TheNewsGuru

Tag: Manchester United

  • Transfer Rumours: Man Utd confident of signing Willian from Chelsea

    Manchester United are confident of signing 29-year-old Brazil midfielder Willian from Chelsea for £30m, according to the Sun.

    Manchester United coach, Jose Mourinho tried to land the Chelsea star last summer and talks took place with the player’s representatives.

    Willian moved to Chelsea in 2013 from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala for a fee of £30 million, making 228 appearances and scoring 44 goals.

    The Brazilian has won two Premier Leagues, one League Cup, also with individual honours for winning 2016 Chelsea player of the year and Chelsea Player’s Player of the year award in 2016.

    Willian’s Stamford Bridge contract expires in 2020.

    Also, Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata is set to leave Old Trafford this summer, with Mourinho planning some big changes as he bids to build a side capable of challenging city rivals Manchester City next season.

    Mata, 30 this month, was signed for a then club record fee of £37.1m in 2014 from Chelsea and has gone on to make 182 appearances, scoring 39 goals.

     

  • I wanted to join LA Galaxy before Man Utd move – Ibrahimovic

    LA Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he wanted to join the Major League Soccer side two years ago, before signing for Jose Mourinho side, Manchester United.

    Ibrahimovic joined the Los Angeles club last week after the mutual termination of his Old Trafford contract.

    The Swede, 36, joined United in 2016 and scored 29 goals in 53 appearances.

    “[The move] was supposed to happen before Manchester United. My head was here. I wanted to come here,” he said at his first Galaxy news conference.

    Ibrahimovic moved to Old Trafford on a free transfer after four seasons at French giants Paris St-Germain and has also played for Barcelona, Juventus and both Milan clubs.

    He made 46 appearances and scored 28 goals in his first season with United. The Premier League club released him in June 2017 after his campaign was ended by early by a knee injury – before re-signing him in August.

    However, Ibrahimovic only played seven times for United this season, scoring once.

    “Things go like they are not supposed to go, but the destiny said I will come here,” he said. “Los Angles called and I answered.”

    Asked if he planned to come out of international retirement to play for Sweden at this summer’s World Cup, Ibrahimovic said: “If I want I am there.”

    He was also said he is fit to make his debut on Saturday against Los Angeles FC.

     

  • EPL: Lukaku records milestone as Manchester United defeat Swansea

    Romelu Lukaku became the first Belgian to reach 100 Premier League goals as Manchester United quickly regained second place in the table from Liverpool with a comfortable 2-0 win over Swansea City on Saturday.

    The powerful striker put his team in front within five minutes from a pass by Alexis Sanchez, who added the second quarter of an hour later.

    United, with record signing Paul Pogba back in the side, were dominant, although David de Gea did have to make two saves from Tammy Abraham.

    Swansea, revitalised under Jose Mourinho’s friend and compatriot Carlos Carvalhal, remain three points above the relegation zone but drop down a place to 15th.

    Swansea improved after the break, with Tammy Abraham twice denied by David de Gea, but United were always in control.

    Jose Mourinho’s side re-opened a two-point gap over third-placed Liverpool, who won 2-1 at Crystal Palace earlier on Saturday.

  • UEFA see Man Utd move as a big boost for women’s game

    UEFA see Man Utd move as a big boost for women’s game

    Manchester United’s decision to establish their first professional women’s team will boost the female game across Europe, UEFA’s head of marketing activities and sponsorship said on Wednesday.

    The highest revenue-generating soccer club in the world, according to financial services firm Deloitte, United last week announced that they had applied to enter the second tier of the Women’s Super League.

    The former European champions have until now stood out from Premier League rivals Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool as the only top tier club not to have their own women’s side.

    UEFA’s Peter Willems said it was important for the development of women’s soccer and the European body’s international competitions to have the biggest clubs fully engaged.

    “When big brands in an area are going behind something, that will create momentum,” the Belgian told Reuters on Wednesday at a Leaders XX Series think tank event at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium.

    “Manchester United coming in to women’s football, I can only see advantages for all the levels. For English football but also for European football, for Manchester United themselves,” he added.

    “I think you need a few of these heavyweights to push it forward.”

    Reuters

  • Man Utd knocked out of Champions League by Sevilla

    Manchester United were knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage after an awful performance ended in a 2-1 home defeat by Sevilla.

    Substitute Wissam Ben Yedder was the match-winner for the Spanish side, shooting from inside the area just two minutes after coming on and heading in at the back post from a corner.

    After posing little threat in the goalless first leg, United again looked second best against the La Liga side, though Marouane Fellaini’s thumping effort did draw Sergio Rico into a save and the away goalkeeper kept out Jesse Lingard’s low strike.

    Romelu Lukaku lashed home from close range with seven minutes remaining, but it proved to be merely a consolation.

    United exit the competition along with Tottenham, but Premier League leaders Manchester City and Liverpool progressed to Friday’s quarter-final draw. Chelsea can join them if they beat Barcelona on Wednesday.

     

    BBC

  • EPL: Marcus Rashford double seals United win against Liverpool

    Marcus Rashford’s first-half double inspired Manchester United to a crucial 2-1 victory over rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Saturday.

    The England forward’s thunderous drive fired United into the lead on 14 minutes – his first Premier League goal since December 10 – and he doubled his tally with a deflected second 10 minutes later.

    Eric Bailly’s 66th-minute own goal handed an improved Liverpool a route back into the game but United withstood a late onslaught to secure their first victory over their rivals since January 2016.

    The victory sees Jose Mourinho’s men extend their unbeaten league run against Liverpool to eight games and opens up a five-point lead over Jurgen Klopp’s side in the race for second.

    There was a subdued start to the 200th meeting between England’s two most-decorated clubs, but Rashford, making his first league start since Boxing Day, ignited the contest.

    Romelu Lukaku bullied Dejan Lovren to flick a David de Gea punt into the path of Rashford, who cut inside Trent Alexander-Arnold before ruthlessly rifling the ball into the far corner.

     

     

  • Nemanja Matic injury-time goal secured Man Utd win at Palace

    Nemanja Matic scored a stunning stoppage-time winner as Manchester United came from 2-0 down to go second in the Premier League table and leave Crystal Palace in the relegation zone.

    “I always believe we can win. I will be like that until my last day,” said United boss Jose Mourinho.

    “You always need that little bit of luck to win a match in the last few minutes. Sometimes the winner is the one who deserves the congratulations but I think Roy Hodgson did everything right.”

    Hodgson’s side would have climbed all the way up to 13th place with a win.

    But, after Chris Smalling’s header started a comeback from an improving United, Romelu Lukaku swept in his 99th Premier League goal to pile the pressure on the tiring hosts.

    And, with 91 minutes on the clock, Matic smashed in a dipping shot from 25 yards to consign Palace to another week in the drop zone and move United above Liverpool.

    The two giants meet at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime and Mourinho will know that, despite this win, his team must play far better than they did for most of an underwhelming display at Selhurst Park if they are to beat Jurgen Klopp’s men.

    Palace, who will feel deflated to remain 18th after leading through goals from Andros Townsend and Patrick van Aanholt, must take heart for the dogfight ahead from their committed and organised display with 10 first-team players out.

    But, when seconds away from a point, Matic smashed home to inflict a second costly late home defeat in the space of eight days.

     

    BBC

  • Pep Guardiola accepts FA charge for wearing yellow ribbon

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has accepted a Football Association charge over “wearing a political message, specifically a yellow ribbon”.

    Guardiola had until 18:00 GMT today to respond to a charge of breaching the FA’s kit and advertising regulations.

    In November, Guardiola said he wears the ribbon to support imprisoned politicians in his native Catalonia.

    The FA spoke to the City boss about the situation in December and had previously issued two formal warnings.

    Action was taken though when he wore it pitchside – he is free to wear it elsewhere – during City’s FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Wigan on 19 February.

    Two key members of the Catalan independence movement, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez, were held without bail after an independence vote in October, which the Spanish government deemed illegal.

    Guardiola said in November: “If one day in prison was already too much, look how many days they’ve been there now.

    “Like everybody knows, hopefully sooner or later I can stop wearing it.

    “All the politicians that are in prison, I hope they can leave and go back home soon with their families and continue living the lives they deserve.”

     

    BBC

  • Super Athlete, Usain Bolt to feature in Soccer Aid match at Old Trafford

    Usain Bolt will finally make his footballing debut at Old Trafford.

    The eight-time Olympic gold medallist will captain a team of celebrities and footballers for the Soccer Aid match on 10 June.

    “It’s my dream to make it as a professional footballer. To play against some of football’s biggest legends is going to be remarkable,” the Jamaican sprinter said.

    Robbie Williams will captain rivals England for the Unicef match.

    Usain has spoken previously about wanting to get into professional football after retiring from athletics last year.

    And over the weekend he put out a cheeky tweet – which led to much speculation – hinting he’d been signed to a club.

    “Robbie and his England team better watch out as I won’t be going easy on them,” said Usain, adding that he’s got a “special celebration” planned should his team win.

    The 31-year-old is a Manchester United fan, and once even made a surprise call to MUTV.

    “I always said that I want to cope in more of a team sport because the track is individual,” he told the football club.

    “I catch along easily and understand what I need to do when I get a job. When I get instructions, I can carry them out really well,” he said.

    The Soccer Aid game at the team’s home ground will see celebrities and former world-class footballers playing together on the same team.

    The event, which takes place biannually, has raised £24 million to help children since its launch in 2006.

    The match has seen the likes of footballers Maradona, Alan Shearer and Ronaldinho play alongside celebs like Mark Wright, Jack Whitehall and Olly Murs.

    Will Ferrell, Gordon Ramsay, Mike Myers and Craig David have also played in previous years.

    “Reclaiming the title for England this year is going to taste so much sweeter with Usain leading the Soccer Aid World XI,” said Robbie Williams, who co-founded Soccer Aid.

    “I can’t wait to lead out the England team.”

     

    BBC

  • Man Utd Sanchez accepts suspended jail sentence for tax fraud

    Manchester United striker Alexis Sanchez has accepted a 16-month suspended jail sentence for tax fraud in return for avoiding a trial.

    The ex-Barcelona player faced going to trial in Spain over unpaid taxes amounting to around 1m euro (£886,000).

    The unpaid taxes derive from image rights deals in 2012 and 2013.

    When Sanchez, 29, was first accused in 2016, his agent said the Chile forward had “fully obeyed” laws and his image rights income “has been declared”.

    Sanchez, who joined United from Arsenal last month, is rumoured to be the highest paid player in the Premier League following the transfer, earning £14m a year after tax.

    He is one of a number of high-profile players to have fallen foul of the tax laws in Spain.

    Last month, Real Madrid’s Croatia midfielder Luka Modric paid Spanish fiscal authorities close to 1m euro to settle his own image rights tax case.

    Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronald have also faced tax charges in recent years.