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Malaysia XI v Man. United

A look back at Ronaldo's six seasons at Old Trafford, from his debut as a substitute against Bolton in 2003, to his third Premier League winner's medal with United in 2009.

MALAYSIAN XI v MAN UTD

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Goals

The England international sealed his shock free transfer to the Red Devils on Friday after passing a medical and then signing a two-year contract.

Owen endured a difficult time at St James' Park, where he signed from Real Madrid in 2005, netting just 26 Premier League goals in four years.

The 29-year-old is excited about the next chapter in his career as he looks to recapture his best form and help United continue their winning ways.

He told MUTV: "It feels great. I never even had it in my wildest dreams really but then I got the call from the manager to come and meet him.

"It was a shock but I'm obviously really happy and things have moved quickly since then."I probably had a poor spell up at Newcastle but prior to that, my career was very good and I'm sure a top club like this can reignite my career. Hopefully I can score a few goals and help the team to more success.

"It's early days but when you think about United, you automatically think about winning trophies, the stadium, the massive fanbase."

Owen also rejected suggestions that he is injury prone, stressing that he passed his United medical without any complications.

He added: "A lot is made of it and probably a lot will come out in the coming months and years but I certainly don't feel like I'm injury prone.

"I'd like to think that everyone was quite surprised at how my medical was. I knew I would pass my medical, I've obviously passed them before. My fitness is fine."

Real Madrid are to launch a transfer "offensive" for Maicon, according to the Inter Milan right-back's agent.

Despite the 27-year-old Brazilian being a key player for the Italian champions speculation has been rife that he is on his way out of the Giuseppe Maezza

Maicon has demanded a pay increase but those that hold Inter's purse strings have as yet resisted yielding to his demands.

Manchester City are the only club to have made an offer for Maicon, who has also been linked with Chelsea, but his agent believes the Spanish giants - who have spent over £170million already this summer - could move soon.

"I think that Maicon will be the cherry on the Real Madrid cake," said Antonio Caliendo "At the moment there's nothing but I believe the situation is destined to change.

"After having bought (Karim) Benzema, now Real are focusing on (Franck) Ribery and Xabi Alonso but then they will turn to Maicon.

"I have already said it and I repeat it - I'm expecting an offensive from them to try to buy him because he is the best in the world in his position.

"There's margin to manoeuvre with Inter. If the amount that will come to Inter will be the right one, everything could be finalised very soon."

Maicon is under contract with the Nerazzurri until June 2013.

United fans across the world were still digesting the news of Karim Benzema’s decision to join Real Madrid, rather than act on alleged interest from Old Trafford, when the wheels were set in motion on one of the most astonishing transfer stories of the summer.

The odds on Michael Owen joining United took less than 12 hours to plummet from 20/1 to 4/9. Still, it was dismissed as nothing more than fanciful by the majority of supporters on message boards and fan sites.

As the rumours gathered credence, with more and more news agencies running with the story, the scoffs soon died out. It’s undoubtedly a polemic issue: for years Owen was regarded as the finest English goalscorer of his generation, yet his nightmare spell at Newcastle has done little to uphold that reputation.

Let’s start with the business angle. There's no transfer fee and reports suggest his wage would be highly incentivised and greatly reduced from the astronomical fees he commanded at St James’ Park. So, nothing ventured, something gained, perhaps. Should he sign for the Reds and fail to impact, he won’t be regarded as an expensive flop.

The tabloids’ claims that United were pipped to Benzema’s signature seem to carry weight. For all the talk of Ribery, Villa, Aguero et al, the massive majority of the names thrown into the transfer blender are either too old, too expensive or both. If indeed Benzema was the Reds’ primary transfer target, a move for Owen is a quick, decisive reaction to missing out.

It makes a lot of sense, really. There would be no point in splashing out big money on a player Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t regard as good enough to make his first choice.

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
South Africa, 14th-28th June 2009