THE man who reconnected Matt Busby with Old Trafford following the Munich air crash in 1958 took centre stage at Manchester United yesterday afternoon.

SUNDERLAND manager Steve Bruce believes John O’Shea’s “staggering” versatility will be a huge asset to Sunderland this season.

REAL MADRID and Manchester United last night finalised an agreement for the £80million (€94m) transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to the Spanish club.

MILLIONAIRE footballer Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen are being sued for £4.3 million (€4.9m) after being “exploited” by his agent, a court heard yesterday.

MARTIN O’NEILL believes Chelsea cannot afford to lose another game this season if they are to retain any hope of lifting the Premier League title.

NICOLAS ANELKA admits Wayne Rooney would be ‘welcome’ at Chelsea while his Blues team-mate Salomon Kalou voiced his hope the Manchester United striker will stay in the Premier League.

LEEDS striker Robert Snodgrass says he and his team-mates will not be overawed when they face fierce rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup at Old Trafford tomorrow.

PETER SCHMEICHEL has paid tribute to Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson as he prepares to retire from football.

FORMER Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards has been quizzed by police over an alleged Peeping Tom incident in a ladies’ toilet.

HE’S played 505 games for Manchester United, scoring 33 goals. He’s won the Premiership six times, the FA Cup three times, the European Champions League, the European Cup Winner’s Cup, the European Super Cup and the League Cup.

UCD’s Gary Dicker and Richard Keogh of Stoke City can expect a baptism of fire as they make their youth international debuts for the Republic of Ireland against Italy in Corato this afternoon (KO 1.30pm Irish time).

JOE KINNEAR is convinced that Roy Keane’s long-term future lies as manager of Manchester United or the Republic of Ireland.

LIVERPOOL and Manchester United have formally declared their opposition to UEFA president Michel Platini’s plans for domestic cup winners to qualify for the Champions League.

MANCHESTER UNITED defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed he was “desperate” to stay at Old Trafford after he signed a new five-year deal to remain at the club.

THIERRY HENRY knows a thing or two about what it takes to earn the respect of your fellow pros to be crowned PFA Player of the Year — and reckons Paul Scholes has the game to top everyone this season.

MANCHESTER United chief executive David Gill has conceded the club are lightweights in the transfer market compared with Premiership rivals Chelsea.

REAL MADRID president Florentino Perez says the Primera Liga giants will make €138m from marketing this year and will outstrip Manchester United as the most valuable brand label in world sport.

US TYCOON Malcolm Glazer said yesterday he had raised his stake in Manchester United to over 75%, finally seizing full control of the soccer giants he has battled to acquire for more than two years.

A DEVOTED husband bought one of the last Manchester United jerseys worn by Roy Keane for €4,000 at a church auction yesterday - as a surprise Christmas present for his wife.

Shrewsbury midfielder and Manchester United fan Ian Black insists United’s players have failed to justify their huge pay packets.