The Spanish giants had representatives at last night's game running the rule over Valencia, who was very much in the spotlight.
United still remain firm favourites to land Valencia if they decide to swoop, but Madrid have definitely renewed their interest in the Wigan star, who was the target for an £18m bid in January.
Valencia turned down that chance to move, but could soon find himself at the centre of a transfer battle between the European rivals.
A move is imminent for the exciting attacking winger.
Valencia's flair would certainly have greatly impressed Sir Alex Ferguson last night. Wigan's prize asset had a sensational first-half, and he could and should have scored inside the opening 90 seconds.
Displaying trademark pace, alertness and neat dribbling skills, Valencia homed in on goal in front of the travelling United fans but scuffed his shot, and the Reds survived an early scare.
Valencia's five-star form got the thumbs-up from watching former Wigan boss Paul Jewell. It was Jewell who brought Valencia to Wigan after noting his potential during the World Cup.
Jewell said: "Valencia was outstanding in the first half. He was so direct, and his pace was causing all sorts of problems for United. He had them rattled. He's a quality player, there's no doubt about that at all."
Latics chairman Dave Whelan was immensely proud of his team's heroic effort.
He said: "I knew we would fight like hell in this game, and we did. United certainly knew they'd been in a game. We gave everything."
Manager Steve Bruce thought the lion-hearted Latics were set to take points from the champions-elect.
He has never beaten United in a managerial role, and Wigan have still to beat one of the Premiership's Big Four.
Bruce said: "I couldn't have asked my players for any more. They were superb.
"We competed for everything.
"United battled for victory, but I was very proud of the effort we put in. We showed great spirit, as I knew we would."
Wigan dominated the first half, and were clearly boosted by Valencia's early sparkle. Striker Rodallega proved a handful - he scored at West Brom on Saturday and delivered again last night - and Bruce is convinced the goals will now start to flow from the South American star.
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I must admit, I do not see any obvious quality in this guy.
Yes he has got pace, I am not so sure about alertness and neat dribbling skills. Was that a five-star form he showed yesterday?
I think we should let Madrid sign him.
Are you sure they weren't watching Ronaldo?!
They can't be interested in both?
Let Real Madrid have him. He is not better than what we already have. Hopefully they will leave Ronaldo alone in the summer.
He played well, would be a good signing
valencia looks a very good player and would no doubt improve to another level training and playing for us.i've been saying it all season that scholes and carrick doesn't work they keep passing the ball to each other with no penetration,scholes is one of the greatest players of his generation but his time has gone.we're a far better team with anderson and carrick and look at the difference when giggsy replace scholes we started to tear holes in wigans defence.now comes the big one at ot on saturday,we should turn out our strongest side then give everybody ten days off before rome.a little info for the nosey bitters on this site we will become the first team in HISTORY to win the championship three times on the trot TWICE,dream on
Not really all that impressed with him but that could change with United
He's not a big enough name in my opinion. Instead of Antonio Valencia, we should buy Valencia - the entire squad.
gilly, you wouldn't be from Belgium.......try watching him live!!!
I like him as a player but I don't think we need him. If Ronaldo leaves we need to give Nani a long run in the team as a starter on the right where he is strongest and see if he can establish himself. I think he will benefit from that. If it doesn't work out, Park can always play there or even Welbeck who looked impressive on the right wing.
I didn't think he was all that - i've not seen how he's played against the likes of Boro or West Brom - pointless based upon last nights game - jsut becomes a cheap advert for himself...
and i think he vanished in the second half didn't he... should be on Ecuador's got talent with that one!
And have we not deduced that nani doesn't have a footballing brain yet, and will fail to secure a regular bearth in the starting 11 - fergie's even had giggs back on the left wing rather than him, surely that speaks volumes... he'll be a carling cup player again next season if he's still there.
Did anyone actually watch this game? He was fast, passed well, including through balls, and he really does have strength, he never lost a shoulder to shoulder challenge and that included one with Rooney. This lad has a great future. an even better one if we signed him anyway.
I like him as a player but I don't think we need him. If Ronaldo leaves we need to give Nani a long run in the team as a starter on the right where he is strongest and see if he can establish himself. I think he will benefit from that. If it doesn't work out, Park can always play there or even Welbeck who looked impressive on the right wing.
Barry Lee, USA
14/05/2009 at 14:02
So what you are saying is if we sell the worlds best player, he can be replaced by Nani, Wellbeck and then it gets really silly, Park? I really do sometimes despair!
This valencia story has been going on for quite a while now and I have particularly paid close attention to him since last season and I am really at a loss to understand what the fuss is all about! The guy has speed but apart from that is in my opinion an average winger. He is definitely not a great dribbler nor an outstanding crosser either. Steve Coppell was a mile better. I am sure that playing for United will improve him but to dare talk about him replacing Ronaldo if the latter moves is sheer lunacy. Ronaldo, in spite of all his tantrums, is a guaranteed scorer of 25 goals a season and can unlock difficult matches in a flash. Where would United be today in the CL without Ronaldo? I mean, if you watch Spurs, Arsenal or Bayern the outstanding class of Lennon, Walcott and Ribery stands out. Could we say the same for Valencia? I really doubt it ! Let Madrid or Liverpool have him, we have better players already in the squad. At best he might be a worthy swap for F. Cambell and be around as a squad player.
Barry Lee USA - Give Nani a long run in the team? What for? He's proven
himself to be a poor mans Keiran Richardson so far - let him learn in
the reserve team, then once he makes that grade he can return to the first
team. It's hard to watch him play when Tevez or Giggs are on the bench.
I think Nani's Mum must have a lot of influence with SAF, cos Nani gets to play too much!
Up the Reds,
too much
Do we need him? Nani and Park can play on the right. Thats if Ronaldo moves in the summer or even if Sir Alex moves Ronaldo up front.
Park and Tosic can play Left wing even the twins can play on the wings
If he's so good, why did he miss a sitter in the opening two minutes? Would Ronaldo have missed the target? Valencia didn't even force a save.
Barry Lee if Ronaldo goes we have a hole the size of Manchester to fill and Nani isn't even on the radar. In another post I mentioned Valencia, Silva or Ribery but it would be any two of them to replace Ronaldo. He had a poor day yesterday but was fouled constantly with very little support from Styles but when the defender missed him he was in on goal in a flash. Wonderfull to watch him in full flight and I am sure Fergie will use him as the lone striker against Barca with Roo and Park wide. Anderson, Giggs and Carrick in the middle. The other option is Ronny wide and Tevez up front but Fergie knows that Ron will not support his full back so it will be Park wide right.
this guy is not good enough for us. i hope fergie doesnt fall in wigans trap, do you really think real madrid are interested in this guy? all wigan are doing is trying to get his price high.
How many wingers do we want? Actally all we need is a centre forward as Berba refuses to play anywhere BUT there! City were falling over themselves to buy Berba for 30 million in January,do you think they would still be interested at 30 mil? One way to keep Tevez!
Wigan are a selling club and all this talk seems designed to push up his price - 'lots of big clubs are interested and we turned down £18m in January' - right!! Frankly, he looks an OK sort of player but cannot see why United would want to shell out big bucks on an OK player when they are (apparently) bulking at paying the fee for Tevez and have plenty of options down the right, even if CR disappears off to Madrid. Lets hope this story is about selling newspapers and about Wigan advertising their players and not a serious indication of what United will do in summer.
Valencia impressed me when we played Wigan at OT.He is stronger than some in our squad.UNITED's need is not great but if we buy him he'll be useful.
we have a gilly belgium and a j1lly blue are you the same??????????? a red and a blue fan .
red mist
Madrid want to play Ronaldo down the middle with hunterlaar, so Valencia can play wide
raven as a right winger i would say he id definitley better attacking option than say
nani
park
fletcher
I think he's a decent player who could get better at United, playing with better players. He has good strength and pace but for a winger doesn't seem to have great flair, his distributions ok not really a goal threat, finishing is not his fortay, He's scored 3 this season. All that may improve but spending 18mill for him would be a bit much I think. Nani's barely played and has more goals and probably has a higher assist ratio than the Ecuadorian. Forgot to mention whilst playing on the wrong side of the pitch 99% of the times he plays.
Also we have Tosic and Ljajic for next season - well the latter after Decembers up. I feel an AM is really what we need, maybe Diego at Werder or Gourcuff from Milan/Bordeaux?
Not sure how long Rooney's going to put up with constantly playing as a winger/wingback and doing the donkey work either, he needs to be able to play with more freedom but at the moment I think he can understand the bigger picture with regards to this season anyway. Next season with the World Cup looming I doubt he'll comply.
Hopefully this summer will not be as annoyingly stressful as the last one-with regards to the transfer situation.