Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has expressed his delight with the club's new record signing Ruud Van Nistelrooy after the £19 million deal was agreed on Monday.
Van Nistelrooy initially agreed to join the Premiership champions in April 2000 but the deal collapsed just days before he collapsed himself during a light training session.
Following surgery on his knee, the Dutch striker has returned to full fitness and, having kept a close eye on his progress, United have once again agreed to break the British transfer record to bring the PSV hitman to Old Trafford.
The United boss admitted that he would be looking to strengthen the squad after losing out in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the second year in succession and the arrival of Van Nistelrooy is a clear indication of his, and United's, ambitions for his final year in charge.
Ferguson said: "I am delighted that we have signed Ruud, a player we have admired for some time. This deal underlines our determination to improve the squad at United."
Van Nistelrooy himself admitted that it was the fulfillment of a dream to sign for Manchester United, eventually, especially after all his hard work following his unfortunate injury.
"In spite of what has happened in the past year, my feelings for the club have never diminished, " he said.
"It has always been a dream of mine to play for United at Old Trafford. So this move has been a very easy choice for me to make and I look forward to playing for the club next season.
"I'd like to thank everyone at PSV Eindhoven for being so supportive during my time at the club, particularly in the last year."
Van Nistelrooy will officially become a Manchester United player on July 1 ready to train with the club in preparation for the following season.
He is a player whom Sir Alex Ferguson has admired for some time and he will have his Dutch colleague Jaap Stam at Old Trafford to help him settle in.
Click here to see our news/interview/419exclusive video interview with the Manchester United manager or enter our competition/latestcompetition to win one of three copies of his autobiography 'Managing My Life', signed by Sir Alex himself.
|
