United Updates

United have been drawn in Group C of the UEFA Champions League alongside Benfica, FC Basel and Otelul Galati. Sir Bobby Charlton fittingly pulled out Benfica, the team he helped conquer in the 1968 European Cup final, at the ceremony as Sir Alex's side start on the road to Munich looking to go one better than last season. United, who were the very first team drawn in Monaco, also meet Swiss outfit FC Basel, who got a draw at Old Trafford in 2003, and Romanian newcomers Otelul Galati whose name will soon become more familiar with Reds fans. Group A: Bayern Munich, Villarreal, Man City, Napoli. Group B: Inter Milan, CSKA Moscow, Lille, Trabzonspor. Group C: United, Benfica, Basel, Otelul Galati. Group D: Real Madrid, Lyon, Ajax, Dinamo Zagreb. Group E: Chelsea, Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen, Genk. Group F: Arsenal, Marseille, Olympiacos, Borussia Dortmund. Group G: Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg, Apoel Nicosia. Group H: Barcelona, AC Milan, BATE Borisov, Vikto...

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has defended David de Gea after the goalkeeper's errors in the first two matches of the season. West Brom's Shane Long and Manchester City's Edin Dzeko both scored after De Gea was slow to get down to low shots. "Some of the media has been a bit judgmental based on the first couple of games," said Smalling. "He has trained really well this week. You can see his agility and kicking. He will be a great goalkeeper for us." United signed De Gea from Atletico Madrid in June, in a deal thought to be worth £18.9m, after his predecessor Edwin van der Sar retired at the end of last season.

Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic will be out for "four to five" weeks with his calf injury, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed. When Vidic, 29, was injured against West Brom on Sunday it was originally thought he would be out for two weeks. "It is difficult to say with calves but it is longer than we thought," admitted Ferguson. But there was better news about Rio Ferdinand, who could return from a hamstring injury by the end of August.

Manchester United is to sell off a significant stake in the club in Singapore to partly pay off its gross debts of £515m, the BBC has learnt. BBC sports editor David Bond says it is understood the club has now lodged a listing application with the Singapore Stock Exchange. Our correspondent says it could raise between £400m and £600m for the club. It is understood the club wants to complete the listing by the end of the year. The owners, the Glazer family, removed the Old Trafford club from the London stock market following their successful take over of the Old Trafford club in 2005. A partial share sale, of between 25% and 30%, would also mean that no outside person could take control of the club.

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti remains adamant that Wesley Sneijder will not be going anywhere this summer. The Dutchman has been heavily linked with a switch to Manchester United this summer and claimed last week that 'unofficial' talks had taken place with the Premier League champions. Sir Alex Ferguson had previously tried to dismiss the speculation, while he has also made it clear he has faith in United's young players and is not planning to make further additions to the squad. Moratti maintains there is no chance of Sneijder leaving Inter before the transfer window closes at the end of the month as he is regarded as too important a player to let go. Untouchable Inter have always been determined to keep hold of the midfielder and the fact that Samuel Eto'o could be set for a move elsewhere has only strengthened their resolve. "Sneijder away? For Wes there has never been any sort of negotiation," Moratti told La Gazzetta dello Sport. ...

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United's young players need to get into the routine of winning trophies to create a dynasty. The former England captain was forced off in the opening day win against West Brom with a calf injury. His defensive partner Nemanja Vidic also picked up a knock and the cornerstones of the United defence are now facing spells on the sidelines. Yet, Sir Alex Ferguson will draw strength from the fact he can call on the talents of Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling. Seven of United's aspiring young players finished the game against West Brom, and as a new era gets ushered in at Old Trafford, Ferdinand insists they must embrace United's winning culture. "Getting that continuity, that smell and taste of success is something that all the young guys who have come into the squad and not won anything yet need to feel." Continuity "Getting that continuity, that smell and taste of success is something that all the young gu...