red Devils.

Yet Evra accepts United cannot just abandon all hope. And he feels if his side can get their noses in front, and secure the league leadership on a very temporary basis as City are still trying to break the deadlock, it may prove to be the start of a glorious day.

"We cannot think about what Manchester City are doing,'' said Evra. "We just have to make sure we win. The Sunderland game isn't easy but if we score first then maybe the City fans in the stadium will start to get nervous.

"When you are nervous then you can rush things and you don't do things as well as you'd like.''

As Evra acknowledges, it is a long shot. But straw clutching is the only sport United have available to them now. "You have to believe,'' he said.

And, according to Evra, if is all goes wrong, Sir Alex Ferguson is the one who will feel it the most.

"It hurts the manager a lot when we lose a game, more than it used to,'' said the France defender. "That shows you the character and the personality he has to always win. If we don't win the league it will hurt a lot of people, but the first person it will hurt will be the manager.''

Evra is vowing that United will recover and challenge for major honours again next term.

"We always bounce back,'' he said. "I trust everyone working for this club and I would never turn my back on Manchester United. You have to have belief. But maybe, if we don't win, everyone - including myself - will say that I have to do much better if we want to win the league again.

"So we will try and rebuild something that's stronger and try and win every competition next season. That's the United way - every year we start the season wanting to win every trophy. We need to make sure that next year we give everything to do that.''

Evans Set for Surgery in Summer

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Manchester United defender Jonny Evans will miss the Olympic Games this summer due to an ankle operation.

Evans, 24, suffered the injury against Everton last month and Ferguson has now confirmed that the Northern Irishman requires surgery.

"Jonny is not available, he's getting an operation in the summer so he is out anyway,'' the Scot told MUTV.

Evans had been one of the players Ferguson had informed the Football Association could not be selected for Olympic duty.

Indeed, United have taken a hard-line stance on all their eligible over-age players, with the exception of Ryan Giggs, who has indicated a willingness to be involved.

"It has come out as criticism. I don't understand that,'' Ferguson said of his Olympic stance. "The older players don't want to be involved. In the Olympics you play something a game every four days. Rio Ferdinand couldn't do that anyway.

"Ryan wants to play. I am happy with that. He is looking forward to it. Whether he plays three games in seven days is another matter - that is not my decision. But he does want to play because he has always missed out on the big tournaments with Wales.''

It would not be too far of the mark to expect Ferguson has had a slightly harder task persuading Javier Hernandez not to play for Mexico. However, after successive tournaments - World Cup and Gold Cup - during the summer, the United boss feels it is time the striker had a break.

"Mexico have five games in the summer. After you have played a full season in England, five more games is a big task. We are trying to cut that down a bit," Ferguson added.

"Mexico is a very patriotic country and all their players are patriotic. Javier wants to play. But we want him to get some proper rest.''

Smalling Ruled out of Euro 2012

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has been ruled out of Euro 2012 with a groin injury.

The problem was sustained during last week's Premier League game against Swansea City and is worse than first feared. Sir Alex Ferguson had said he has "a bit of a spasm in his groin" and would be fit for the crunch game with Sunderland on Sunday. Now it appears the injury requires surgery.

"Chris has suffered a bad injury," Ferguson said. "It is a groin muscle injury and he will miss the European Championships. We are assessing what to do at the moment but it is a bad injury."

Manchester United are also set to be without Jonny Evans, who is still to recover from an injury suffered in training. Evans was forced to pull out from a testimonial game for the former United player Harry Gregg, scheduled for Belfast next week.

Ferguson confirmed Phil Jones is set to replace Smalling for the game at the Stadium of Light.

Smalling's absence is likely to cause problems for Roy Hodgson, who currently has defensive dilemma over whether to take at-loggerheads duo John Terry and Rio Ferdinand to the tournament.

Fergie Eyes Spark of Inspiration

Sir Alex Ferguson is banking on Mark Hughes coming back to haunt Manchester City on the final day of the Premier League season.

City lead Ferguson's Manchester United on goal difference with one game to play and are long odds-on to take the title as they face Queens Park Rangers on the final day.

The hope for United, who meet Sunderland in their final game, is that QPR are spurred on by their own battle against relegation and are inspired by Hughes who was axed by City in acrimonious circumstances.

"QPR need a point and they're fighting for survival," Ferguson said. "The whole future of the club could be resting on the game and I only wish Sparky was playing.

"But Mark knows his job all right. He was sacked by City in a very unethical way and he'll remember that."

Ferguson has a passion for horse racing and is hoping for a dramatic moment similar to the 1956 Grand National when Devon Loch fell just yards from the line with the race in the bag.

"There could be a Devon Loch. You never know," said Ferguson. "Stranger things have happened in this game of football.

"They're red-hot favourites but we've won the title on three occasions on the last day and we don't mind doing it again."

Fletcher May Feature in Pre-Season

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Darren Fletcher remains on the comeback trail despite midweek rumours that he was about to announce his retirement.

Speculation surfaced in the aftermath of United's defeat at Manchester City on Monday that the Scotland skipper had lost his battle against a chronic bowel condition, which forced him to take a break from the game in December.

Club sources quickly rejected that notion, which Ferguson has now backed up. It is still hoped Fletcher will play some part in United's pre-season programme.

However, as Ferguson acknowledged, an accurate assessment of Fletcher's condition is not easy because the Scotland captain is still being treated by his own medical people.

"We're hoping he will start pre-season training," Ferguson said. "He is on the recovery road at the moment in the sense of some work he is doing, but we can't assess it because we don't know enough about it.

"Darren's medical people are dealing with it and our doctor has a good idea of the situation but at the moment the boy is doing his best to come back."

Keane: Title Loss Good for United

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane believes it would be a blessing in disguise if the Red Devils lost the Premier League to rivals Manchester City.

The champions lost ground in the title race as a 1-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Monday saw City move top of the Premier League on goal difference.

Keane, who has expressed his concern that his former side are no longer winning the big games, believes failure to defend their league title could prompt a summer spending spree at Old Trafford.

"Maybe if they lose the league it won't be a bad thing," Keane said. "They may say, 'listen, we may have to reinvest again'. They said that last year when they lost to Barcelona and they went out and spent £50 million on [David] De Gea, [Phil] Jones and [Ashley] Young and these are all good players.

"But sometimes you need that big hitter to come in. I have only seen United live four or five times this year - City the other night, in Basel and in Benfica and I have not seen them win yet. They lost at Liverpool in the FA Cup as well.

"You always remember the great sign of United that I played for and watched was that they won a lot of big games. They just seem to be on the losing side of these tight games at the moment. The other night [against City], you were waiting for them to have a late onslaught. It never came."

Keane, who angered Ferguson with his criticism of United in the wake of their Champions League exit to Basel, admits he is unlikely to reconcile his differences with his former manager. "I wouldn't have thought so, no," he said. "He's a busy man and I'm fairly busy."

Keane has refused to back down over his comments regarding the likes of Jones, Chris Smalling and Young.

"To be honest, I don't think it was criticism, Keane said. "I just thought the young players needed to buck up their ideas. The boy Jones was speaking before the game saying 'I've nothing to prove', but my attitude was, every time you walk out on a football pitch, you've something to prove."

Jones: City Haven't Won Title Yet May 4, 2012

Phil Jones has warned Manchester City to take their foot of the gas at their peril, the Manchester United defender insisting there will be "a few more" twists and turns in the race for the title.

United relinquished top spot in the Premier League on Monday after losing to rivals City at the Etihad Stadium, and now trail their neighbours on goal difference.

However, with two games to go, Jones says nothing has been decided and believes there is more drama to unfold before the destination of the championship is known.

"There have obviously been a lot of questions raised and rightly so," he said. "We didn't play to our best on Monday, which was disappointing. But make no mistake about it, we are still there.

"We are on level points with them. Only goal difference separates us at the moment and we have seen already this season there have been so many twists and turns. Don't be surprised if you see a few more."

United were eight points clear with six games to go, but one victory in their last four games has seen them knocked off their perch. Despite recent disappointments, Jones says United have dusted themselves down and are ready to come again.

"The disappointment turned to positivity very quickly," the 20-year-old said. "Obviously on Tuesday the lads were gutted and massively disappointed. But we have moved on quickly, pushed it to one side and put it right in training. There are still a lot of bubbly characters about. There is no point dwelling on it. It has happened. It has gone. We move on from it and are looking forward to the game at the weekend."

While United host Swansea on Sunday, rivals City face a far more tricky assignment away to Newcastle the same day. And Jones is well aware of what lies ahead for City, after United could only secure a single point from their two meetings with the Magpies this season.

"Newcastle are a terrific team with some fantastic individuals," he said." [Papiss] Cisse's two goals the other night [against Chelsea] were incredible, so let's hope they can do us a favour.

"We have to concentrate on what we can do. We have to win the two games, take six points and see where that takes us. I am sure what is happening at Newcastle will be in the back of everyone's minds but there is no point sitting there watching their game. I don't think it will be on in the dressing room because we have to prepare properly."

While City face the prospect of a difficult encounter, according to Roberto Mancini United will stroll through their clash with Swansea at Old Trafford - not that Jones concurs.

"I don't know about it being easy," Jones added. "If he [Mancini] looks at the games, none of them are easy in the Premier League. We have seen that so often this season. There have been so many surprises and Swansea are one of them."

Agent Dismisses Vidic Speculation

Nemanja Vidic's agent has dismissed rumours that the Manchester United defender is on his way to Juventus.

Vidic has been sidelined shnce damaging his cruciate ligaments in December but remains on course to be fit for the start of next season.

However, with the likes of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones featuring in his absence, Sir Alex Ferguson recently warned the Serbian not to expect to walk straight back into the team.

Reports in Italy have linked the United skipper with a move to Serie A but Vidic's agent, Silvano Martina, insists such claims are unfounded.

Asked about a move to Italy, Martina told tuttomercatoweb: "You have to consider that he has a non-EU passport, and that would make it difficult for him to arrive in Serie A. I can assure you that I have never spoken with Juventus about Nemanja."

Yanga-Mbiwa Dreaming of England

Montpellier captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa has iterated his desire to move to the Premier League and says playing for Manchester United would be a dream.

Yanga-Mbiwa, 22, is out of contract in 2013 and is reported to be available for around £7 million.

In November last year, the defender had revealed he was learning English and told France Football: "People live for football in England, and that is what I want to experience. I'll see what offers I get, but English football is incredible. There is more physical contact than in France, but I like that - it suits my style of play."

He has now talked up the possibility of a move to Old Trafford but suggested he would also welcome a move to Arsenal.

"Playing for Manchester United would give great satisfaction and it would mean a dream could become a reality," he told Canal Plus. "Arsenal too are a big team."