NEW Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz insisted last night that there was no friction between David Beckham and Alex Ferguson at his former club Manchester United.

THE Real Madrid and David Beckham show hit Japan yesterday, greeted by 3,000 fans at the airport with a further 45,000 turning up for a training session at the Tokyo Dome.

IF there are two traits which run right through the heart of Manchester United, they are an incredible determination and self-belief.

THE DOOR has been firmly slammed shut on Wayne Rooney's 'dream' move to Manchester United for 12 months at least - and not even the likely departures of Nicky Butt and Diego Forlan will resurrect it.

THE FAI yesterday rushed to dismiss any suggestion that plans for the re-development of Lansdowne Road had caused any strain on their relationship with the owners of the stadium, the IRFU.

Wolves 1 West Ham 3

PLAYERS from the Premiership featured strongly in the inaugural MasterCard FIFPro World XI Player Awards, announced in London.

LOUIS SAHA’S dream of joining Manchester United may have been extinguished by the defiance of Fulham boss Chris Coleman, but in Sean Davis the Frenchman has the perfect example of how to overcome his disappointment.

IT WAS hardly surprising that Claudio Ranieri and Harry Redknapp were in total agreement over the “fantastic” contribution of Frank Lampard to Chelsea’s Premiership title challenge.

AS Manchester United’s profits soared to record levels yesterday, the company’s biggest shareholders, Irish duo JP McManus and John Magnier, have seen the value of their holding in the club soar by 37.9% in three months to €38.42m.

ALEX FERGUSON has pencilled Patrice Evra in for his Manchester United debut in Wednesday’s Carling Cup semi-final at Blackburn.

RONALDINHO has decided he wants to leave Paris St Germain and join Manchester United, and is now waiting for the clubs to agree a deal.

AS the year 2005 looms, shrouded with uncertainty, David Beckham stands at a crossroads in his career.

Simon Lewis highlights five new foreigners who are expected to shine this season.

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Alex Ferguson is ready to call on Gabriel Heinze to help muscle Chelsea out of the Premiership title.

West Ham 0 Arsenal 0

DAVID BECKHAM last night handed Sven-Goran Eriksson some welcome relief from his injury crisis ahead of England’s Euro 2004 qualifier in Macedonia.

MANCHESTER UTD and Rangers will finally have an opportunity to claim the most over-hyped title in soccer — the unofficial award for best club in Britain.

MANAGER Brian Kerr insisted yesterday that Roy Keane’s return was not an occasion of personal satisfaction for him but welcomed the availability of a player he described as ‘one of Ireland’s greatest’.