Bale is for REAL

Bale is the Real deal! Madrid move finally confirmed as Spanish giants announce £86m world-record signing of Spurs winger

• Madrid confirm Bale has joined - ending the big saga of the summer
• The fee is a world record £86m - beating the £80m Real paid for Ronaldo
• Wales winger Bale thanked Spurs for 'six very happy years' but admitted it was 'time to say goodbye'
• Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and boss Andre Villas-Boas wished Bale well

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The Gareth Bale transfer saga was finally concluded on Sunday night when he moved to Real Madrid for a world-record £86million. 

After negotiations that dragged on all summer, the Welshman has agreed a £256,000-a-week, six-year contract and will have a medical on Monday morning before being presented to the media. 

In a move designed to keep Cristiano Ronaldo - signed for £80m in 2009 - happy at the Bernabeu, Real are claiming Bale's fee is £78m. 

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He's here: Real Madrid's new recruit Gareth Bale poses with fans after arriving at Barajas Airport

On the move: Gareth Bale, out in London on Saturday, has finally completed his move to Real Madrid

Final shot: Bale is leaving Tottenham after featuring in just one pre-season friendly this campaign

NICE LITTLE EARNER

Gareth Bale has more than trebled his salary by agreeing an incredible deal worth £256,000 a week with Real Madrid. 

That works out at:
£13.312million a year
£36,471 a day
£1,520 an hour
£25.33 a minute

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas disclosed a deal had been reached minutes after seeing his side slip to a disappointing 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at bitter rivals Arsenal. 

Bale, who arrived in Madrid late on Sunday night, said: 'I would like to thank everyone at the club, the chairman, board, staff, coaches and players - and most of all the fantastic fans who I hope will understand this amazing career opportunity. 

'I am not sure there is ever a good time to leave a club where I felt settled and was playing the best football of my career to date. I know many players talk of their desire to join the club of their boyhood dreams but I can honestly say this is my dream come true. 

'I would not be at the level I am today were it not for Southampton and then Spurs standing by me during some of the tougher times. Tottenham will always be in my heart and I'm sure this will be a successful season for them. I am now looking forward to the next exciting chapter in my life.' 

Jumping for joy: Bale left White Hart Lane after scoring 55 goals in 203 matches for Spurs

He added on the club website: ''I have had six very happy years at Tottenham but it's the right time to say goodbye. We've had some special times together over the years and I've loved every minute of it. 

'I would like to thank everyone at the club, the chairman, board, staff, coaches and players – and most of all the fantastic fans who I hope will understand this amazing career opportunity.'

Bale has been omitted from Andre Villas-Boas's squad this season after signalling his intent to join Real Madrid and after weeks of negotiations, the Spanish giants confirmed they have got their man. 

Real erected a stage on the pitch ahead of the transfer last week, hoping to announce the star's arrival, but were made to wait as Spurs chairman Daniel Levy played hardball. Bale will be unveiled at midday UK time.

Villas-Boas: We move on from Gareth Bale

End of an era: Bale, who won the Player and Young Player of the Year last term, will leave Tottenham

Star man: But Andre Villas-Boas conceded defeat in his bid to keep Bale at White Hart Lane

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, known as one of the toughest negotiators in the game, was reluctant to lose his star man and played hardball right until the end.

But he sent bale on his way with his best wishes.

Levy said: 'We had no intention of selling Gareth. But such has been the attention from Real Madrid and so great is Gareth's desire to join them, that we have taken the view that the player will not be sufficiently committed to our campaign in the current season.

'We have, therefore, with great reluctance, agreed to this sale and do so in the knowledge that we have an exceptionally strong squad to which we have added no fewer than seven top internationals. More importantly, we have an immense team spirit and a dressing room that is hungry for success.

Waiting in the wings: Bale hasn't featured for Tottenham this season after signalling his desire to leave

Making the leap: Bale turned out sporadically for Spurs in pre-season because of injury

'We wish Gareth all the best in the future and he shall always be welcome at the Lane.'

Villas-Boas said: 'He is going to join Real Madrid so we wish him all the best. The player is an absolutely wonderful player.

'He has left us with some great memories from last season which every Tottenham fan cherishes, but he has moved on and we will move on as well.'

Bale joins a long list of illustrious players to have made big-money moves to the Bernabeu. Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have all been given the 'Galactico' moniker following their high-profile transfers to Real, but none of them have cost as much as Bale.

Big stage: Bale will join a host of world stars at Real Madrid, including Cristiano Ronaldo

All smiles: Bale will be managed by former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, who took over at Madrid this summer

Tottenham and Real have clashed several times during the transfer saga, which has brought the two clubs' partnership agreement into question.

First, Tottenham were unhappy with how several Real Madrid players spoke publicly about the possibility of Bale moving to the Bernabeu.

Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Isco were just three of the squad members to talk about the prospect of Bale becoming the latest star arrival, and manager Carlo Ancelotti also spoke openly about the player, much to Tottenham's annoyance.

The Spanish club then angered Levy even further by selling Bale replica shirts on their website.

Bale is certain to get a rapturous welcome, although Real fans hardly need another hero. 

Ronaldo made it 202 goals in 202 games during a 3-1 defeat of Athletic Bilbao, Luka Modric had his name chanted by all four sides of the ground and new boy Isco scored twice.

Off the peg: Madrid shirts with Bale's name and No 11 were available to buy before the deal was complete

BALE'S BEST SPURS MOMENTS

INTER MILAN 4 TOTTENHAM 3 - Champions League (October 20, 2010)

Spurs looked set to be humiliated when holders Inter raced into a 4-0 lead inside 35 minutes through goals from Javier Zanetti, a Samuel Eto'o penalty - after goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had been sent off - Dejan Stankovic and Eto'o again.

But Bale almost completed a sensational comeback single-handedly, scoring one of the goals of the season before netting twice in the closing seconds to burst onto the world stage.

TOTTENHAM 2 LYON 1 - Europa League (February 14, 2013)

Bale took a leaf from Cristiano Ronaldo's book with a 40-yard free-kick that flew over the wall and then dipped before beating Lyon goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre low to his right. And the Wales international secured a vital first-leg win with another piece of magic to score a second free-kick deep into the second half. WEST HAM 2 TOTTENHAM 3 - Barclays Premier League (February 25, 2013)

Having put Spurs ahead with a low, driven finish early in the game, Bale looked set to be on the losing side as the Hammers hit back to take the lead. But despite being up-ended as Spurs chased a win following an equaliser, he picked himself up before rifling in an unstoppable shot with no time left on the clock for West Ham to respond. TOTTENHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 1 - Barclays Premier League (February 9, 2013)

After manager Andre Villas-Boas had talked up the similarities between Bale and Ronaldo during the week, Bale lived up to the hype with a 25-yard free-kick to open the scoring for the Londoners. And he then sealed the win with a superb break-away goal that ended with him slotting the ball between Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul's legs. SWANSEA 1 TOTTENHAM 2 - Barclays Premier League (March 30, 2013)

Bale was described as "world class" by Villas-Boas and "exceptional" by opposite number Michael Laudrup after scoring one, setting up the other and then making a vital block in stoppage time to secure victory over Swansea.

With seven minutes on the clock he produced a delicate chip into the path of Jan Vertonghen who controlled before opening the scoring, and on 21 minutes made it 2-0 with a stunning strike with the outside of his left foot into the top corner. After Swansea had pulled one back, Bale came to the rescue in the dying moments by throwing his body in the way of Nathan Dyer's goal-bound shot.

GARETH BALE TIMELINE

1989: Born July 16 in Cardiff.

2005: Joins Southampton as a trainee.

2006: April 17 - Aged 16 years and 275 days, becomes second youngest footballer to play for Southampton in 2-0 Championship win against Millwall.

May - Makes Wales Under-21 debut against Cyprus. Quickly promoted to the senior squad for a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago, coming off the bench to become Wales' youngest full international at 16 years and 315 days.

July 16 - Signs first professional contract with Southampton on his 17th birthday.

August 6 - Scores first goal for Saints with free-kick on opening day of the season in a 2-2 draw at Derby.

September 5 - Makes first start for Wales in 2-0 defeat to Brazil.

October 7 - Becomes Wales' youngest goalscorer with a trademark free-kick in a 5-1 defeat to Slovakia.

2007: January - Bale's agent says he is happy to stay at Southampton despite Manchester United and Tottenham reportedly bidding £10million for the player. Both clubs admit their interest.

May 25 - Joins Tottenham.

August 26 - Makes his first-team debut for Tottenham in a 1-0 defeat at Manchester United. September 1 - Scores first Tottenham goal in away draw at Fulham.

September 15 - Scores in his first north London derby against Arsenal.

December 2 - Injury against Birmingham rules him out for the rest of the season.

2009: June - Undergoes knee surgery, ruling him out for the start of the 2009-10 Premier League campaign.

September 26 - Bale tastes victory as a Premier League player for the first time in 25 attempts in the 5-0 defeat of Burnley.

2010: January 26 - Secures first victory as a Premier League starter at the 23rd time of asking. April - Scores in successive games against Arsenal and Chelsea to help Tottenham finish in the Premier League's top four. Named player of the month.

May - Signs new four-year deal for Tottenham.

August 25 - Sets up all four goals as Tottenham beat Young Boys 4-0 in the second leg of their Champions League qualifying game to progress to the group stages.

October 20 - Scores a scintillating hat-trick against Inter Milan at the San Siro. Named Welsh player of the year by the FAW.

November 2 - Produces man-of-the-match display as Tottenham beat Inter 3-1.

2011: January 28 - Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp rules out possibility of selling Bale, amid interest from Inter.

March 19 - Bale signs new four-and-a-half-year deal with Spurs.

April 17 - Named Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year.

2012: January - Named in the UEFA team of the year. Also named as Premier League player of the month for the second time.

June 27 - Signs new four-year contract with Spurs.

June 30 - Suffers a recurrence of an old back and hip injury after pulling up while running, ending his hopes of competing in the Olympics.

September 11 - Scores the first of his 29 goals in the season - a stunning free-kick for Wales against Serbia.

October 20 - Pulls out of Tottenham's game against Chelsea just before kick-off so he can attend the birth of his first child, Alba Violet Bale.

2013: February 7 - Manager Andre Villas-Boas admits Tottenham are likely to lose Bale in the summer unless they qualify for the Champions League.

February 25 - Scores a contender for goal of the season at West Ham - a stoppage-time winner from 30 yards.

April 27 - Villas-Boas says he has been told by Tottenham that Bale will stay if Spurs finish in the top four.

April 28 - Becomes only the third player to be voted senior and young Player of the Year at the PFA Awards.

 

Crazy money

If Bale's worth nearly £100m, imagine what Pele, Best, Maradona and Co would cost! Here's my ultimate fantasy football team (see if you can match it)

Gareth Bale comes across as a proper young man. He has a sharp turn of pace and an eye for a goal.

He is also predominantly left-footed, a comparative rarity which adds to his transfer value.

But the best part of £100million?

Good luck to Gareth The Goal when he picks up his seven-figure percentage of Real Madrid’s extravagant desperation to compete with Barcelona’s capture of Brazilian prodigy Neymar.

You're not worth it: He is good but there's no way Gareth Bale could justify a near-£100m fee

He will need it to cope with the pressure of trying to justify himself as the world’s most expensive footballer in the cauldron of the Bernabeu.

Compared with the feeding frenzy coming in Spain, it was a picnic down White Hart Lane.

But £100m?

Is Bale worth that, even in today’s money-mad football world? Of course not. It would even be a stretch for Lionel Messi.

This is the total amount allowed by the Daily Mail’s Fantasy League for the compiling of an entire Premier League dream team.

Running away with it: Lionel Messi is currently the world's best player and would be worth around £225m

Legends: Great friends Pele and Bobby Moore would be in the team, as would Diego Maradona (right)

The Best: George would be in

No 1: Banks would be in goal

Master: Cruyff could turn it on

Which got me wondering what the ceiling would have to be for buying a team comprised of 10 of the greatest players of all time plus the one currently active maestro who has not cost a penny in the transfer market.

By the inflated valuation applied to Bale, what is Messi worth now? And what would Pele or  Maradona cost today? Or Best and Beckenbauer.

So take this for an all-time World XI, if you can afford it, in 3-3-1-3 formation.

Dream team: Here is Jeff Powell's ultimate Fantasy Football XI

Now I’m not good at maths but I make that a super-cool £2.6billion. 

But if you think you could pick a team to beat this one, on that mind-blowing budget, send us your line-up complete with the valuation of each player in the comments section.

To the selector of the team I consider to be the next best - to mine! - a bottle of champagne.

 

So under that know-nothing manger of theirs  Arsenal only won 3-0 away to Fenerbahce, in one of the most hostile environments to be found in the Champions League.

So Arsene Wenger should have been sacked after losing to Aston Villa on Saturday and all he’s done since then is go to flame-throwing Istanbul and guarantee – barring outbreaks of plague or pestilence – a load more millions to spend if he can find players better than those he already has.

What on earth is the matter with the man?

Up in arms: But Arsene Wenger led Arsenal to a 3-0 win in Istanbul despite being derided by Gooners

Why can’t he do what almost all the other Premier League bosses are doing and squander fortunes on unexceptional foreigners to look good in the eyes of panicking punters – or just for the hell of it?

Le Professeur may be one of the few sane people in a crazy game. So that must be why so many at The Emirates are trying to think of someone to replace him.

So how odd that they haven’t come with any names.

Surely no-one could do worse, since that Monsieur Wenger is such an idiot.

 

Good to see Jose Mourinho back in ranting mode on Wednesday night, even if his Chelsea team were the beneficiaries of two result twisting decisions in their favour by a referee ironically named Friend.  

Playing the luvvie is not his game and thank goodness it only lasted until the second match of his return to the Bridge. Blue in the face is his colour, not mellow yellow.

Blue in the face: Mourinho was back in full ranting mode on Wednesday

More importantly for Chelsea, treating Aston Villa’s justifiably miffed manager Paul Lambert to a tongue-lashing deflected some of the attention away from Branislav Ivanovic, who should have been sent off, and John Terry, whose hand-ball ought to have conceded a potentially equalising penalty.

It also camouflaged the cracks in an indifferent team performance.

Protecting his players is key to Mourinho’s man management and this was a clever example of that art. 

The Special One’s comeback season has barely started but the lads will be ready to die for him, all over again.

It’s all about Asam Laksa - Malaysia Kitchen Australia

It’s all about Asam Laksa - Malaysia Kitchen Australia

DAVID MOYES interview: I used to just want to get out of Old Trafford alive... but this is my team now, I'm in charge

He is less than a month into his tenure as Manchester United manager and already David Moyes is beginning to understand what it means to be in charge of the world’s most famous football club.

Having spent the last 13 days in Thailand, Australia and now Japan, Moyes has already found himself having to handle the ongoing issue surrounding Wayne Rooney while trying to land the first major transfer of his reign, Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas.

Here, in his first detailed interview with daily newspapers, Moyes takes time out to talk about the pressures of succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson, dealing with the club’s superstars players and how badly he wants to bring United their first trophy of his era.

 

David, the start to your Barclays Premier League season is not easy. How are you feeling about that?

It could map out our whole season, which is why we are trying to get ourselves right for the opening games. We have to play some of the better teams at the early stages, so we have to make sure we are in good form, but the same applies to them.

Do you have butterflies in your stomach?

Yeah, that comes with the excitement of the job, but it’s more to do with the magnitude of Manchester United and following arguably the greatest manager that football has ever known. You can’t see any manager thinking that would be an easy job, but in the same breath it is a great one because of what I have available and what Sir Alex has left.

I'm in charge: David Moyes (centre) gives his squad a rollicking in Bangkok at the weekend

My team: Moyes talks to his Manchester United players

At ease: David Moyes looks happy and relaxed in Tokyo and (below) tells his new Manchester United players what he expects of them

David Moyes adresses his squad

Maybe if I'm at United for 26 years, we'll end up having 'Moyesy time'

How long before it is ‘your’ team? Is it automatic or does it take six months or maybe a season? 

It is my team now. I have taken over, I’m in charge. As I have said, I will use the ex-manager as much as I can because of his knowledge, but it is my team now and I have to take responsibility for that.

Sir Alex said to the supporters after his last home game that it was important to get behind the new manager. How important was that? 

I have got to say it showed unbelievable class. Change can be difficult for people but importantly he gave me the confidence and hopefully from that the supporters will give me the opportunity to get started. It was good for the players, too.

Will it be a defining moment when people stop asking you about Sir Alex? Will that be a sign you’ve moved on? 

Yes, in a way. I don’t want to mention Sir Alex in every conversation I have but in the same breath I would hate to think in any way that I was disrespecting someone of his level. But I will always respect him, as will Manchester United.

Making his point: David Moyes is settling in as manager of Manchester United

Running the show: But can you spot Moyes among the players and staff

There has to come a time when Manchester United is primarily associated with David Moyes, though, doesn’t there? 

Yes, it has to be a new era. Whatever we say, my job now is to make my history. I’m going to follow someone who has made incredible history. I think about Matt Busby’s history and then Alex Ferguson’s history - they could do a film about it. I have to make sure now that my history and my time is something which the fans and people in the future talk about.

So it’s about toeing that line between being respectful and saying this is my time? 

Yes it is. It is difficult but I think Sir Alex knows that we’re here to follow good managers. But the one thing about it is he left me with the best team in England and essentially said: ‘Go on, take it on, build on it and try and make it better’.

Does it make the job easier in sense that there have been major changes at rivals too? 

They’re new managers coming into new clubs so things can change. I think the Premier League is going to be a little bit more unpredictable than it’s been in the past. I just hope the predictability about it is that Manchester United are beating everybody you expect them to beat.

How does it feel for you now that everyone wants to beat Manchester United? 

It’s going to be new to me and something I’m going to have to come to terms with. But I feel comfortable in my position, I feel as if I can be in the job. I’m not saying it’s all going to be right because I don’t think (there) is any manager who always gets it right. But I do feel that I’m in a position I think I can deal with.

A new era: David Moyes gives instruction to star striker Robin van Persie

 It'll be no different at Manchester United to how it was at Preston

Do you have to change your mind-set to address these kind of players? Players like Ryan Giggs etc...

A little bit because I’m looking at players who have been in an incredibly successful team over the years. I’ve got to make sure I learn from them. I don’t know it all.

Do you sense that they are judging you? 

I think every footballer who I’ve worked with judged the manager. They want to see if he can earn his stripes, they want to see if they can coach, if they can make decisions.

Do you actually manage more or less than you used to? 

Maybe a little bit less in many ways. I don’t need to shout as much any more, I’m not quite as intense as I was. But I actually think it’s because the level of player, the level of the standard, steps up and I’m feeling that here as well. There’s been a couple of things I’ve had to say here so far to correct things and the response is, like: ‘Yeah, OK, we’re on with that, we’ve got it done.’ That’s great.

You were 34 and were still playing at centre half when you took over at Preston 16 years ago. Was that as big a challenge as this in some ways? 

I’ve got to say I didn’t win many games at the start when I took over at Preston. But when I got the job I just worked and I tried to prepare the teams and it’s the winning which gets you a chance to be involved in the next game. Then win another game and that maybe gets you another month and if you keep going you might actually get a chance of being around the top. So it’ll be no different at Manchester United.

Man in charge: Moyes put his player through their paces in Japan

Why have you recruited Ryan and Phil Neville? 

You know that I did want to keep Rene Meulensteen and I wanted Paul Scholes. Paul Scholes, in time when he’s ready to come back, there will be a position for. I wanted to have something which was really involved with Manchester United. 

But I also needed it to be David Moyes’s era now so that meant me taking some of my own people. I couldn’t do it without the help of Ryan Giggs while Phil Neville had known a little bit at both clubs. But more importantly he probably knew how I worked at Everton. Phil and Ryan are young so it’s really important in this job that you also keep young open-minded thoughts around you because you don’t want to get too old in your ways.

You have a reputation for driving players hard in training and placing an emphasis on physical fitness. Will that be the same here? 

I think I’m going to drive, and I’m going to demand, the best out of players. I’m going to demand that they give me more, or as much as I can get from them.

You have been doing double sessions out here. That’s more than they are used to.

Yeah but I think if you asked them I think they would all say that’s good. They’ve enjoyed it. It’s nothing that I can’t do and that’s the way I judge it really. It’s nothing I couldn’t do.

Listen to me: Danny Welbeck is given guidance by his new manager

If we win the Community Shield, that'll be one of Sir Alex's trophies

Do you sense that the players have been invigorated by your arrival? 

I think sometimes when there is a change - and I heard some of the players saying it - you have to impress the new manager. You’ve got a chance...I have got to say I have been incredibly impressed about how the players have gone about their work, I really have. 

There’s not been a day when I’ve had people ‘throwing out’ [slacking off]. I think, if anything, they’re enjoying it and they’re asking for more in a way. And to go back to an earlier question, they could be testing me, to see if I’ve got the materials to do the job, because that’s what top footballers do.

Pictures emerged of you rollicking the players in training in Thailand. What was that about? 

I just wanted them to make sure they kept doing things right and there were a couple of things I wanted them to make sure they were on top of.

Does it matter to you when you win your first trophy? Does it matter which one it is?

It matters because it’s important I do that and get it put to bed. And it does matter what trophy it is because, if I’d won the Singha Cup in Bangkok it would have been very good, but you know it wouldn’t have counted.

Do you count the Community Shield, like some managers do? 

I would have thought that’s a trophy that, if Manchester United went on to win, that would be one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s, because he got the team there. I’m actually hoping to look at the other trophies, that’s my target.

A new generation: Moyes is excited to be taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson

Fergie's time is over: Sir Alex Ferguson waves goodbye at the end of his 26 years at Manchester United

Describe what it was like to bring a team to Old Trafford to play? And how you would like it to be for other managers to bring teams to play you there now...

You came to somewhere that was always full and you knew you were playing, certainly the biggest club in England and arguably the biggest club in the world. So from that point of view you knew that it was also a daunting challenge. Anybody who went there it was like: ‘Oh no, we’re going to Manchester United’.

What were the last 10 minutes there like as an opposing boss? You want that to continue under you?

I want it to continue that way. I remember going there as a manager. You want to get out of Old Trafford alive, that used to be our saying, you know.

You clearly need that fear factor to continue...

We do. I think the players do that, the crowd, the stadium.

We have had ‘Fergie time’ at the end of games for years. Will we get ‘Moyesy time’ now? 

Maybe if I’m at Manchester United for 26 years I’ll be able to control it as much as Sir Alex! But at the moment I still see myself as one of the young coaches and young managers in the Premier League. I don’t see myself as one of the old ones. So I think I’ve got a few more years before I get that level of control.

New staff: Moyes (right), with goalkeeping coach Chris Woods (left), first-team coach Phil Neville (second left) and assistant manager Steve Round in Sydney

Hired help: Phil Neville (left) and Ryan Giggs are both part of Moyes's coaching set-up

Being manager of Manchester United has to come with an element of fear

What’s the one thing someone said to you since taking the job, that’s stuck with you? 

Someone said: 'You’ll do it easy'. But I’m not saying who it was. I don’t take that as a given, because I know it’s going to be really hard at Manchester United. I know that.

Do you want to carve your own dynasty as a Scottish Man United boss after Busby, Ferguson etc? 

I’d really like that. I think there has been a succession of Scottish managers - Bill Shankly, Jock Stein, Sir Matt, George Graham - you could go on and on, I’ve probably missed a few out. There have been some really good Scottish managers at the highest level, so if I could in some way be tagged on to the end of that list, because I’d been successful at Manchester United, then I’d be delighted.

Is there extra pressure because of that great lineage of Scottish managers? 

Not pressure but I think they’re actually saying: ‘We’re passing the baton on to you, it’s for you take the baton up and be successful’. I think that’s the way it’s been.

Despite the backing of Sir Alex, is there any element of fear of failure? 

There’s not that, but I tell you, there’s not one person who would turn around and say: ‘Taking over Manchester United, you think you can walk in there and breeze in and think you can do it easily’. Of course not. There has to be an element of fear that comes with managing a club like Manchester United. It keeps you working, it keeps you focused and helps you try not to take your eye off the ball.

Star attraction: Moyes was upstaged in his press conference in Yokohama by Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa

Have you looked back through the history of the club in detail? 

I will need to get the history books on Manchester United because I wouldn’t be the first person to be able to turn around and tell you every cup final or every game we’ve been involved in or all the players. I couldn’t do that. 

But I want to try to get myself as knowledgeable as I can. Looking at the history of the club, of what’s happened, the players, it’s incredible. So I’m really looking forward to getting myself up to speed with that. But hopefully 26 years might give me the chance to get up to speed.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2373467/David-Moyes-interview-On-pressure-succeeding-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-Moyesy-time-shouting-Manchester-United-players-Old-Trafford-fear-factor.html#ixzz2ZoyHEWPI
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Fabregas for United?

United close in on Fabregas as vice-chair Woodward leaves pre-season tour to push through move for former Gunner

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has left the club's pre-season tour of Australia to push through a move for Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

United remain confident of securing the services of Fabregas despite Barca's insistence he wants to remain at the Nou Camp and Arsenal having a £25million first refusal on their former captain.

Senior figures within the Barclays Premier League champions' camp are of the opinion Fabregas wishes to join them, although it may take more than the £26m they bid for him earlier this week.

Target: Manchester United want to add former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas to their midfield

Fabregas played for Arsenal between 2003 and 2011 but has a long-running admiration of the Old Trafford club.

Speaking to a Sunday newspaper ahead of a Champions League semi-final between Arsenal and United in 2009, Fabregas admitted: 'I'm a massive Man United fan. I have no problem saying United are one of the best clubs in the world – even though I want to beat them. They are the best side in the world at the moment – a top, top side and we respect them a lot.'

Woodward's departure comes on the same day United revealed they had turned down a bid from Chelsea for striker Wayne Rooney - a player boss David Moyes has maintained is not for sale.

Bold move: Chelsea have made a bid for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney

Sportsmail understands the initial offer on Tuesday was £10m cash plus David Luiz or Juan Mata but Chelsea deny involving the two players in their bid.

The London club then returned with a second offer of £22m outright - but that was also rejected by United, who told their Premier League rivals not come back with another offer.

In addition, Everton duo Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini have been strongly linked with moves to join their old boss Moyes.

Leaving on a jet plane: Ed Woodward (second right) is no longer in Australia as United try to land Fabregas

There is an acknowledgement at United that the massive shake up during the summer, with the departures of both manager Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill have left the club with a bit of catching up to do in the transfer market.

Thus far, the only signing of the summer has been Uruguay Under 20 defender Guillermo Varela, who has not even reported for duty yet.

Thiago Alcantara and Kevin Strootman, who were both strongly linked with United, have opted to join Bayern Munich and Roma respectively, leaving Moyes still needing to sign the additional midfielders he believes are required.