Sir Alex Ferguson is to return to football management with FC Barcelona, in a development that is set to shock world football. The supposedly dramatic stepping down of cancer sufferer Tito Vilanova was in fact discussed with the FC Barcelona board in June. In talks which included major sponsor the Qatar Foundation, Sir Alex agreed to a director of football role at the Nou Camp, on the proviso that his son, Darren Ferguson, currently manager of newly relegated Peterboro FC, was given day to day responsibility for team affairs.
Despite the relegation of Peterboro FC, Darren Ferguson remains well regarded in european football circles, in particular for his ability to secure loan deals for rising stars at Old Trafford. Suggestions that family connections influenced management decisions at the world’s most famous club were hotly denied by CEO Ed Woodward, currently involved in confidential discussions with FC Barcelona for the transfer of ex-Arsenal captain, Cesc Fabregas. But today, bookmaker Paddy Power suspended betting on Fabregas joining Man Utd, citing irregular betting patterns in the Catalan capital, and in Cheshire, UK, home to the Fergusons and many insiders at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex, currently on a family holiday with Darren in Mallorca, Spain, was unavailable for comment, but a spokesman for Peterboro FC confirmed that compensation of £2m had been agreed with UK law firm Clifford Chance, acting for an unknown client.
David Beckham, former star at Man Utd and at FC Barcelona arch rivals Real Madrid, is at present believed to be involved in discussions on a new worldwide sponsorship deal involving “brand Beckham". Asked if Beckham’s latest venture involved the Qatar Foundation, a spokesperson for Beckham dismissed the story. “This is the silly season in the world of football. Any hack desperate for a headline can claim anything, and some fool will print it. Just because it’s made a headline, doesn’t make it true.”
Roll on the start of the footy season!