Utd spend big on star midfielders
MANCHESTER: Sporting Lisbon striker Nani is set to sign for Manchester United announced the English Premiership champions on Wednesday.
United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz and executive director David Gill met the 21-year-old Cap Verde born-star's agent Jorge Mendes in Lisbon early on Wednesday.
While Sporting Lisbon and Nani refused to comment United later released a statement on its website saying they had agreed terms with both him and FC Porto's 19-year-old Brazilian Anderson.
"Terms are agreed with both players and an announcement will take place once a medical and other procedures are done," said a statement on the club website.
Nani - who has scored once in five international appearances for Portugal - is likely to cost 20 million euros due to a buy out clause in his contract.
Anderson - who joined Porto from Gremio in 2005 - is in Brazil's Copa America squad, though, not in the one selected for today's friendly with England.
Sporting had made it clear that they would prefer Nani - who has been with them since 2005 - stay.
"Sporting will not confirm the meeting took place," said club spokesman Salema Garcao.
"All we will say is that we would like Nani to stay. Of course if a club is interested, it will have to pay the sum of the buy out clause."
United yesterday also confirmed the long-awaited transfer of England midfielder Owen Hargreaves. The Canadian-born Bayern Munich player will arrive on July 1 for a fee believed to be 25m euros ($33.75 million).
Agencies
(China Daily 06/01/2007 page23)
