Michael Owen officially started work as a Manchester United player today when the 29-year-old trained with the Premier League champions for the first time since his shock free transfer from Newcastle United.

The former Liverpool striker was introduced to his new team-mates at Carrington before taking part in the opening session of the club's pre-season training programme, which involved gym work plus a 30-minute run. It will be later this week, however, before Owen is reunited with his former England strike partner Wayne Rooney who, along with several players involved in World Cup qualifiers at the end of last season, has been given an extended break by the manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. Luis Antonio Valencia, United's recent £16m purchase from Wigan Athletic, is on holiday in his native Ecuador but is expected to be officially unveiled alongside Owen before United embark on a four-game tour of east Asia next week.

The Bordeaux president, Jean-Louis Triaud, has claimed United are favourites to sign his club's highly rated winger, Gabriel Obertan. The 20-year-old is regarded as one of the finest young prospects in France and has been linked in recent seasons with a move to Chelsea, Internazionale, Milan and Arsenal, as well as United. Ferguson is known to be keen on the winger and Triaud admits the Premier League champions are close to completing a deal. "It's actually a great possibility," the Bordeaux president told L'Equipe. "United want him and we would be delighted to see Gabriel develop in such a club. We will make it official when the moment comes."

Obertan spent the second half of last season on loan at Lorient and is a regular in the France Under-21 side, scoring against England Under-21s in March. He was awarded the Most Valuable Player award at last month's Toulon international youth tournament.