Manchester United have announced that Michael Owen has not been offered a new contract and will leave the club this summer.
The former England international, 32, made just three starts in all competitions during the 2011-12 season, scoring three goals in the Carling Cup.
Owen wrote on Twitter on Thursday morning:
“The manager informed me after our testimonial match on Tuesday that the club would not be offering me a new contract.
“I have loved every minute of the three years I have spent at such a fantastic club.
Manchester United released their third-quarter financial results and they do not make good reading for United fans as profit fell 8.5% due to the early Champions League exit. The full impact of not going deep into the Champions League this season and finishing second in the league, instead of winning it, will show up in the Q4 results.
From the official report:
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization declined to 20.4 million pounds in the three months ended March 31, compared with EBITDA of 22.3 million pounds in the year-earlier period, MU Finance Plc said today in a preliminary results statement.
According to media reports Manchester United have pulled out of a move for Wigan midfielder Mohamed Diame due to concerns over his heart condition.
Wigan became aware of the problem when Diame signed for £3million in 2009 and have always kept a defibrillator close to the touchline.
United are keen to sign a powerful central midfielder but did not want to take a risk on Diame.
The Senegal international, 24, is out of contract this summer and is attracting interest from Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa.
Ryan Giggs says he would relish playing for Team GB if selected for the London Olympics.
The 2012 Olympics mark the first time since 1960 that Great Britain will be entering a team into the football tournament and Giggs has been named on the shortlist for a possible inclusion.
“I’m on the shortlist so if I get picked then obviously it will be fantastic because I think everyone’s excited about the Olympics coming to London and coming to Britain so we’ll just have to wait and see if I get picked or not,” Giggs said.
Antonio Valencia achieved a Player of the Year double on Monday night when he won the fans’ player of the year award, having already won the prize voted for by his team-mates.
The Sir Matt Busby award has been presented to the supporters’ favourite star since 1988 when Brian McClair was the inaugural winner. Valencia is the eighth overseas player to win it, following Eric Cantona, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Andrei Kanchelskis, Javier Hernandez, Nemanja Vidic, Gabriel Heinze and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I am very happy to receive all three awards,” said Valencia on stage, also referring to his Goal of the Season victory.
Not a big surprise, but SAF has confirmed that Paul Scholes will be back play for another season.
After abandoning his retirement in January, there had been some speculation that the 37-year-old was deliberating whether to extend his career by an additional season.
However, speaking at this evening’s Manchester United Player of the Year dinner, Ferguson told MUTV: “It has been done. He is staying.”
Ferguson does believe this will be Scholes’ last season in a United shirt.
However, the United boss is convinced the midfielder can have a similar impact next season after he almost managed to guide the Red Devils to the title following his comeback.
Rio Ferdinand is adamant Manchester United will return next season to reclaim the Barclays Premier League title.
Despite his obvious disappointment at losing the league to Manchester City in such dramatic fashion, the United defender fronted up to Sky Sports at the final whistle to offer his congratulations to the Blues… and issue a warning to Roberto Mancini’s men.
“It’s a cruel way to have lost it,” he said. “But you have to congratulate the other team. Any team that wins it obviously deserves it and they have played well throughout the season. It’s now about us dusting ourselves down and winning the title back next season.
SAF insists United can take “great credit” in the 2011/12 season, despite falling at the final hurdle and in heartbreaking fashion.
The Reds were just minutes away from clinching an unlikely 20th league title… until two injury-time goals at the Etihad Stadium sealed the championship for Manchester City.
The result meant United finished the season on 89 points and lost the league only on goal difference.
“I think we can take great credit,” Sir Alex told MUTV. “We’ve had to contend with a lot of injuries this season so I’ve had to change the team around a lot. That didn’t always help us.
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SAF Post Match Reaction: “Reds Deserve Great Credit”
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Sunderland v Manchester United
Stadium of Light
Kick-off: 15.00 BST
TV: Live Sky Sports 2, Highlights BBC ONE Match of the Day.
Sunderland (Probable, 4-4-2): Mignolet; O’shea, Turner, Kilgallon, Bardsley; Gardner, Cattermole, Colback, McClean; Sessegnon, Bendtner.
Out: Brown (knee), Richardson (groin), Larsson (hernia).
Tests: O’Shea, Bendtner (both foot).
Manchester United (Probable, 4-3-3): De Gea; Rafael, Jones, Ferdinand, Evra; Carrick, Scholes, Giggs; Valencia, Rooney, Young.
Out: Anderson (hamstring), Fletcher (bowel condition), Macheda, Pogba, Welbeck (all ankle), Owen (thigh), Vidic (knee), Smalling (groin).
Referee: Howard Webb (Matches 28, R3 Y84).
Team News
Manchester United know their chances of winning the title are slim; they have the same number of points as Manchester City but have an eight goal disadvantage.
