Manchester United appear to have agreed a compensation deal with Real Madrid over the loss of their fitness coach Valter Di Salvo.

The Italian was lured to Real over the summer, only days into United's preseason programme and had been put on gardening leave as the two clubs thrashed out compensation terms.

Real coach Bernd Schuster confirmed yesterday that Di Salvo was now working with the players, revealing: "Valter dedicated 40 minutes to explain to the squad his ideas of work and spoke on the percentage of injuries, prevention, the importance of warming up as substitutes and also exercising after games.

"When he finished, the players thanked him with applause. That demonstrates that people are receptive here."