Carrick completes move to Man Utd
Michael Carrick has completed his move from Spurs to Manchester United in a deal which could be worth £18.6m. The 25-year-old England midfielder will be formally unveiled as a United player on Wednesday after passing a medical. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Carrick will wear the number 16 shirt, which was formerly worn by Roy Keane. The clubs agreed a deal for the player last week - but the fee was not made public until Spurs issued a statement to the stock exchange on Monday.
The initial fee is believed to be around £13m, with the remainder of the money likely to be based upon the club’s success, Carrick’s international appearances and the time he number remains at Old Trafford. Ferguson confirmed the news to the club’s television channel MUTV, saying: “Michael has completed his medical, we are going to be having a press conference on Wednesday I think. “He has settled down fine, I spoke to him today. I said to him ‘I’m giving you the number 16 jersey’ so he was delighted at that. “I think that showed great courage because sometimes players are a bit superstitious about things like that but he was keen, and said he would gladly take number 16.”
Carrick has two years left on his deal at White Hart Lane but rejected a new contract offer in the wake of United’s persistent interest. “This is a move that Michael wants to make,” Spurs boss Martin Jol told the club’s official website. “We have given him every reason to stay but he has asked to be allowed to leave.”
The sale of Carrick represents a massive profit for Spurs, who signed him from West Ham for £2.75m two years ago. West Ham are reported to be in for a windfall when the transfer goes through, with a sell-on clause included as part of the deal that took him to White Hart Lane. Carrick is expected to make his first United appearance in the Amsterdam tournament, probably against Porto on Friday. The midfielder has won seven England caps, making his debut when coming on as a substitute against Mexico in 2001. Carrick was part of England’s World Cup squad but he made only one appearance in Germany this summer, in the 1-0 win over Ecuador in the first game of the knockout stages.