United star Giggs backing new signing Berbatov

yan Giggs is convinced Dimitar Berbatov will be a big hit at Manchester United.

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The Bulgarian poses with his new shirt.

The Red Devils were only able to confirm Berbatov's £30million arrival from Spurs at 12.40am on September 2 after a frantic day of negotiations which included intense interest from cash-rich Manchester City at one stage.

Berbatov was immediately whisked away to begin international duty with Bulgaria and will not be formally introduced as a United player until later today, ahead of a debut in tomorrow's lunchtime clash with Liverpool.

But Giggs has no doubt the 27-year-old will prove to be a very astute signing.

''Berbatov is a Manchester United-type player,'' said the former Wales skipper.

''He has that physique and stature because he is over six foot, so he offers something a little bit different to Wayne Rooney or Carlos Tevez. For a big man he has a superb touch.

''But he also has a big personality, the personality you need to be a success at Manchester United.''

Due to their European Super Cup commitment in Monaco, United have not played a league game since their win at Portsmouth on August 25.

With Chelsea to come next weekend and the start of their Champions League defence against Villarreal at Old Trafford in between, these are testing times for Sir Alex Ferguson and his squad.

At least he has managed to get Tevez back a little quicker following the Argentina forward's red card on World Cup duty against Paraguay on Saturday, which meant he returned to United's training base on Wednesday.

It offers Ferguson the option of handing Berbatov a place on the bench at Anfield, where Tevez scored the winner last season, although Giggs believes Rafael Benitez would be delighted with that.

''I am glad Dimitar is on the same side as me,'' said Giggs.

''I have seen his ability at first hand when he played against us for Tottenham.

''I am sure he will be an excellent signing.''

As usual, Ferguson will want to check on the fitness of his international stars, in particular Rio Ferdinand, who missed England's win over Andorra at the weekend with a back problem before being passed fit for the astounding win in Croatia.

The United boss will also hope to have Michael Carrick available after a recent ankle problem, although it seems unlikely Owen Hargreaves will be fit after the England star suffered a recurrence of a knee injury prior to the defeat by Zenit St Petersburg.

Carragher laments Liverpool 'laundrette'

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has blasted the power games played by manager Rafael Benitez and the club's American owners last season - claiming the amount of dirty linen being aired at the time made Anfield resemble a ''launderette''.

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The defender is unhappy over the boardroom antics at the club.

In his new autobiography, Carragher criticises the trio for putting personal pride before the interests of the club.

After months of claim and counter, centring around the refusal of Tom Hicks and George Gillett to meet Benitez's demand for action over new signings, it emerged in January this year that Jurgen Klinsmann had been approached about taking over as manager.

Carragher insists the events leading up to that revelation were damaging to the Merseysiders and believes Benitez had resigned himself to losing his job.

''I believe he suspected a plan was already in place to sack him and the owners were holding back funds for his replacement,'' Carragher said in extracts carried in the Daily Mail.

''He was effectively daring the owners to arrange his funeral, especially when Hicks ended the boardroom silence by telling him to shut up on the front page of the local paper.

''It was more than rumour by this stage, and Rafa must have known how close he was to the sack. To my mind, everyone was trying to be too clever, playing politics with little regard for how much damage it was doing.

''Never mind about not washing your dirty linen in public, Anfield was beginning to resemble a launderette.''

Wenger warning over City antics

Arsene Wenger is concerned with the diminishing role of managers following the influx of foreign owners into the Premier League and has has hit out at the new owners of Manchester City for not respecting the rules in pursuit of their new signings.

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The Gunners' boss would not work under a director of football.

Manchester City's new owners splashed out a cool £32million to snatch Brazil international Robinho from under the noses of Chelsea - although that move was more than welcomed by Eastlands boss Mark Hughes.

Now they have set their sights on the likes of Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

The Gunners are understandably reluctant to part with their Spanish star, with Wenger blasting the transfer methods adopted by today's wealthy super clubs.

"The rules are there. Let's get them respected," he said.

"You cannot come out and say 'next week we pay £250,000 to Ronaldo and £135million' when a player has a contract with Manchester United.

"It's not possible or acceptable."

Wenger went on to question whether City's newest recruit, Robinho, was even aware of which club he was signing for, having been courted by Chelsea for much of the summer.

"What is worrying is that a player signs somewhere and then the next day he does not even know where he has signed," said the Frenchman.

"You cannot say that is a good trend.

"Football is not a supermarket. There is money in the game and I take it in a positive way.

"But the football bodies have to make sure money is ruled properly and used well for the ethic of the game."

While Wenger insists it is up to each club how they conduct their own internal affairs, the situation that saw both Kevin Keegan at Newcastle and former West Ham boss Alan Curbishley leave over a perceived lack of hands-on control over transfers at their clubs, would not fit into the current blueprint for success at Emirates Stadium.

"There's no problem with directors of football so long as you have a very good one - I feel myself and the board are on the same wavelength in that regard," said the Arsenal manager, who transformed the club's fortunes since taking charge in September 1996.

"In life everyone is free to work as you want to work.

"If I go into a job and someone says to me that you have a director of football who buys and sells the players, I accept or don't accept it. If I accept it, I cannot complain.

"I would personally not accept that - but I can understand as well that some people don't want to deal with that and they feel comfortable getting the most out of the players they have because they have come from a different country."

Hughes: I'm the boss at City

Mark Hughes insists he will have the final say over football matters at Manchester City despite the takeover of the club by the mega-rich Abu Dhabi United group.

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Mark Hughes: In charge at City.

The takeover has provided Hughes with a vast transfer kitty to spend and the City manager says he controls which players are signed for the squad.

Hughes said: ''Football matters are my department, those are decisions that I make. That's what I have been told and that is what I expect.

''I have been assured that football matters are my remit and that is the way that it should be.

''From the discussions I have had with them, they would appear to regard myself and my staff as an asset.''

City come up against Chelsea tomorrow in what is being termed the ''clash of the cash'', and Brazilian superstar Robinho is expected to make his debut.

Hughes said Robinho had made a point of saying how much he was looking forward to facing the club who came close to signing him from Real Madrid - only to be gazumped by City's £32.5million bid.

''On the day I met him in London 10 days ago, one of the first things he said was that he can't wait for the game because he can't wait to play against Chelsea, so that's a good sign,'' said Hughes.

''The one impression everyone has of Robinho is that as soon as he gets the ball you sense something is going to happen and I think everyone will see that at the weekend.''

Hughes said the fixtures computer could not have thrown up a better match to set pulses racing.

He added: ''I know it's being billed as the 'clash of the cash'.

''We are really looking forward to getting back to playing football and the fixture against Chelsea is a fantastic one for us, it's the perfect game for us given the circumstances.''

Hughes will not have Martin Petrov available as the Bulgarian is out with a knee injury but Micah Richards could be available after recovering from a shoulder injury. Michael Johnson (groin) is also doubtful.

Shaun Wright-Phillips will also make his first appearance at Eastlands since returning to City from Chelsea.

Hughes said: ''Everyone knows that Shaun is an exceptionally talented footballer, and we are delighted that he is back.

''I know that he is really excited about going up against Chelsea.''

Mijatovic claims Madrid will not sign in January

Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic claims the club will not sign any new players in the January transfer window despite the lack of arrivals this summer.

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The Dutchman was the only summer arrival.

The September 1 transfer deadline passed with Madrid being unable to capture their number one target Cristiano Ronaldo as well as losing star forward Robinho after his 11th-hour departure to Manchester City.

The Spanish champions also failed with bids for Valencia's David Villa and Villarreal winger Santi Cazorla, meaning Rafael van der Vaart is the only new face at Madrid this season, although Ruben de la Red and Javi Garcia have returned from loan deals.

But Mijatovic was adamant the squad currently in place is sufficient to fight for honours this season and needs no adjustments.

''Real Madrid will not make signings in the winter transfer market,'' he told Real Madrid TV.

''We have a squad of 24 players, and most squads in Spain have 21 or 22 so we have enough.

''We have no intention of taking on any other player, although you never know what may happen in football.

''But in any case, it is the intention of Real Madrid to make no more signings, keep the group as it is and give these players confidence and get the best out of them.''

Madrid's inability to snare any new players in the summer drew criticism from coach Bernd Schuster following the 2-1 defeat to Deportivo la Coruna on the opening day of the Primera Liga season.

But Mijatovic defended the lack of new arrivals, explaining that the signings of Villa and Cazorla would have damaged the club's finances or reputation.

''We made an offer (for Villa) which we thought was enough to see him signing for Real Madrid,'' he explained.

''Valencia then made him a counter-offer which for us was senseless to match and, to cut a long story short, we pulled out of the deal because we didn't want to do something crazy.''

On Cazorla he added: ''We realised he had a buy-out clause, but we're gentlemen at this club and I had a personal order from (president) Ramon Calderon not to interfere with any other side.

''Real Madrid is not only a big club because of its nine European Cups, and for winning the most leagues in Spain, there are other things you have to do.

''When you pay a buy-out clause there are other matters to consider, and so as not to enter into a conflict and make mistakes, we decided not to sign Cazorla, a decision I believe to be the right one.''

The signings of Villa and Cazorla had been labelled as a ''plan B'' by Schuster after the club failed in their highly-publicised attempt to prise Ronaldo away from Manchester United.

But Mijatovic insists his club dealt with the transfer correctly.

''So many things came out from I don't know where and they simply weren't true,'' he said.

''As the best club in the world, we respect every team and we would never do anything which goes against the interest of another club.

''We held talks with Manchester United and they were not prepared to let him go. Yes we tried to sign him, but we got a negative response.

''The player said he wanted to come but it wasn't to be, and that's the beginning and end of the whole story.''

Ince confirms performance-related deal for Fowler

Blackburn manager Paul Ince has confirmed Robbie Fowler has signed a three-month performance-related contract.

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Robbie Fowler in pre-season action

The 33-year-old former Liverpool striker, a free agent after leaving Cardiff, goes straight into the squad to face Arsenal at Ewood Park.

Fowler was also offered a pay-as-you-play contract with Cardiff for this season but turned it down after receiving the chance to have a trial at Blackburn.

Ince said: ''I am pleased he has signed as he is a proven goalscorer. It is not so long ago he was banging in the goals at Anfield.

''I believe he can still do it at this level. If he does well there is no reason why we can't extend the deal.''

Fowler has been on trial with Rovers for much of the summer but any deal looked to have stalled last week over the precise terms.

The Lancashire club were keen that any contract offered to the former Liverpool and England star should be on a pay-as-you-play basis given his fitness problems of recent years.

Meanwhile, Ince has also invited former Fulham defender Philippe Christanval to train with the club. The 30-year-old Frenchman is a free agent following his release by Fulham after three injury-plagued seasons at Craven Cottage.

''Philippe has been offered a trial,'' said Rovers chairman John Williams. ''He should be taking that up as we speak and it will be probably be for around three days.

''Like I have said before there is nothing concrete but being free agents if they do impress then we can sign them outside the transfer window.''

Chelsea confirm assistant Clarke's resignation

Chelsea have confirmed that assistant manager Steve Clarke has handed in his resignation.

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Steve Clarke was happier under Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.

The former Scotland defender reportedly handed in the request on Thursday night and it could pave the way for a move to West Ham United, where he could work in a similar capacity under Gianfranco Zola, the new manager.

A Chelsea spokesman said: ''Chelsea can confirm that West Ham have made an approach with regards to talking to Steve Clarke.

''They have not been given permission to talk to him.

''Steve Clarke has tendered his resignation as assistant first team coach. We have not accepted his resignation. Talks are continuing.''

His appointment is expected to be announced in the next few days, once the club have agreed a severance package with Chelsea. Although the West London club are demanding £1.2 million in compensation because Clarke has two years left to run on his contract.

New Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has already wished him well in his new post.

He said: ''Now I have been told he is going I am sad but I understand Steve. All people have projects in their life.

''I don't agree with his decision but I am happy for him because I like Stevie. I like him as a person and as a coach and I wish him all the best.''

Scolari had made efforts to persuade Clarke, whom he regards as his expert on English football, to stay.

''Yesterday I invited Steve to visit my house and we discussed the situation between West Ham and Chelsea,'' he added.

''I told him what I thought and this morning told (chief executive) Peter Kenyon what I think about Steve, that he is very important for me and for Chelsea.

''He is a man that is a link between me and the players and between me and the staff. He knows Chelsea very well and English players and clubs.

''When he told me about his projects I said to him I could be the man who would open more chances for him to be the head coach in England or in other countries.

''And I said I would give him more responsibility at Chelsea and would tell the press that Steve wanted to fly alone in the future.

''I don't know what happened in the night but when I came here in the morning I heard he had resigned.''

Clarke's decision comes as something of a shock given that he has ties that go back over 20 years with the club, but after four years as No 2 at Stamford Bridge it became clear that he would not fit in with the Scolari regime.

It is understood that Clarke has been effectively sidelined since Scolari was appointed in the summer, with the Brazilian relying almost entirely on Darlan Schneider, his other assistant, whom he brought with him from Portugal.

Despite taking what many have seen as a backward step, Clarke is said to be relishing the opportunity of linking up again with Zola, with whom he played for two years at Chelsea.