"I am Calm About the Rumours About Manchester United”

Nicolas Gaitan is happy at Benfica despite speculation linking him with a big money move to Manchester United.

Early in December Manchester United were strongly rumoured to have opened talks over a possible £29.3 million deal.

The Premier League giants made the unusual move of denying the reports which had initially surfaced in Portugal, but Manchester United continue to be associated with the hugely talented 23-year-old.

Gaitan impressed Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson in their two Champions League group stage games against Benfica, and the player's recent emergence for the Argentine national side has significantly raised the diminutive playmaker's profile.

While Ferguson recently lowered expectations in regards to an active January window for Manchester United, the Scot is perpetually on the lookout for the world's finest young players and Gaitan certainly falls into that category.

Regardless of the increasing speculation linking Manchester United with the attacking midfielder, Gaitan remains calm about his immediate future.

"The interest of big clubs is not affecting my head," Gaitan told O Jogo. "I am calm about the rumours about Manchester United.

"It is certain and obvious that some clubs are interested in me and that signifies that I am doing well, but now my mission is to work and help Benfica to be successful. I am not desperate to be sold." The reputed Manchester United target continued. "I am very comfortable in Benfica because we are an excellent team and the people are happy with me.

"My future? I do not want any pressure and I wait for news. If, eventually, no concrete offers appear, it's not a problem."

Manchester United's midfield has been decimated by injuries this season, but Phil Jones is expected to start the Red Devils' game against Wigan on Boxing Day after the club alleviated fears the prodigiously gifted youngster had fractured his cheekbone during the win at Craven Cottage.

Jones is likely to start the match alongside Michael Carrick and the Manchester United starlet suggests his midfield partner has been a hugely influential presence this season.

He's terrific," Jones said of Carrick to Manchester United's official website. "I don't think everybody realises what he does for the team. He's a super footballer and a great lad. He's massively under-rated."