News round-up: Gabriel Heinze accused Manchester United of breaking a promise in his first face-to-face meeting with Alex Ferguson since the player called in Liverpool's lawyers to help force a transfer from Old Trafford.

The Argentinian reported for pre-season training yesterday, having had a delayed start because of his involvement in the Copa America, and went straight into talks with Ferguson in which accusations were made on both sides.

The talks are understood to have been fractious, with obvious bad feeling in both camps. Whether it will have any effect on Heinze's attempt to leave remains to be seen, but it seems highly improbable that, having gone against Ferguson in such a way, their relationship can be fully repaired.

Heinze reiterated that he wants to leave, in the strongest possible terms, and said he is "very serious" about becoming the first footballer to move from Old Trafford to Anfield in four decades.

Ferguson expressed his disappointment, but, with 24 days to go before the transfer window closes, Heinze said he will continue with his legal fight and wants the transfer concluded as quickly as possible. He claims the blame lies with United, accusing them of reneging on a written agreement that he could leave in the summer.

Ferguson's next decision is whether Heinze should join his compatriot and new signing Carlos Tevez in one of two friendlies tomorrow night - United are sending a representative XI to Dunfermline and another to Glentoran in Belfast. But the indications from Old Trafford are that the left-back will probably not be involved.

Ferguson is furious, and there is also a great amount of anger about the role of the player's agent, Roberto Rodriguez.

The club will continue to shun Liverpool's approaches, pointing out that they have had a similar lack of co-operation when trying to sign players from Anfield.

Heinze's state of mind appears to be one of defiance and it is a measure of how keen he is to sever ties that he is understood to have reported back to the Liverpool office of Hill Dickinson, which was appointed by him last month and specialises in legal matters on behalf of the club.

His solicitor, Richard Green, has also made a formal objection to the Premier League about United's refusal to do business when Liverpool lodged a €10 million bid three weeks ago.

The player's advisers had been informed, via fax, that United would sell him for precisely that amount, but Liverpool's offer was dismissed out of hand because of the historic rivalry between the two clubs.

United have upset another of their northwest neighbours after head-hunting Blackburn's fitness coach Tony Strudwick to replace Valter di Salvo, who has left to take up a position with Real Madrid's backroom staff. Blackburn have been described as "extremely disappointed" to lose Strudwick, who has also worked for West Ham, Coventry City and the English FA, and was one of Mark Hughes's first appointments.

United had advertised the position but made an official request to Blackburn to interview Strudwick after Ferguson heard glowing reports about the club's "exercise scientist".

Di Salvo, who left on bad terms on the day before pre-season training began, is on "gardening leave" and United have asked Madrid for compensation.

On the pitch, Ryan Giggs believes that, although Manchester United will begin their title defence with an outrageous array of attacking options, it will be the strength of their defence that will determine whether they retain their crown.

"We do have plenty of attacking flair," observed the Welshman. "We have at least four or five players who can change a game and take people on. That is what Manchester United is all about.

"But you cannot lose sight of the fact defences win you championships and that is what happened last year. The defenders provide the platform for attacking players to produce the skills they have. We must defend well and be solid as a team."

• Guardian Service