The agent that Bobby Robson is refusing to deal with in the transfer of Acuna to us, is meeting the Imperial Lord Ferg to try and sell Acuna to Newton Heath, seems like a fair bit of crap really.

EXCLUSIVE MANCHESTER UNITED have entered the race for Clarence Acuna, with his Israeli representative Ronen Katzav claiming that Sir Alex Ferguson has been after the player since 1997.

Chilean international Acuna, who was recently banned for four months after taking a controlled substance, has been constantly linked with Newcastle in recent weeks - but it was when The Red Devils were looking for a striker that he first caught Ferguson's attention.

At the time, the United boss was interested in bringing Marcelo Salas to Old Trafford, a move that fell through because it was thought that the striker would not be up to the arduous English campaign.

Ferguson watched Salas on a number of occasions and it was in one such match, that Acuna first impressed The Red Devils manager's attention.

Katzav said: "It was at the game between Chile and Paraguay which Chile won 2-1 in the qualifiers for France 98. Ferguson was very interested in seeing Salas and he travelled especially to Santiago.

"We saw the game together and I remember that in addition to Salas, Alex was amazed with the number 8 for Chile, that was Clarence Acuna."

With Newcastle making a bid for the player, Katzav claims this has forced Ferguson to act, with a meeting scheduled between the agent and the Manchester United boss on Wednesday.

"I prefer not to generate false expectations," said Katzav.

"I am travelling to London to meet with Ferguson, there we will see if he is still interested, and if Manchester United are willing to make a bid for the player.

"We (Ferguson and Katzav) are friends. In professional terms, I scout South American players for him, especially in Argentina, Brazil and Chile."

Newcastle have been dealing directly with the player's club after Bobby Robson refused to negotiate with Katzav, claiming he attempted to double the fee from $1 to $2 million (#676,000 - #1.35 million).

When asked if The Magpies might increase their bid, Katzav said: "It seems to me that the option no longer exists, the Newcastle officials do not want to speak to me anymore."

It is difficult to imagine how Acuna would fit into the Manchester United system, but the very news that Katzav is continuing to hawk the player around, despite not having a legal relationship with Universidad, is sure to infuriate Robson.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Answers

The media just lap this sort of thing up, don't they. By far the most likely scenario is that the agent is desperately trying to still broker some kind of deal out of the blue despite a resounding kick in the teeth by all concerned....Ferguson and Katzav friends? yeh right. Why, if Ferguson has always been interested in him, didn't Katzav go to his best mate first?

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

I think this will the first of many South American buys for ManUre. I also expect them to make a move for a number of Asian stars. With the new executive management in place at OT, along with falling profits, I understand they intend to have a team based in South America, Asia (likely Japan) and Europe so that the can contest all major competitions, including our own (well, it used to be in the 50s) FA Cup.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

I'd bet the meeting has been called to discuss anyone but Acuna in the first place. If indeed the Imperial Lord Ferg knows anything about a meeting with a Glongbleim from the imperial outpost of Southern America!

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Sounds like this Jewish bloke is trying to wreck the Newcastle deal as he's not making any money out of it.

Does anyone know much about this Acuna? what kind of midfielder is ?

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Sounds like this Jewish bloke is trying to wreck the Newcastle deal as he's not making any money out of it.

Ahem.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

ho, ho, ho, I'm making lots of new friends today....

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

MAGPIES STILL LEAD ACUNA HUNT by Nic Evans

EXCLUSIVE NEWCASTLE remain favourites to land Chile international Clarence Acuna after his English representative, Israeli agent Ronen Katzav, denied that Manchester United are interested in the player.

On Tuesday, we reported Katzav's claims from Chile that Manchester United had joined the list of clubs that wanted to buy Acuna and a meeting was alleged to have been arranged with Sir Alex Ferguson in London on Wednesday.

However speaking exclusively to planetfootball.com from Israel, Katzav said: "I am not currently in London. If I wanted to arrange a meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson, I would not do it through the media.

"I am sure we will meet again in the future, just not today (Wednesday).

"I never said anything about Manchester United being interested in Acuna. I'm not sure how this got out."

Yet Katzav, whose involvement in the player's affairs has angered Newcastle, had clearly stated that Ferguson was an admirer of the midfield star and that United were considering a bid for his services.

The player has signalled his intentions to leave Universidad de Chile after he rejected a four month extension to his present contract, which runs out on the 31st of December.

The short-term deal was offered to cover the four months that Acuna missed when he was suspended for having taken a controlled substance, something the player has always protested his innocence about.

However, Acuna was found guilty and he finally returned from his ban on September 15, although he was by no means idle in that time, having travelled to Newcastle for a two week trial.

Peter Lovenkrands and Craig Bellamy have already slipped through the St James' Park net because of the interference of agents, and Magpies boss Bobby Robson will be desperate to ensure this does not happen again, having taken a hardline stance in the transfer of Duncan Ferguson to Everton.

But Katzav is adamant that the North East side remain the favourites to land Acuna, saying: "As far as I'm concerned he (Acuna) is still in discussion with Newcastle.

"Things got confused when they got in contact with his club. However, Newcastle know the price is $2 million (#1.36 million)."

This contradicts previous reports, again originating from South America - from Universidad's financial director - that the two clubs had agreed a #700,000 deal.

What does seem clear is that Manchester United were once interested in Acuna, at the time they were scouting Salas, but now it appears that Ferguson has no interest in the player and the way is clear for Newcastle to wade their way through the transfer mist to complete the deal.

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2000