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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Manchester United tracking Mariga

Pulse

By The Standard Sports | Jul 02, 2009

By Gilbert Wandera and Agencies

News linking Harambee Stars midfielder MacDonald Mariga with a move to English giants Manchester United from Italy’s Parma persists.

Several Europe based websites including Goal.com say the Red Devils have been tracking the midfielder following his impressive display that sent Parma back to Serie A.

Although Parma sporting director Pietro Leonardi has been widely quoted admitting talks with Manchester United, Mariga insists he is not aware of any interest especially from the English champions.

"I am not aware that they want to sign me. My agent has not informed me about anything of the sort," he said.

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Leonardi told Sky Sport 24: "Mariga will surely be a Parma player. He is one of our great strengths. But we had talked about Macheda for Mariga, but decided against it, with all due respect to Macheda, who is a very strong player."

Parma fans are said to be jittery over possible departure of the 22-year-old and his agent Federico Pastorello reassured the Gialloblu faithful Mariga would stay.

"Parma will not let him go this season. He will play another season at Parma with [coach Francesco] Guidolin," Pastorello said.

Sportsmediaset.it reported last week that the talented Kenya midfielder could leave Parma for United this summer, with teen striker Federico Macheda moving in the opposite direction.

It suggested that Mariga’s impressive performances for Kenya in the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup have persuaded Sir Alex Ferguson to make an offer for the midfielder, who was instrumental in Parma’s successful bid to return to the top flight last season.

The midfielder is also a target for top Serie A clubs, namely Milan, Inter and Fiorentina, but Manchester Utd have reportedly offered the services of promising striker Federico Macheda in part-exchange to persuade the Emiliani to part with their prized asset.

Mariga is currently at home on holiday after leading Harambee Stars to a 2-1 win over Mozambique in a World Cup qualifier match last month.

The Parma midfielder is expected back in Italy later this month to begin pre-season training with his club.

Macheda made a name for himself at Old Trafford last season by netting two crucial goals against Aston Villa and Sunderland, and could follow in the footsteps of Italy international Giuseppe Rossi, who spent six months at the Stadio Tardini on loan from the Red Devils in 2007.

However, Parma president Tommaso Ghirardi has cooled down the possible move.