Not for the first time, Alex Ferguson has singled Roy Keane out for special praise. But the Manchester United manager was more effusive than usual when speaking during Tuesday's banquet for the JP McManus Invitational Golf Pro-Am, in which he had played at Limerick GC.

While donating a special lot for the charity auction - four tickets for the Old Trafford game of a buyer's choice - Ferguson talked of the special contribution which Irish players had made to United, even before his own arrival at the club 13 and a half years ago. He mentioned Johnny Carey, Paul McGrath and Denis Irwin, who is about to have his testimonial.

Then Ferguson continued: "The greatest Manchester United player of all time is Roy Keane." Which, as might be expected, brought an enthusiastic response from a largely Munster audience.

Ferguson believes criticism of Phil Neville for his penalty blunder at Euro 2000 is unfair and part of the "national disease".

He claims the flak aimed at the defender in the aftermath of England's early exit has to do with the fact that he plays for United.

Ferguson insists all his players are the victims of an anti-Manchester United agenda whenever they pull on the white shirt of England. He points to the hounding of David Beckham for his sending off at France '98 and the criticism of the selections of Phil and Gary Neville before Euro 2000 as proof of his argument.

"The agenda with Phil and Gary is not an honest agenda. It is an anti-Manchester United agenda," he said. "Any Manchester United player who plays for England is going to get unfair criticism. Sadly it is part of the national disease. Unfortunately for Phil and Gary, they are copping it this time. Last time at the World Cup it was David Beckham.

"However, both Gary and Phil have proved themselves time and time again. They have both got more league medals than any other player in the country and they will get more medals with this club in the future."

Ferguson says the abuse hurled at Beckham following England's defeat against Portugal, which caused him to give a one-fingered gesture in retaliation, is yet more evidence of this hate campaign. But he insists the attacks on his players will only make them more determined to carry on winning and said: "We were all disgusted by what happened to David.

"At least the episode after the Portugal game was condemned by every national newspaper bar one. David knew which club the fans came from who were abusing him and so that tells you that it is not an anti-Beckham thing or an anti-Neville thing. In their case it is an anti-Manchester United agenda.

"It's not a great issue for us. It's not as if it has changed the world. Where it is important is that the players and everyone sees the anti-Man U campaigns as a challenge to us to make sure we stay number one."

Meanwhile, though Arsenal remain optimistic, their £6 million bid to sign Brazilian midfield man Edu seems doomed to failure. Arsenal have been left embarrassed by the refusal of the British Home Office to allow the player into the country last night.

Edu has returned to South America to try and sort out the documentation which would allow him to take up his four-year Premiership contract. However, unless the 22-year-old can produce the Portuguese passport he assured Arsenal he possessed when the signing was originally completed, there is no chance of obtaining a work permit - and little scope for appeal.

The saga parallels that of Argentinean striker Esteban Fuertes, who was forced to tear up his contract with Derby after a discrepancy was highlighted in his own documentation. On that occasion it was thought Fuertes was in possession of a Spanish passport, which allowed him into the United Kingdom as a citizen of the European Union.

That theory was proved incorrect - and Edu seems set to suffer the same consequences, although, unlike Fuertes, the Brazilian has yet to play a game for his new club.

However, Arsenal's current tribulations do not appear to have stopped them looking abroad for new talent. Two 18-year-old Ivory Coast midfielders are the latest to have trials with the Highbury club. Gilles Yapi Yapo and Mamadou Dansoko - who play for ASEC Mimosas - will travel to London this weekend, a spokesman for their club confirmed.