ForeverInLoveWithJus

World club champions Boca Juniors have resolved a fixture pile-up by insisting: "We're going to Old Trafford."

The Argentine giants were named in May with Manchester United, PSV Eindhoven and Urawa Red Diamonds as participants in the inaugural Vodafone Cup on August 3 and 5.

But their attendance at the Theatre of Dreams was threatened when it emerged they had also entered a smaller event at Leicester City the previous weekend.

The Buenos Aires-based club, who recently reached the final of the Copa Libertadores - the South American equivalent of the Champions League - have now scratched from the Leicester event.

Urawa, whose own nickname is The Reds, face Boca Juniors on Tuesday, August 3, before doing battle two nights later with United.

The second game on the opening evening is United against Ruud Van Nistelrooy's former club PSV Eindhoven while the opener on Thursday, August 5, pitches Boca against PSV.

Meanwhile, controversial Turk Alpay could be set for a stormy first appearance back on English soil at Old Trafford. The former Aston Villa defender, who left English football in disgrace shortly after his verbal assault on David Beckham last autumn, has signed for Urawa Red Diamonds.

Villa drummed Alpay out of the Premiership by paying up his contract after deciding his incredible spat with Beckham in the Euro 2004 qualifier left him carrying too much baggage.

He subsequently joined Incheon United in Korea but has now pitched up in Japan.

JammieJam

should be a good warm-up - i like these, just before the season starts, get to see the combinations the coaches might try, etc - and the tackles aren't flying in.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

I think this tournament will be interesting, what with Alan Smith and Liam Miller available.

PastyHusty

I'm looking forward to seeing how some of our new players will do in these matches.

ElectronicWorm

...and the winning team gets a free Vodafone phone!
Whats that for name? Vodafone cup? pff sponsors...

Anyway, it is a good reason to check out Manchester

JammieJam

i'm liking the man utd team alot now days, can't wait to see Smith, Miller and Heinze in action.e

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Yes should be interesting but I wonder will United lose this..

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Fancy watching the heroes of Manchester United against some of the stars of world football at a knockdown price?

Not just you, but up to four others as well in an invigorating family atmosphere.

The Manchester Evening News and the Reds have teamed up to offer the chance of a magnificent cut price night out at next month's Vodafone Cup at Old Trafford.

For only £65, you can buy seats for up to FIVE people at either of the two mouth-watering evenings that make up the first structured club tournament ever to be staged at the Theatre of Dreams.

That's five spectators admitted at a fantastic price of £13 each - a potential saving of £30. If your family or group is four people, the saving is £16.

What's more, for those prices, you not only see United against either Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven or the emerging Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds, but also another game that will feature world club champions Boca Juniors from Argentina.

All four clubs are contracted to field their strongest first teams, so the array of talent is guaranteed.

It's a wonderful opportunity for the many fans and families who are normally left on the outside looking in when the gates are locked at United's world-famous home. All you have to do is telephone 0870 442 1994 (three per cent charge applies), or make a personal application at the ticket office quoting the M.E.N offer.

All participants will be seated in style in the Family Stand, as Sir Alex Ferguson's side - new signings and all - flex their muscles on English soil for the first time since their FA Cup final triumph.

The M.E.N. family ticket is applicable to either nights of the tournament, which is promoted by International Event Partnership, also the organisers of the well-established Amsterdam Tournament.

To take advantage of the offer, families or groups must be made up of one or two adults and one, two, three or four children (under 16), up to a total of five spectators.

These terrific concessions are available up to the close of business at the Old Trafford ticket office on Friday, July 30.

Programme of matches is:

Tuesday August 3: Boca Juniors v Urawa Red Diamonds (18.45), Manchester United v PSV Eindhoven (21.00).

Thursday, August 5: Boca Juniors v PSV Eindhoven (18.45), Manchester United v Urawa Red Diamonds (21.00).

It's a glittering line-up, guaranteed to provide two sizzling summer nights of entertainment.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Forgotten Manchester United goalkeeper Ricardo intends to post a reminder to Sir Alex Ferguson in the Vodafone Cup next week.

The Reds boss had planned to play the Spaniard in Philadelphia last Wednesday against Celtic. Roy Carroll played in Chicago against Bayern Munich and Tim Howard was earmarked for one match in his home city against AC Milan today.

But the reaction from the American public towards United's team selection forced Fergie into a rethink and he played Howard in Philly, plus today's match in the Giants Stadium, putting Ricardo's outing on ice.

The Spaniard could now play against PSV Eindhoven or Urawa Red Diamonds next week. Whichever game he is picked for, it will be the 32-year-old's first senior Reds match since April 2003 when he came on as a sub against Blackburn for Fabien Barthez at Old Trafford.

The August 2002 £2.5m signing from Real Valladolid only made five appearances in his debut season and the arrival of Howard last summer from New York MetroStars forced him further down the pecking order.

Ricardo went back to La Liga for a season-long loan at Racing Santander. But he has returned to United determined to put pressure on Howard and Roy Carroll.

"I always believe that I am capable of being the number one," he said.

"I believe in myself. I have worked hard all my life to get to this position at a club like Manchester United and I am not going to drop my hands and give up. I am going to fight for my place. I won't give in"

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Man Utd beat PSV 1-0 Thanks to a Silvestre header.