UNITED TO MOVE FOR ADRIANO?

Ryan Giggs, scorer of two goals in Manchester United's victory over Juventus last night, could be in his final season at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson may finally allow Inter Milan to open negotiations with Giggs this summer after the Serie A club suggested a complicated swap deal that would take the highly-rated young Brazilian striker Adriano to Old Trafford.

The Telegraph understands that Ferguson met Parma's general manager Arrigo Sacchi, who would play a crucial part in any deal to bring Adriano to United, for lunch on Feb 16. The meeting took place a day after the United manager's dressing room incident with David

Beckham and Ferguson later watched Juventus in action against Parma.

Furthermore, the latest comments of United's chief executive Peter Kenyon to Italian reporters did little to play down a possible deal. "It is too early to say if we are ready to consider an offer for Ryan Giggs," he said.

Adriano, 21, who currently plays for Parma, is part owned by Inter Milan who intend to buy the striker outright at the end of the season for £8 million. The Brazilian, who began his career with the Rio de Janeiro club Flamengo, would then form a vital part of a possible swap deal to bring Giggs to Inter Milan.

Although Ferguson has dismissed speculation about offers for Giggs, the United manager has been searching for a striker after his inquiries about Damien Duff and Andrei Shevchenko last summer came to nothing.

Adriano was substitute against United last August when they faced Parma in the pre-season Amsterdam tournament. Since then, however, Adriano has fallen out with his coach Claudio Prandelli over the former Juventus midfielder's insistence that his Brazilian striker is regularly substituted before the end of matches. Adriano has already indicated his willingness to leave Parma.

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