/ 28 July 2006

Bolton’s good Fortune

Cristiano Ronaldo’s words to Wayne Rooney before the Portugal versus England World Cup quarterfinal were not ”I’m going to get you sent off”, but, as Rooney reveals in his new biography: ”Where’s Quinton Fortune going?”

That’s how much the Manchester United players care about the South African who was never given quite enough starts at Old Trafford. And now we know. Bolton Wanderers.

The 29-year-old from Cape Town has moved 15km down the road to the less glamorous Reebok stadium. This is his big chance to ignite a meandering career that saw him move to Mallorca and Atletico Madrid in Spain before the dream move to United in 1999.

Despite the odd flurry of first-team games, he was never likely to emerge from the shadow of Ryan Giggs in Sir Alex Ferguson’s thinking. He departs having played 76 times and scored five goals in seven often bleak seasons.

Fortune impressed no-nonsense Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce in pre-season training and has signed a one-year deal.

Fortune gets his chance as Jay Jay Okocha has been released and Dietmar Hamann made a last-minute decision to go to Manchester City rather than Bolton.

United hardman Roy Keane always made Fortune his first choice when United were picking five-a-side teams. Perhaps now we’ll find out why.