Wayne Rooney voted England's top player

England striker Wayne Rooney insisted he will be fit for the World Cup after being voted player of the season Sunday by his English league peers.

The Professional Footballers' Association award came a day after Manchester United manager.

Alex Ferguson said Rooney would miss the final two matches of the Premier League title run-in because of a groin injury, having just recovered from an ankle problem.

But Rooney hopes to play in the last match against Stoke, with United just a point behind leader Chelsea and the 24-year-old forward maintains he will not miss England's World Cup opener against the United States on June 12.

“The groin will be fine for the World Cup, there are no worries about that,” Rooney said. “I'm hoping to play for United in the last game of the season.”

Rooney, the first Englishman to win the PFA award since Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard in 2006, has dazzled this season after being deployed in a more central role since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Real Madrid last June.

“It's a great feeling to win the player of the year award because it's voted for by the players,” Rooney said. “I remember coming here in 2005 and 2006 to win the young player of the year. I saw the players winning the main one and it's something I've aimed for since.”

Rooney also was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year this year, but that award went to Aston Villa midfielder James Milner. Milner has put himself in contention for England's World Cup squad with a string of strong performances as Villa stays in the hunt for the fourth Champions.

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Brazalian ace Fabiano reveals his Manchester United dreams

Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano has issued a remarkable plea to Manchester United to sign him this summer.With United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the market for a striker, Fabiano claims that he would not fail to deliver goals.
"If you are asking me what team I most admire.

It is Manchester United. If you play under Sir Alex Ferguson then you are probably going to win a title or another major trophy," The Daily Express quoted Fabiano, as saying. The 29-year-old, who has a contract with Sevilla till 2011, has scored 90 goals from 187 games for the Spanish club.

According to reports, Ferguson will try to persuade his club's chiefs to spend 60 million pounds in this summer's transfer window after their season dramatically fell apart. Ferguson is looking to strengthen the club, which crashed out of the FA Cup and Champions League, then seemingly handed the Premier League title to Chelsea with a draw against Blackburn.

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Dimitar Berbatov Is Not Interested In Leaving Manchester United For Serie A Agent

Following recent reports suggesting Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov could be set to swap the Premier League for Serie A this summer, the player’s agent has publicly denied suggestions his client is looking for a move away from Old Trafford. “I can say that my client will remain in England with Manchester United into the next season," Emil Dantchev told Fcinternews.

Reports in Italy have suggested both Milan clubs are interested in the Bulgarian international, with Inter ready to accept a Berbatov-plus-cash offer for teenage misfit Mario Balotelli while AC Milan are ready to throw out-of-favour Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar into the bargain.

Berbatov has had to endure some heavy criticism since making his £30.5 million move from Tottenham Hotspur but despite interest from Serie A and, reportedly, Bayern Munich, the 29-year-old appears set to stay in Manchester for the time being. “Dimitar has a contract to be complied with at Manchester United and he has no reason to consider transfers to other teams. He is happy at United," Dantchev confirmed.

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Manchester United not giving up on title hopes yet

The pressure will be on Manchester United to keep their English Premier League title hopes alive in Saturday evening's football derby against cross-town rivals Manchester City. After last week's draw at Blackburn, United are now four points behind leaders Chelsea, something midfielder Michael Carrick admits is hard to accept. He says with the success they've achieved over the last few years it's.

A major disappointment when you don't reach those heights. But Carrick insists the side isn't giving up hope yet of a record fourth-straight Premier League crown and says the'll get on with the job and try to finish the season strong.

Meanwhile Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says the next month could be the most important period in the club's history. The Citizens go into the derby match in fourth spot, one point clear of Tottenham, who play host to Chelsea. If they can consolidate their position until the end of the season, the club will qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.

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Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov won't be leaving Old Trafford this summer

Dimitar Berbatov's agent insists the Manchester United striker will be staying at Old Trafford. The Bulgaria international, a £30million arrival from Tottenham two years ago, has been in Wayne Rooney's shadow for most of the season and has failed to make his mark during the England striker's absence through injury.

Berbatov, 29, has scored 12 goals this season and divides opinion among team-mates and supporters alike with some unable to see past his lack of work-rate. Others point out his touch, close control and ability to bring others into the game.

There has been talk of Berbatov heading for the exit this summer but Emil Danchev, who represents the Bulgarian, said: 'Sir Alex Ferguson has already made his opinion known on this. I do not think he has to re-affirm his confidence in him every other day. I prefer to trust Ferguson.'

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Manchester City v Manchester United: Wayne Rooney winning race to be fit for derby

Rooney surprisingly started last Wednesday's 3-2 second leg win against the Bundesliga leaders, but was removed after 53 minutes after appearing to suffer an injury to the same ankle which resulted in him hobbling away from the Allianz Arena after the first leg of the tie the previous week.

That gave rise to concerns that Rooney's rapid return to action had exacerbated the problem, a fear hardly helped by his absence from the United team for last Sunday's goalless draw at Blackburn. The England international, though, attended a light, individually-tailored session at United's Carrington training base on Monday and is being carefully monitored by the club's medical staff, but the player is thought to be confident he will be fit enough to return for the trip to Eastlands to face Roberto Mancini's in-form Manchester City.

United will be further boosted by the news that Ryan Giggs, who appeared to strain his hamstring at Ewood Park, also expects to be fit for a game Ferguson's side must win if they are to have any hope of reeling in league leaders Chelsea, though captain Rio Ferdinand, victim of a groin injury in the same game, remains a doubt after undergoing a scan on the problem yesterday.

Should Rooney suffer a setback this week, Ferguson will once again turn to the much-maligned Dimitar Berbatov to lead his line despite. It was suggested yesterday that the Scot may be prepared to draw a close to the £30.75 million signing's Old Trafford career this summer as he seeks to rebuild his side, but the Bulgarian international's agent, Emil Danchev has insisted his client's future remains very much at Old Trafford.

"There is no objective reason for his transfer other than these media attacks," said Danchev. "I neither know of any interest from any other club, nor has Manchester United said anything in that sense.

"Sir Alex has already made his opinion known on this issue. I do not think that he has to re-affirm his confidence in Mitko [Berbatov] every other day. I prefer to trust Ferguson."

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Man U held at Blackburn

Manchester United suffered a third major blow in eight days on Sunday when a 0-0 draw at Blackburn Rovers damaged their hopes of claiming a fourth consecutive Premier League title.

United, who went out of the Champions League on away goals to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, failed to break down a resolute Rovers side which means they remain stuck behind leaders Chelsea having played a game more.

Chelsea have 74 points from 33 games while United, whose 2-1 defeat at home to Chelsea last weekend cost them top spot, have 73 from 34 games. Arsenal have 71 from 33. With leading scorer Wayne Rooney missing after re-injuring his ankle against Bayern, United started with Dimitar Berbatov and Federico Macheda up front but neither made much impact.

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Manchester City in move for United conqueror Olic

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will bid for Bayern Munich striker Ivica Olic over the summer, The 30 year-old was a constant thorn in Manchester United ’s side during the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, scoring crucial goals in both legs to dump Sir Alex Ferguson’s side out of the competition.

No doubt his exploits against United would instantly endear Olic to the Manchester City faithful and his work-rate has impressed Mancini . Croatian striker Olic is only in his first season at Bayern Munich, having moved from Hamburg last summer, but has impressed scoring 12 goals in 31 games so far this season.

Manchester City enjoy some rich attacking options, including the likes of Carlos Tevez , Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz . However, the Daily Mail speculates that some star names will be sacrificed at Eastlands to make way for the £6m signing of Olic.

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Bayern knocks out Manchester United

Arjen Robben produced a second-half wonder-strike to send Bayern Munich through to the Champions League semifinals at the expense of Manchester United. The Dutchman fired an unstoppable volley to make it 3-2 to United on the night, 4-4 on aggregate and send the Germans through to the last four on the away goals rule.

United had led 3-0 on the night through two Nani goals and a Darron Gibson strike but Ivica Olic pulled one back and after Rafael was sent off early in the second-half, Robben sent Bayern fans wild with the vital goal 16 minutes from time.

Bayern will now play French side Lyon in the semifinal, with holders Barcelona taking on Inter Milan in the other semi. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had said he would not risk the fitness of Wayne Rooney after he injured his left ankle in the first leg, an injury that was expected to keep him out for two to three weeks.

But the England striker was included in the starting line-up, while Rafael and Michael Carrick came in for Gary Neville and Paul Scholes as Ferguson went for pace over experience, with Darron Gibson preferred to the likes of Dimitar Berbatov upfront.

And the decisions immediately paid dividends as United were 2-0 up within just seven minutes.

First Rooney found Gibson in space just inside the Bayern half and the young forward held off the defender’s challenge before rifling in a shot from 20 yards inside the near post of goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt, who appeared to be unsighted.

Bayern were rocked and their discomfort became real pain when Antonio Valencia ran down the wing and his cross found Nani, who produced a brilliant flick, which found the corner of the net.

Four minutes before half-time, the match looked over when United scored their third, a stylish move finishing with Nani sweeping the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.

But against the odds Bayern hit back and Ivica Olic held off the challenge of Carrick before slotting the ball across Edwin van der Sar and into the far corner to pull one back.

There was still time for Arjen Robben to force a superb save from Van der Sar with a curling effort from just outside the box.

Things got worse for United within five minutes of the restart when full-back Rafael was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Ferguson replaced Rooney with John O’Shea to shore up the United defence, leaving them without a recognised striker.

Bayern poured forward in search of a second away goal — that would have been enough to put them through — and Franck Ribery forced Van der Sar to make another good stop with a brilliant left-foot volley.

At the other end, Nani went in search of his hat-trick and it took a brilliant save from Butt to stop him from finding United’s fourth, while Carrick fired a good chance over the bar from a corner soon after.

Substitute Mario Gomez saw a header skim the bar and then Gibson side-footed straight at Butt.

Bayern’s pressing had to tell at some stage and 17 minutes from time, Bayern got the goal they were after, with Robben slamming home an unstoppable volley from a Ribery corner.

Ferguson threw on Berbatov and Ryan Giggs for his last throw of the dice with 10 minutes to go but apart from a wide effort from Nani, they did not force the Bayern goalkeeper into a notable save.

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