BLANC JOINS UNITED ON A FREE

The Red Devils have handed 35-year-old Blanc a one-year deal at Old Trafford.

The Premiership side confirmed the signing on their own website, stating: "Manchester United are pleased to announce that Laurent Blanc has joined the club on a free transfer from Internazionale Milan.

"Blanc has signed a one-year contract commencing immediately."

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted to have finally signed a player that he has tracked assiduously for many years.

"It is the third or fouth time that I have tried to sign him, I even tried last season but it was always the wrong time," Ferguson told a press conference to announce the capture.

"I first went for him when he was at Auxerre, then at Barca, then at Inter - I have followed him around Europe!

"Laurent can still be influential. People keep going on about his age but people forget that Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson played major roles for us when they were 35 and 36.

"I think in the present day, particularly when the player looks after himself, that careers can be extended much longer.

"He has great experience and will compliment the great players we already have at the club - Mikael Silvestre, the Neville brothers, Wes Brown. His experience will be vital to them and will improve us."

Blanc insisted that only circumstance and detail had prevented him joining The Red Devils earlier and that he was pleased that compatriot and friend Fabien Barthez was already with the English champions.

"I have never refused to come here, you have to bear in mind that there are always difficulties with transfers, that is all," Blanc said through a translator.

"I think the motivation for any player is the Champions League. The negotiations between the clubs were very gentlemanly and I am pleased with that.

"Fabien did play an important role in my coming here, but not a decisive one. I have a long history of contact with Manchester United and it is this that has finally given me the honour of joining this team."