Transfer talk: Chicharito – ‘I don’t know’ what Manchester United plan is; Tom Cleverley lands at Everton

With Real Madrid declining to make a permanent move for Javier Hernandez, the Mexican striker says he's not sure what Manchester United intend to do with him.

Javier Hernandez reacts after scoring a goal for Manchester United in a Premier League match in 2013. Jon Super / AP / October 29, 2013

Manchester United

Mexican international striker Javier Hernandez says he is calm about his future, even if he does not know what Manchester United are planning for him after his loan to Real Madrid expired at the end of the season.

“Of course it’s in my mind because it’s my future,” the 27-year-old told Reuters while visiting the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix paddock on Friday.

“I don’t know where I am going to stay, if its one of those teams or another team. So right now I’m just enjoying my holidays.”

Read more: The National's Transfer Talk page

The striker, known as “Chicharito” (Little Pea), joined Real on loan from United last September with the Spanish club having an option to make the move permanent for a fee of EU€10 million (Dh40.8m), according to Spanish media.

Carlo Ancelotti said back in April, when Chicharito was showing a rich vein of form, the Mexican was “non-negotiable” but the coach was replaced this week by Rafa Benitez.

Hernandez said he had not spoken to Benitez but, with the season over, had no reason to since he was officially a United player again.

“Ancelotti was my manager but Rafa is not,” he said. “He doesn’t need to speak with me because I was on loan from United.

“But I am very calm because thankfully the last two months for me in Real Madrid were very good and I proved a lot of things. So that gave me a lot of self-confidence and security for my future.

“I think Rafa knows me. He’s a really good manager and I think he’s going to do a great job in Madrid.”

Recent media reports in Britain have suggested Hernandez, who will join Mexico for the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament in the United States in July, is most likely to feature in a United exchange deal with another English or European club.

The Manchester Evening News reported last month that Real had not taken up the option and the Mexican was also not part of United manager Louis van Gaal's plans for next season.

Everton

Everton new-boy Tom Cleverley enjoyed a memorable 24 hours on Friday as the midfielder sealed his move to Goodison Park and ended his international exile with a late call-up to the England squad.

With Tottenham Hotspur’s Ryan Mason sidelined due to a knee injury sustained while training with his international teammates this week, England manager Roy Hodgson opted to bring Cleverley in from the cold.

The 25-year-old, who was on loan at Aston Villa last season from Manchester United, has not played for England since November 2013, but will hope that changes in the forthcoming matches against Ireland and Slovenia.

He featured in the first nine matches under Hodgson after Euro 2012, but lost his place following a dip in form for Man United and didn’t feature in the squad for last year’s World Cup.

Cleverley’s call-up came at a busy time for the midfielder, who signed a five-year deal with Everton on Friday after rejecting an offer from Villa following his release by United at the end of the season.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez was happy to lure Cleverley to Goodison after previously working with him during a loan spell at Wigan Athletic.

“We are extremely delighted to be welcoming Tom to Everton and I can think of many reasons as to why our fans will enjoy Tom representing our football club,” Martinez told Everton’s website.

"The most important one is that he is a perfect fit for what we are trying to build here as he has so much experience of playing in the Premier League and he still has his best years just ahead of him.

“At the age of 25 and a player who is representing his country, Tom has experienced winning trophies and having big roles in demanding teams.

“Having worked with him previously, I know the type of character he is and I know that, with the Everton fans’ support, we will get a very special footballer joining our already exciting team.”

Cleverley now stands a chance of earning his 14th cap in Sunday’s friendly against Ireland or the Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia seven days later.

Sporting Lisbon

Jorge Jesus signed a three-year deal with Sporting Lisbon on Friday as he brought a six-year association with their bitter city rivals Benfica to an end.

The move had been expected all week as Jesus, who led Benfica to the Portuguese title in the last two seasons, had already rejected an offer to extend his stay at the Eagles, while Sporting sacked their coach Marco Silva on Thursday.

“I can officially announce the recruitment of Jorge Jesus as the coach of our club for the next three seasons,” said Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho, bringing to an end days of rumours.

The uncertainty over the Sporting coach’s position had even led the Portuguese stock market to suspend trading on the club’s shares Friday morning until an announcement was made.

Silva had been sacked on Thursday despite leading the club to a first trophy, the Portuguese Cup, since 2008 less than a week earlier.

That same day Benfica confirmed the departure of Jesus, who had rejected a contract extension that included a pay cut.

The 60-year-old is expected to earn EU€6m gross per year at Sporting, where he spent time as a player.

According to Portuguese press, Vitoria Guimaraes coach Rui Vitoria is set to be the new coach at Benfica.

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