Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is closer to an Old Trafford exit. The Times says clubs in Italy and Spain have been alerted to United's sudden willingness to listen to offers for the Holland forward.
Officials at Real Madrid and Inter Milan have already claimed that Van Nistelrooy has been "offered" to them - whether by United or, more likely, by agents claiming to be working on their behalf - and, with the player approaching 30 and with two years remaining on his contract, there is a belief throughout Europe that the Dutchman is unofficially for sale.
Interestingly, Van Nistelrooy was singled out by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who called the penalty against Middlesbrough a "bad miss" and corrected a reporter who claimed that it was uncharacteristic, pointing out that "he has probably missed about half a dozen" spot kicks over the past three years.
Officials at Real Madrid and Inter Milan have already claimed that Van Nistelrooy has been "offered" to them - whether by United or, more likely, by agents claiming to be working on their behalf - and, with the player approaching 30 and with two years remaining on his contract, there is a belief throughout Europe that the Dutchman is unofficially for sale.
Interestingly, Van Nistelrooy was singled out by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who called the penalty against Middlesbrough a "bad miss" and corrected a reporter who claimed that it was uncharacteristic, pointing out that "he has probably missed about half a dozen" spot kicks over the past three years.
