Birth Date: 11/11/1977
Birth Place: Lisbona, Portugal
Nationality: Portugal
Height: 176
Weight: 72
Maniche Rumours and Transfers
14 10 2007
Miguel Veloso's agent claims that unnamed English clubs have tabled offers for the Sporting starlet, with Arsenal and Manchester United reportedly the two teams in the hunt.
The Premier League's top two sides have been continuously linked with Veloso in recent weeks and it would appear that one or both of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have now made their interest formal.
The 21-year-old can play in defence but has shone in midfield and played alongside Deco, Maniche and Cristiano Ronaldo when winning his first cap for Portugal in their 2-0 win over Azerbaijan on Saturday.
Having seen both Nani and Ronaldo leave for Manchester United in recent years it looks likley that Veloso could be the latest youngster to depart Sporting as his agent, Paulo Barbosa, claims a Premier League side has been close to matching his £20 million release clause.
'There have been several contacts and several offers from England,' Barbosa told the News of the World.
'I won't name the clubs but one of them was not far from his buy-out clause. If there's agreement from Sporting and the player, it's possible for him to leave. But there's no pressure or desire that it should happen yet.'
05 10 2007
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made six changes to the Portugal squad Friday ahead of two must-win European championship qualifying games.
Scolari, who will be absent from the bench for both games because of a UEFA ban, recalled Ricardo Carvalho of Chelsea and Sporting's Tonel to bolster a defense that conceded late goals in consecutive home draws against Poland and Serbia.
The Brazilian coach dropped Juventus' Tiago Mendes and Armando Petit of Benfica to make way for midfielders Duda of Sevilla and Sporting's Miguel Velosa ahead of games at Azerbaijan on Sept. 13 and Kazakhstan on Sept. 17. Midfielder Raul Mereiles of FC Porto and Stuttgart defender Fernando Meira were also added.
Scolari earned a reduced two-month ban on Thursday for scuffling with defender Ivica Dragutinovic at the end of Portugal's 1-1 draw with Serbia on Sept. 12. Scolari is barred from the bench until Nov. 20, meaning he can return for the team's last Euro 2008 qualifier against Finland on Nov. 21, which he would have missed under an original four-match ban.
Poland leads Group A with 21 points, two ahead of Finland. Portugal is third with 17 points but has played one less game than the top two. Serbia is fourth with 16 points.
Portugal beat both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan 3-0 in the home leg.
Defenders: Miguel Monteiro (Valencia), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Jose Bosingwa (FC Porto), Fernando Meira (Stuttgart), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Tonel (Sporting)
