Tag: Manchester United

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his company INEOS have initiated a significant overhaul at Manchester United, starting with the appointment of Omar Berrarda as the new CEO. Berrarda, moving from rivals Manchester City, is a highly respected figure in the football world.

The changes at United are set to continue, with plans to bring in a new Sporting Director and a Head of Recruitment, as part of this broad restructuring.

Amid these developments, questions arise about the future of manager Erik ten Hag. Despite a challenging season for United, INEOS has expressed confidence in Ten Hag, but his position could be jeopardised if the team’s performance doesn’t improve.

Adding to the speculation, Matt Law from Telegraph Sport has reported that INEOS has a shortlist of potential replacements for Ten Hag, should the need arise. The list includes esteemed managers Graham Potter, Thomas Tuchel, and Roberto De Zerbi.

The report also highlights Tuchel’s interest in a return to England, potentially after his stint with Bayern. Last year, Tuchel had shown interest in taking over the English national team from Gareth Southgate post the European Championship.

Furthermore, Potter is seeking a challenge in the Champions League and is open to opportunities both in England and abroad, making him a possible candidate for United or even for Bayer Leverkusen, should Xabi Alonso depart from the German club.

The future remains uncertain for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. It remains to be seen whether the new leadership will maintain their faith in him or opt for a change in the managerial role.

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Sevilla FC has made the decision to exclude Hannibal Mejbri, the 21-year-old midfielder on loan from Manchester United, from their team selection for an undetermined period. This move comes after concerns were raised about his initial performances with the club.

Having turned down an opportunity to join Everton, Mejbri started his stint with Sevilla earlier this month. His debut was marked by a challenging match where Sevilla suffered a 5-1 loss to Girona. Subsequently, Mejbri was not included in the team for Sevilla’s recent Copa del Rey match against Atletico Madrid.

The club also confirmed that Mejbri will be absent from the upcoming league game against Osasuna, scheduled for Saturday. He will remain out of action until the issues are addressed and resolved.

Sevilla’s manager, Quique Sánchez Flores, provided insights into this decision. “After being with him, talking to him and having seen his first minutes in Girona, we are going to give him the necessary space to understand where he is, that he is at Sevilla and what it means,” he said.

Sánchez Flores emphasised the importance of Mejbri recognizing the stature and expectations of Sevilla. “He has to know where he is and we want to see him. We have spoken with him and we believe that he has to have some time to learn, we wanted to give him space, time for him to see things from the outside and then he will return to the squad.”

The manager also acknowledged the challenges young players face when joining a big club under high-pressure conditions. “In the end they are kids who have come and suddenly land in a huge club like Sevilla in circumstances of maximum demand. And they need a bit of location. And that location may be seen better from the outside than from the inside. You should take a step to understand what we want.”

Sánchez Flores concluded with a hopeful note regarding Mejbri’s future with the team. “Let’s see if the boy applies himself and I think that in the end he will understand perfectly what we want.”

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Omari Forson, the promising young talent from Manchester United, faces an uncertain future at the club with the likelihood of his departure growing, following his decision to reject the latest contract offer.

According to a report by Manchester Evening News, negotiations are still ongoing, but Forson’s exit from Old Trafford seems more probable.

The 19-year-old’s current contract is nearing its end, with just six months remaining. This situation allows him to engage in pre-contract discussions with clubs outside of England.

Interest in Forson is not limited, with several clubs from both the Premier League and the Championship keeping a close eye on his situation.

Forson’s talents were showcased during his senior debut for Manchester United, where he appeared as a substitute in the FA Cup match against Wigan Athletic.

This season, the young forward has been impressive for United’s U21 team, scoring seven goals and providing two assists in just eight appearances.

Forson’s development has been furthered by training with Manchester United’s first team under the guidance of manager Erik ten Hag and participating in the club’s pre-season tour in 2023.

However, breaking into the first team’s starting lineup is a challenging task for Forson, given the array of talent at Ten Hag’s disposal. Players like Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, and Antony are currently vying for the wing positions.

Amad Diallo’s comeback from injury adds to this competitive mix, further intensifying the battle for starting spots.

For Forson, the path forward involves demonstrating his worth in training sessions and consistently making his case to Ten Hag for more playing time.

Manchester United is keen on retaining Forson, recognizing his potential and envisaging him as a future asset for the club.

There is a possibility that Forson might feature in United’s upcoming FA Cup fourth-round match against Newport County on Sunday afternoon.

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Details on Manchester United’s trip to the Etihad for the Manchester derby against Manchester City have now been confirmed.

City visited Old Trafford earlier in the season in October and eased to a 3-0 victory.

Erik ten Hag’s men will be hoping to reverse the  result in the reverse fixture – for which we now have a confirmed date and time.

The game will take place on Sunday 3 March with the clash getting under way at 15:30 GMT as confirmed by the English Premier League

City have released a statement explaining why the kick-off time for the Etihad clash is set for this unique time.

In the statement, the club said, “City’s Premier League game against Manchester United at the Etihad has been altered for live television coverage.”

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Jonny Evans and Marcus Rashford are doubts for the FA Cup game against Newport County with illness, Erik ten Hag has said. The duo were not present in the training and did not train with squad.

Erik ten Hag said, “This morning, Rashford was ill and Evans was ill. So we have to see how they recover but we have, for the rest, players returning, like Martinez, like Shaw, like Maguire, like Casemiro, which is a good thing.”

Erik ten Hag spoke to the press on Friday afternoon as he previewed Manchester United’s upcoming FA Cup clash with Newport County.

United have not been in action for almost two weeks due to the Premier League winter break and will be looking to get back to winning ways at Rodney Parade on Sunday afternoon.

Ten Hag’s side will be heavy favourites for the match and with that comes huge pressure to deliver on the day.

Dan Gore, the young Manchester United midfielder, has elaborated on his decision to join Port Vale on loan for the remainder of the season.

Despite interest from other clubs like Preston and Bolton Wanderers, Gore, guided by advice from his father, opted for Port Vale, a decision influenced by the club’s supportive environment for burgeoning talents and their style of play.

As reported by MEN, United finalised Port Vale as the chosen destination for Gore, appreciating the club’s approach towards young players. The 19-year-old expressed his immediate connection with the team upon his first visit. “As soon as I visited, the sense of a close-knit family was evident. Everyone was incredibly welcoming,” he remarked.

Gore, who is already familiar with Port Vale’s gameplay, shared his father’s reaction to the decision: “He was taken aback and strongly recommended the move. He sensed they would nurture my development at this crucial phase of my career.”

Additionally, Gore’s camaraderie with Port Vale’s Manchester-born midfielder, Tommy McDermott, played a role in his decision. McDermott’s advice, along with the presence of former Manchester United players Tom Sang and James Wilson at the club, made Vale an even more appealing option.

Gore quoted McDermott’s encouragement, “Tommy was all for the move, assuring me it would be immensely beneficial for my growth.”

The young midfielder is determined to give his all for Port Vale. “I’m committed to hard work and dedication in every match, aiming for victories as the ultimate goal,” he stated. He also mentioned the positive start to his training sessions, looking forward to continuing in the same vein.

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Manchester City’s players were left ‘shocked’ by Omar Berrada’s decision to leave the club and join fierce rivals Manchester United.

The former City chief will take over as Red Devils CEO in the summer, ending a 13-year stay at the Etihad in the process. His arrival marks the first key decision recent investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made since his purchase of 25 per cent of United was confirmed just before Christmas.

Ratcliffe, alongside Sir Dave Brailsford, is expected to oversee United’s footballing operations and will view prying Berrada away from their local rivals as a huge coup for everyone at Old Trafford. Not only does the Spaniard’s arrival offer a significant boost to United, it is a damaging blow for City.

City manager Guardiola was asked about Berrada’s departure and whether or not it is a huge loss for the European champions.

“Well all I can say personally is I wish him all the best, good luck,” he said. “So he changes street and not the city.

“Yeah, he has been an important person for the whole organisation, the right hand of [City CEO] Ferran [Soriano].

“But he decided for himself to leave, and the club will move forward.

“So we, the club, will find the right way or the right person, or persons, to move forward and do what he has done. But personally I wish him all the best.”

When asked if the appointment makes Manchester United a bigger force, Guardiola replied: “I don’t know the ideas from Man United.

“We try to keep the best persons and people here but this can happen.

“When I arrived here eight years ago, especially in this building, to come, not very often, just in the press conferences, but now I come here and I don’t recognise one face. Honestly.

“So people change a lot, move to another job, and new people are coming.

“I think we wanted [him to stay], the club was so happy with Omar, but he decided for himself to leave and all the best [to him].”

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The 1958 Manchester United fans’ protest group, who have led the fight since the controversial takeover of Manchester United by the Glazers in 2005, have issued a statement in response to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% stake in the club.

The statement reads: “We believe the Ratcliffe investment gives us more hope for a brighter future and a potential clearer pathway towards majority ownership further down the line. ‘This doesn’t mean we rest on our laurels.”

“The aftermath of the European Super League is proof sitting back and doing nothing is not an option. We are working towards a next phase, strategy and plan.”

“A generation of supporters have fought and battled to rid our club of these owners. We never wanted them at the start and we don’t want them now.”

“We owe it to ourselves and the legacy of these efforts to ensure they are removed. We hope Sir Jim is an ally and vehicle in making this happen. Do not forgive and do not forget the damage the Glazers have done to our club and fan base.”

The 1958 fan group believe there is “more hope for a brighter future” with Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Manchester United but vowed to continue their “fight until the Glazers have been removed”.

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In response to rumors about Manchester United possibly losing faith in Antony following his underwhelming performances, his agent has recently made a statement.

The 23-year-old Brazilian winger, who moved to Old Trafford from Ajax in 2022 for £85m, has been a topic of much speculation due to his lackluster form.

Since joining Manchester United and reuniting with his former Ajax coach Erik ten Hag, Antony’s time on the field has been challenging.

With a tally of only eight goals in 66 appearances across all competitions, his contributions have fallen short of expectations. This season, particularly, has seen him fail to make a significant impact, sparking discussions about a potential transfer in 2024.

Addressing these speculations, Antony’s agent, Junior Pedroso, confirmed that Manchester United has not indicated any intention of selling the winger in the upcoming transfer windows.

Speaking to United In Focus, Pedroso emphasised Antony’s commitment to improving his game: “Manchester has so far not communicated any interest in transferring him [Antony] in either the January or summer window.

“Antony is focused on these four months of the season so he can improve his performance, knowing that he needs to score goals and assists. This is his focus. Today our head is on Manchester United.

“He knows very well that he needs to score, there’s no point in just playing good games, he has to score goals and provide assists. He is very coherent about this.

He will come back different, his head has become a little key and certainly in these four months he will show much more than he showed this season.”

Having recovered from a recent injury sustained in a match against Nottingham Forest at the end of December, Antony returned to the field in the recent 2-2 draw against Tottenham.

After a winter break focusing on his fitness, he is expected to play a crucial role in Manchester United’s upcoming FA Cup fourth-round match against Newport County.

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Manchester United, under Erik ten Hag’s leadership, is undertaking a significant transformation of their defensive lineup this summer. With decisions made not to prolong Raphael Varane’s contract, despite having the option for an additional year, he might exit as a free agent when the season concludes.

Similarly, Jonny Evans, who joined the club in 2023, might also be on his way out. In addition, both Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof could be departing, contingent upon receiving satisfactory bids.

In their quest to rebuild, United has their sights on some notable names for defensive reinforcement, including Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich, Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton, and Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo.

However, a recent report suggests that Manchester United’s scouting efforts are not just confined to well-known players. As per Boca Juniors news outlet Planeta BJ, they have reportedly made contact regarding Aaron Anselmino from Boca Juniors, who has garnered attention from various top European clubs.

Anselmino recently committed to a new contract with Boca, which notably includes a release clause just shy of £16m. However, this amount escalates to over £20m during the final phase of the transfer window, a strategic move by Boca to safeguard themselves from a late transfer that leaves them with limited replacement options.

This contractual strategy by Boca Juniors follows their recent experience with left-back Valentin Barco’s transfer to Brighton. Barco’s departure, facilitated by a relatively modest £7.8m release clause – a figure considered below his true market value – has influenced Boca’s approach with Anselmino. They are adamant about securing the full value of his newly established release clause.

The 18-year-old has made only five senior appearances for Boca, but he has been impressive.

The young centre-back is a strong ball-playing centre-back. He has won 68 per cent of his ground and aerial duels per game with an average of nearly three tackles won. He has also caught the eye with his recovery pace and ability to clear his lines.