Rooney to wear captain's armband at Manchester United this season

New Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has given England striker Wayne Rooney the role of team captain and made Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher his vice-captain.

"It is a huge honour for me -- and for my family -- to be named captain of this great club," Rooney told United's website (www.manutd.com) after Van Gaal's side beat Valencia 2-1 in a pre-season friendly at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

"It is a role I will perform with great pride. Team spirit has always been very high in our dressing room and I am very grateful to the manager for the faith he has shown in me.

"I look forward to leading the team out on Saturday at our first match of the new season," added Rooney referring to the opening Premier League fixture against Swansea City at Old Trafford.

Former Netherlands coach Van Gaal, who took charge of United last month, said Rooney had the capacity to galvanise the youngsters in the squad.

"For me it's always very important the choice of captain," added the Dutchman.

"Wayne has shown a great attitude towards everything he does.

"I have been very impressed by his professionalism and his attitude to training and to my philosophy.

"He is a great inspiration to the younger members of the team and I believe he will put his heart and soul into his captaincy role," said Van Gaal.

"Darren Fletcher will become the vice-captain. Darren is a natural leader and will captain the team when Wayne isn't playing."

Rooney, 28, joined United from Everton 10 years ago while Fletcher, 30, has spent his entire professional career at Old Trafford.

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Liverpool have reached an agreement to sign Spain fullback Alberto Moreno from Sevilla, the Premier League club said in a statement on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old defender, who has played three times for his country, will cost the Anfield club about 12 million pounds ($20.17 million) according to local media in Spain and England.

Moreno did not feature in Sevilla's 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in their UEFA Super Cup clash in Cardiff on Tuesday but the Spanish club's manager Unai Emery praised him after the match.

"Yes he is going, but he leaves with our best wishes and we thank him for everything he has done for the club," he said.

Liverpool added on their website (www.liverpoolfc.com): "The Reds will proceed with the formalities of finalising the deal for the 22-year-old over the coming days and will make no further announcement until it is complete."

Moreno, who was born in Seville, has earned a reputation as an effective overlapping fullback and was a key part of the Sevilla side that won the Europa League last season.

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Everton have reached an "agreement in principle" to sign Chelsea winger Christian Atsu on a season-long loan, manager Roberto Martinez was reported as saying by local media on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old Ghana international, who played at the World Cup, will join the Merseyside club subject to a work permit.

Atsu, who spent last season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, joined Chelsea a year ago after starting out at Porto.

"Everything has been agreed with Christian -- it's just a matter of finalising little details more with his work permit and personal situation," Martinez said in the Liverpool Echo.

"That will probably take a couple of days to get sorted but we have an agreement in principle to make the move as a loan deal until the end of the season."