Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed today that despite reports in the press that Manchester United are set to sell 10 players this summer to compensate for the debt, Michael Owen will still be a red next season.

Owen hasn’t made the impact he was probably hoping for but from a fan perspective, I’m pretty happy. Considering he came on a free, it was worth it for that 96th minute winner against City alone, let alone the other 7 goals he’s bagged this season.

Our manager concedes that Owen would have been given a better opportunity to make an impact if not for Wayne Rooney’s brilliant form this season.

“He has done well here, he has been a success,” said Ferguson. “He’s a great professional, he’s never missed a training session, his performances in training have been very good, and I think he has improved as a footballer in his time here. His general knowledge of the game is better, so is his linking play, and for the first time in his career he is getting used to coming on as a sub. I think he’s enjoying being a part of it here and he’ll definitely be here next season because I have absolutely no intention of letting him go. The only problem Owen has got at the moment is Wayne Rooney. We’re getting incredible performances from Rooney at the moment, and Michael has come here at a time when another striker, and sometimes the only one we use, is on the rise.”