Tag: Football

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Manchester United are already experiencing bad luck with injuries even before the season has begun.

Star centre-back Leny Yoro and star striker Rasmus Hojlund have both sustained major injuries that will keep them out of action for three months and six weeks, respectively.

This is a significant blow for a club that suffered 66 injuries in total last season, leading to a dismal Premier League and Champions League campaign.

United finished 8th in the Premier League, their worst ever finish in history, and similarly endured their worst ever UCL campaign by finishing last in their group.

Signs of the same horror seem to be repeating as it is only preseason and they have lost two very important players.

There is now fear that they may lose four more players after all of them came off in their 3-0 defeat against Liverpool on Sunday.

United hit with four more injuries

United’s pre-season injury woes continued as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelöf, Jonny Evans and Will Fish were all forced off during the 3-0 friendly defeat to Liverpool in South Carolina.

Erik ten Hag has had to deal with several problems during their pre-season tour of the United States.

United suffered more problems in their win over Real Betis as Marcus Rashford and Antony were withdrawn with issues.

Although both went on to play some part in the loss to Liverpool, the defensive trio of Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, and Evans all appeared unable to continue.

Lindelöf was taken off at half-time as a precaution as he didn’t feel okay, while Evans was withdrawn due to illness.

Wan-Bissaka, who has been linked with West Ham during the transfer window, went down in the 80th minute and was treated on the field before James Scanlon replaced him.

Additionally, the 21-year-old Will Fish was also unable to continue following a challenge with the Liverpool forward Harvey Blair.

The extent of their injuries is not yet clear.

However, Fish, who was stretchered off, appears to be the worst affected and could be out for a while.

Evans might recover quickly since he was only ill, but there is uncertainty surrounding the injuries to Wan-Bissaka and Lindelöf at the moment.

Meanwhile, important player Harry Maguire was left out of the game against Liverpool as a precaution.

Ten Hag told MUTV: “We have to see what has gone on. The assessment, of course, with Will Fish is it’s an impact injury.

“We also had to sub Jonny Evans at half-time because he was ill. Victor Lindelöf was a precaution. So, yeah, there are some injuries, but we have to see how bad it will be.

“Pre-season is always tough. Harry Maguire, as a precaution, we leave him out.

“And we had, of course, some injuries, but that is part of club football. We have to develop our team and make some good progression.”

The injuries are a major concern for United as they prepare for the upcoming season.

With key players already sidelined, the club faces a challenging start.

Ten Hag will need to manage the squad carefully to avoid further injuries and ensure that the team is competitive when the season begins.

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The question of who Manchester United will sign for the midfield is still up in the air this summer.

After struggling in the middle of the park last season, many are expecting reinforcements.

Casemiro has also been linked with a move away from the club.

The longer a replacement doesn’t come in, the less likely that will happen.

Manuel Ugarte is the name most linked with a transfer to Old Trafford.

PSG have just signed Joao Neves, so you’d think that they’d look to offload Ugarte as bring some funds in.

It looks like the future of Scott McTominay also hinges on any player coming in. The Scotland international is wanted by four clubs and it’s likely that the race for his signature will quicken in the coming days.

Even last season, United knew they needed better midfield protection.

It’s why they brought Sofyan Amrabat to the club on loan.

Sofyan Amrabat at United

Amrabat’s loan wasn’t the most successful.

Often played out of position to cover holes around the team, the Morocco international wasn’t always able to impress those watching him.

However, towards the end of the season, Amrabat was restored to his more familiar role as a defensive midfielder and did much better.

This led to speculation around what his future might bring

United didn’t take up their option to make his transfer permanent. It’s believed that the club are hoping to pay a reduced fee as Amrabat only has one year left on his contract.

On the part of Sofyan Amrabat, he’s already told his current club Fiorentina that he doesn’t want to return.

A permanent parting of the ways is inevitable.

It seems that Amrabat only has eyes for Manchester United, as he’s rejected a move to Turkiye.

Just a few days back, it was reported that Fenerbahce were interested in signing the midfielder.

Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has taken over the club and they wanted to bring Amrabat in for him.

Sofyan Amrabat rejects Fenerbahce move

However, Corriere dello Sport report that the Super Lig club have had a €10m bid rejected for the player.

Even if it had been accepted, the Italian newspaper claims that Amrabat would have rejected the move as he’s waiting for United to come back in.

Sofyan Amrabat is said to have enjoyed his time in Manchester and it’s clear he wants to return.

Whether United will go back in for him, is another question.

If Fenerbahce have had a €10m bid rejected, it’s hard to see MUFC going much higher.

As the transfer window draws to a close, it’s possible that La Viola will drop their demands to see a transfer go through.

Until then, it seems that the Sofyan Amrabat situation will remain in limbo still further.

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David de Gea, a legend at Manchester United, spent the entire 2023/24 season as a free agent after his contract with the club expired.

Despite being only 33 years old, De Gea, who won the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, and Europa League titles during his tenure at Old Trafford, has not retired.

With 45 caps for Spain and over 600 appearances for both Manchester United and Atletico Madrid, he remains an attractive option for clubs in need of an experienced goalkeeper.

The Spanish shot-stopper took a year away from football after leaving the Premier League club as a free agent.

After being replaced by Andre Onana, De Gea decided to take some time off to consider his next steps.

Despite his absence from the pitch, his market value has not significantly decreased and still stands at €5 million, according to Transfermarkt.

In recent months, there have been various rumors about De Gea’s next move. A potential transfer to Genoa recently fell through, as per multiple reports.

Serie A giants considering De Gea

However, transfer expert Matteo Moretto has indicated that another Serie A club, Fiorentina, is still considering De Gea as an option.

“There’s the David de Gea matter for the goalkeeper spot,” Moretto told Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing.

“He was offered to them, they are evaluating him as an option, but they have not taken a decision yet on whether to go to him.”

De Gea has also reportedly turned down a move to Saudi Arabia, signaling his commitment to continue playing at the top level in European football. His rejection of the Saudi offer shows his desire to remain competitive in Europe.

As United fans, there is a strong desire to see De Gea return to football. It feels unjust to see such a veteran and accomplished player sidelined. With his skills and experience, De Gea undoubtedly still has the capability to contribute to European football.

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Image Credits: Real Madrid Football Club

Endrick is the next big name of Brazilian football.

The 18-year-old striker made headlines in 2022 when Real Madrid announced that they’d sign him when he turned 18.

That wasn’t what caught people’s attention.

Madrid agreed to pay Palmeiras €60 million plus €12 million in addons.

At that time, he’d only played a handful of matches having made his first team debut only two months earlier.

So to say that he’s been marked as special is an understatement.

Los Blancos and the footballing world believe that they’ve pulled off a coup to land the player at that price. They believe that his value will explode in the coming years when he takes the game by storm.

Endrick has made headlines this week as he made his long awaited debut for Real.

He played in the 1-0 debut to AC Milan in a pre-season friendly a couple of days ago.

That’s not the only reason that he’s made headlines.

Endrick namedrops United legends

Endrick was speaking to a presenter when he was asked who will football idols were.

And he named two.

Both of whom are Manchester United legends.

The first name that Endrick named was Cristiano Ronaldo.

This is not a surprise.

Ronaldo is a former Real Madrid and Manchester United legend and one of the greatest players of all-time.

The other was slightly more surprising.

Endrick named former England and Manchester United player Sir Bobby Charlton.

Some might remember that the striker paid tribute to Sir Bobby when he scored his first international goal for Brazil against England at Wembley earlier this year.

Endrick became the youngest goalscorer in Wembley history on that day, but he ensured that he paid homage to the late, great United midfielder.

It seems that Endrick definitely has some of that United influence in his game if he’s idolising the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Sir Bobby Charlton.

Bobby Charlton ser ídolo de infância é foda pic.twitter.com/COtNQrrFwM

— Ele é ruim ou é esquema de aposta? (@Esquemafut) August 3, 2024

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Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has been absent from club management for several years.

The 72-year-old’s last stint in club football was a two-season tenure at Manchester United, which he joined in 2014.

In his first season, Van Gaal led United back to the Champions League. However, he was unable to replicate this success in his second season, with the team finishing fifth.

In 2016, Van Gaal secured the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Wembley but was dismissed just days after the triumph.

He was succeeded by Jose Mourinho. In 2017, Van Gaal announced he was taking a sabbatical from football management and confirmed his retirement in 2019.

Nonetheless, in 2021, Van Gaal came out of retirement to coach the Netherlands for a third time, succeeding Frank de Boer.

He led the Dutch national team in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by the eventual winners, Argentina.

Following the team’s exit, Van Gaal resigned from his position and has not been involved in football management since.

Throughout his career, Van Gaal has managed some of Europe’s top clubs, including Manchester United, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich.

Louis Van Gaal reveals he turned down former club

Recently, the Dutchman revealed that Bayern Munich approached him to become Thomas Tuchel’s successor this summer, but he turned down the offer.

Speaking to ESPN, he said, “I am now reasonably healthy again. I could do it, but not as a club coach.

“I was asked by Bayern Munich, even before Kompany [to manage them].

“As a national coach, you are busy for eight periods and during the year you scout with your staff. That could still be possible.”

Van Gaal has previously overcome prostate cancer and appears now only willing to consider roles as a national team coach, avoiding the daily demands of club management.

He had a successful spell with Bayern Munich between 2009 and 2011, during which he won the Bundesliga and German Cup and reached the Champions League final, where Bayern were runners-up to Inter Milan in 2010.

Following Tuchel’s departure, Bayern appointed former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, who joined the Allianz Arena after a two-year managerial spell at Burnley.

This decision reflects Van Gaal’s current preference for the less demanding schedule of international management over the rigorous day-to-day responsibilities associated with club football.

His illustrious career, marked by significant achievements at some of Europe’s biggest clubs, now sees him contemplating only national team roles while he maintains his health.

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Manchester United have the opportunity to bring in more players before the transfer window closes at the end of August.

With the signings of Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, the club is now focusing on concluding deals for Bayern Munich duo Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.

Additionally, United are keen on signing Manuel Ugarte. Should funds persist and sales remain healthy, the club may also consider bringing in another striker, especially following the injury to their main man, Rasmus Hojlund.

There is also the potential for several departures from the club. Players such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen, and Victor Lindelof may be leaving this summer.

Overall, it promises to be a very active and hectic August for the Manchester United hierarchy.

Man Utd poised to lose target to Aston Villa

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Sunderland youngster Mason Cotcher, who had a trial at United earlier this year and was a target for the club according to the Daily Mail, is now wanted by Aston Villa.

Fabrizio Romano, as cited by Manchester World, has reported that Unai Emery’s side have lodged a ‘formal bid’ for the attacker and that he is already training with the Midlands club.

Cotcher is an England youth international and is highly-rated at the Stadium of Light.

However, the Black Cats could lose him now with Villa ready to pounce.

It remains unclear what United’s stance is on this, but it seems likely they will let Villa have the player as they focus on other targets.

In some good news for United fans, the club has already secured two wonderkids: Chido Obi-Martin from Arsenal and Samuel Lusale from Crystal Palace.

These signings highlight United’s commitment to investing in young talent for the future.

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When one door closes, another opens.

Manchester United are set to lose Rasmus Hojlund to injury for roughly six weeks.

While a disappointment for Hojlund, it will open a door for another striker.

The likes of Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee will look to see if they can step into that space.

But an incoming Manchester United striker could also be in contention.

It’s one that has been rumoured for a short while, but has now been confirmed.

That’s because Sky Sports have confirmed that Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Chido Obi-Martin.

The TV station report that the Denmark youth international turned down more lucrative offers from Germany to join United.

They also confirm that his medical is expected to take place in the coming days.

It seems that United will be able to call upon another striker to carry the burden and challenge the current strikers at the club.

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In a significant development for Salford City, Manchester United legend Gary Neville has become the majority shareholder of the League Two side after purchasing Peter Lim’s share.

The club, currently in the fourth tier of English football, officially announced the news of Singaporean businessman Lim’s departure on Friday.

The club’s statement read: “Salford City FC (‘the club’) announces today that Gary Neville has acquired from Peter Lim his interest in the club. This simplifies the corporate structure and paves the way for a new strategic partner to take the club forward into the next phase of growth.”

Neville, along with his former Manchester United teammates from the famous Class of ’92 – Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, and his brother Phil Neville – initially acquired a stake in the club in 2014.

Each member of this distinguished group held a 10% stake, while Lim owned the remaining shares.

With Lim’s exit, Neville will now own 50% of The Ammies.

The remaining owners expressed their gratitude to Lim for his contribution to Salford City’s development, stating:

“We cannot thank Peter enough for his support, friendship, belief and loyalty to us for over 10 years, not only in Salford City but in other projects that we have worked on together.

“Peter has been integral in helping to create a legacy at Salford City that we are now determined to build on.”

Nicky Butt, the club’s CEO, highlighted Lim’s pivotal role in establishing Salford City as a League Two club with unique ownership.

He commented: “Peter’s support has allowed us to become an established League Two club with a unique ownership.

“We are committed to the future growth of this club in the best interests of the supporters, stakeholders and the local community.

“We continue to explore options to potentially work with additional new strategic partners to assist us in achieving our ambitions for the club.

“We are as excited as ever about the new football season and remain focused on strengthening our playing squad and achieving future success on the field alongside the continued development of the football club.”

As Salford City prepares for the upcoming 2024/25 season, they are set to play their final pre-season friendly match against Rochdale on Saturday.

The new season will kick off on August 10, with Salford City facing Port Vale.

The recent changes in the club’s ownership mark a new chapter in its history, as Gary Neville and his fellow owners look to build on the foundation laid by Peter Lim and continue their quest for success in English football.

The transition in ownership at Salford City is poised to bring new opportunities and strategies as the club aims for growth and success in the coming seasons.

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Over the past fortnight, Erik ten Hag has taken a 29-man Manchester United squad to the United States for this summer’s pre-season tour.

However, several first-team stars were notably absent from the trip.

Due to the scheduling of Euro 2024 and Copa America this summer, players who progressed to the latter stages of these international competitions were given extra time off to rest and recuperate.

With the Community Shield match against Manchester City just a week away, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Altay Bayindir, and Alejandro Garnacho all returned to Carrington on Friday to begin their preparations for the new season.

These returning players will not immediately join their teammates, who are set to face Liverpool in their final pre-season match in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Instead, they will focus on working on their fitness before integrating with the squad next week.

Alejandro Garnacho comes back to Manchester with a gold medal, having helped Argentina retain the Copa America title.

He received a warm welcome from teammate Rasmus Hojlund upon his arrival.

Hojlund welcomes Garnacho with a two-word message

Garnacho expressed his happiness on Instagram on Friday evening, posting a series of pictures of himself in action with the caption: “No place like home.”

Hojlund responded in the comments with a supportive message, simply writing: “My goat,” accompanied by a goat emoji.

United’s bright spots from last season included the promising performances of their young players, offering a glimpse into a potentially exciting future.

Alongside Kobbie Mainoo, Garnacho and Hojlund stood out as key figures, often creating magic when playing together.

Unfortunately, it will be some time before this trio can combine again, as injuries continue to plague United.

Rasmus Hojlund, the Danish striker, sustained a hamstring injury during a match against Arsenal and is now expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks.

This injury means he will miss the opening stages of the new campaign. Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo is still on holiday after helping England reach the Euro final but is expected to return early next week.

As Manchester United gears up for the new season, the return of these key players and their ability to regain match fitness will be crucial.

The anticipation builds for the Community Shield clash against Manchester City, and the team’s young talents, once fully fit, are expected to play a significant role in United’s pursuit of success this season.

The challenge now lies in managing player fitness and ensuring the squad is well-prepared for the competitive fixtures ahead.

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When Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought his minority stake of Manchester United, the INEOS owner’s priority was to take the club back to the top of football by any means. Now, Ratcliffe is doing everything he can to make that a reality.

The Premier League club has undergone a number of changes already under the reign of Ratcliffe. Some changes have been big, some small, but all with the aim of promoting a higher standard of delivery and ensuring the sustainability of the club.

The INEOS owner has already remodelled the team of football executives and the coaching staff. He’s also made around 250 redundancies and is look at rebranding Old Trafford.

However, Ratcliffe’s most recent change is much more subtle, hoping to make a massive impact on the pitch.

INEOS make subtle change for massive impact

The Red Devils are currently on their tour of the States this pre-season to get the squad ready for the upcoming campaign.

So far the tour has been eventful with United suffering a loss to Arsenal, a win against Real Betis and picked up four injuries.

However, INEOS have implemented a change at the training camp to help the Red Devils on the pitch, in a round about way.

The Telegraph have reported that United have redesigned their dining set up during meal times.

The club have scrapped circular tables in place of on long table to encourage the players to mix together. A previous report explained that all the players would stick to their same little groups at mealtimes, however mixing this up can promote better team chemistry.

Speaking to BBC Sport about the extensive changes, Erik ten Hag said: “We want to make improvements in the squad and we want a squad as good as possible, although that is the aim of every club.”

He continued: “It is important when you want to be at the top level, in a season like this, which will be a season of ‘survival of the fittest’ you need squad depth.

“Even though we won two trophies, in the six years before United didn’t win any. We knew we had to change. We have started the project. It is good. The new structure and new leadership has come in. New players have come in to improve the dressing room.

“Of course, the structure is there. The club has made changes and we can look forward. People have been brought in with great abilities. I am sure that will give us an even better foundation from which to attack. We are building, we have to keep building and making progress.

“Then you need improvements. Everyone was reviewing. They came to the right conclusions, so we made the changes in the structures of the club. But also we are improving the squad and we are going to improve the game model.”

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