TheNewsGuru

Tag: Old Trafford

  • Arteta questions referee Tierney over Martineli’s disallowed goal

    Arteta questions referee Tierney over Martineli’s disallowed goal

    Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta has slammed the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), for disallowing Gabriel Martinelli’s goal against Manchester United on Sunday.

    Martineli latched on to Bukayo Saka’s pass to send the ball into the net but the goal was chalked off after VAR reviewed it.

    The referee claimed that  Martin Odegaard had fouled Christian Eriksen  in the build up for the goal.

    On the disallowed goal, Arteta told Sky Sports: “Lack of consistency. One is soft and last week they made a foul on Aaron but it is soft, it is not a fou

    “There is a foul on Bukayo, it is soft but not a penalty. Today it is a foul.

    “The threshold in the first actions, you could see there is no yellow card because they want to keep a threshold in a big game. Really difficult to understand.”

    New boy  Antony Matheus dos Santos, gave Manchester United the lead before Bukayo Saka equalized for the gunners, Rashford scored the second and third to give the Old Trafford side  a 3-1 win .

     

  • Cancel my contract, name your price – Ronaldo tells Man Utd

    Cancel my contract, name your price – Ronaldo tells Man Utd

    Portugal international and Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has informed the Old Trafford side that he has received an offer from a club and would love to terminate his contract.

    Ronaldo has now urged United chiefs to name their price for him, so he can trigger a move away.

    The 37-year-old’s claim comes even as top clubs like Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Atletico Madrid have distanced themselves from signing him.

    Ronaldo held showdown talks with United this week, alongside his agent Jorge Mendes.

    It is believed Mendes told the club that Ronaldo has a “live offer” and that a transfer fee must be set for his client.

    Ronaldo, alongside his agent Jorge Mendes, has held showdown talks with United’s hierarchy this week – after telling the club of his intentions to leave earlier this summer.

    He only returned to Carrington on Tuesday after missing all of United’s pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia.

    Manchester United is still trying to win the forward over to have him play his remaining one year on the contract.

    Talks have failed to change the 37-year-old’s mind about wishing to leave but he will carry on professionally.

    Meanwhile, the report has it that the five times Balon d’Or winner may be pitching his tent for Italian side Napoli next season in his quest to play Champions League football.

  • Why Ronaldo hasn’t reported to Man Utd – Rio Ferdinand

    Why Ronaldo hasn’t reported to Man Utd – Rio Ferdinand

    Soccer legend and former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, has given reasons  Cristiano Ronaldo has not returned for pre-season training at Old Trafford.

    Ferdinand claims  that a family member of Ronaldo is having health related  issues.

    The 37-year-old is yet to show up at Carrington ahead of the new season, amid talk he has requested to leave United this summer.

    But Ferdinand said: “I’ve been seeing people being a touch disrespectful. The way that people are questioning ‘he’s not here’ and the hysteria surrounding it. A member of his family is not well, so he’s not at training.

    “Yeah he might want to leave, he might not be happy with certain things at the football club, but in terms of professionalism, this guy is training where he is – we’ve seen the pictures.

    “His family are there, he needs to be where they are and you have to respect that. Simple as. Could it have been communicated better by the club? Probably.”

    Manchester United have expressed willingness to sell the forward but only to clubsides outside the EPL.

    Recall that Ronaldo has pointed out that he would love to exit Manchester United based on the club’s inability to attract quality players in pre-season.

  • Zidane signs 3 -year contract at Manchester United

    Manchester United teenage prodigy , Zidane Iqbal, has put pen to paper on  a new and improved deal at Old Trafford.

    The Manchester born player also has Iraqi and Pakistani root and is eligible to play for England and the two Asian countries.

    Recall that Zidane made his debut for Manchester United in December 2021 Champions League match against Young Boys.

    He signed a deal until June 2025, with the option of a further year.

    According to Zidane, he’s very happy at Manchester United and will pray and hope to do more exploits at the club.

    Meanwhile, Manchester United are close to announcing their first signing of the summer with a deal for Barcelona’s midfielder Frankie de Jong almost done. He said

    Manchester united will feature in the Europa league in the 2022/2023 season

  • New Man Utd coach, Ten Hag identifies Pogba’s replacement

    New Man Utd coach, Ten Hag identifies Pogba’s replacement

    Manchester United new manager, Dutch Erik ten Hag has identified the player he would sign as midfielder, Paul Pogba’s replacement at Old Trafford.

     

    The Dutchman will take over from interim manager, Ralf Rangnick as from next season’s campaign.

    Current interim manager Ragnick has created impression that Paul Pogba may have played his last game for the club this season and by extension his last game for the club at least for now because of a calf muscle injury.

    Pogba’s current contract with Man United will expire at the end of the season and he is widely expected to leave the Red Devils.

    Meanwhile, incoming coach Ten Hag has already identified Pogba’s replacement should he leave the Old Trafford side.

    Ten Hag coached De Jong during his time at Ajax and the midfielder was the jewel in the crown of Ten Hag’s Ajax side, which reached the 2019 Champions League semi-final.

    Ten Hag hasn’t disclosed the the identity of the player but he would reveal in due course when it’s certain Pogba won’t be returning to the Old Trafford side.

  • Newcastle to offer Coutinho £1million bonus, as Man U set to leave Ronaldo for PSG

    Newcastle to offer Coutinho £1million bonus, as Man U set to leave Ronaldo for PSG

    Manchester United striker, Cristiano Ronaldo, is reported to leave Old Trafford for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the upcoming market, on a free transfer, due to the savings that the club would make in terms of his wage packet.

     

    This was as cash-rich Newcastle are ready to offer Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho a £1million bonus, to convince him to join them over Aston Villa this summer, after the Brazilian smash hit on loan in the Midlands.

     

    Manchester United is reportedly expecting Ronaldo to leave Old Trafford this summer.

     

    The Portugal international re-joined the Red Devils from Juventus last year and has enjoyed an impressive goal scoring return, finding the back of the net on 18 occasions in 32 appearances.

     

    The 37-year-old striker (Ronaldo) has a contract with the club until June 2023, with the option of a further 12 months, but there have been claims that he wants to leave during this summer’s transfer window.

     

    Man United are currently facing a battle to finish in the top four in the Premier League, as they fight to secure Champions League football for next term.

     

    It was gathered that the 20-time English champions (Manchester United) are expecting Ronaldo to push for a move away from Old Trafford in the upcoming market.

     

    Ronaldo is not believed to be considering moving away from European football at this stage of his career.

     

    Still in the Premiership, cash-rich Newcastle are reportedly ready to offer Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho a £1million bonus to convince him to join them over Aston Villa this summer after the Brazilian smash hit on loan in the Midlands.

     

    It was gathered that the Magpies have already started to explore a deal for the Brazilian through intermediaries with a significant bonus heading in the direction of Coutinho were he to choose Newcastle.

     

    Coutinho has been a revelation since swapping Barcelona for Aston Villa on loan in January, scoring four goals and adding three assists in 10 matches so far.

     

    A permanent switch to Villa Park is reportedly Barcelona’s ‘priority’, with a deal mooted to be around £33.5m – but Newcastle’s reported interest could complicate any switch to the Midlands.

     

    Newcastle found themselves in a fierce relegation battle in January but key signings of Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Matt Targett and Bruno Guimaraes has lifted Eddie Howe’s side to 14th in the table.

     

    While Newcastle have professed caution about expectations in the summer, with money no object under the Saudi owners, the report in Spain stated that he is seen in the north east as a key player to build around as they look to push for trophies.

     

    The 29-year-old’s huge £480,000 a week wages at the Nou Camp won’t be matched in England and Villa are currently paying just under 25 per cent of those weekly wages for six months, around £120,000 a week.

     

    Villa boss Steven Gerrard has made no secret of the fact he would like the club to sign his former Liverpool team-mate come the end of the season.

     

    But Gerrard has also welcomed interest in Coutinho from rival clubs as it proves Villa secured a coup by signing the Brazilian in January.

     

    “For me it doesn’t make any sense to make any decisions now,” Gerrard said last month when quizzed on whether they are pushing to get Coutinho permanently.

     

    “When he’s physically in the right place, when he’s comfortable and happy and enjoying his football, we all know we’re dealing with a world-class talent.

     

    “We just need to keep enjoying him, to keep him healthy from now until the end of the season and I’m sure he’ll help us. To watch him and work with him and see him get back to his top form and enjoy his football again is a pleasure.”

     

    Asked about whether Villa is the place for Coutinho to fall in love with the game again, Gerrard added: “Phil was successful at Barcelona but he had difficult periods as well. He got to the stage where he needed a change of scenery and a different movie.

     

    “We want to be that movie for him because if we want to get to where we want to be, we need to build it around talents like Phil, because at his best he is a high-level player.

     

    “All good teams have game-changers who the opposition are really concerned about before a ball is kicked. Phil has that status and he is giving belief to his team-mates.

     

    “Our strikers Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings want him alongside them because he delivers on the big stage. I don’t control transfer fees or wages.

     

    “All I can do is give my opinion to (sporting director) Johan Lange, (chief executive) Christian Purslow and the owners. They are watching the games and they will make the final decision. Phil has shown what he is capable of so far.”

     

    Elsewhere, Real Madrid are reportedly set to extend the contract of Vinicius Junior this summer.

  • Why I wanted to leave Man Utd the day Rangnick arrived – Martial

    Why I wanted to leave Man Utd the day Rangnick arrived – Martial

    Anthony Martial has revealed that he did not wait to see how things would change under Ralf Rangnick when the interim coach arrived Old Trafford.

    Martial had already made up his mind about leaving Manchester United in the January transfer window, after struggling for game time early in the campaign.

    While those struggles came under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Martial states in a recent interview that an eventual loan move to Sevilla was on his mind from the day Rangnick arrived.

    “When he arrived, my objective was to leave,” Martial told The Guardian.

    “I told him I wanted to leave and that’s it. He talked to me. He said that if you want to stay, with the way you are training if you continue to train like that, you will play. But my objective was that I wanted to leave, to have a new atmosphere, a new club.”

    The French forward has a contract with United until 2024, but he added: “I asked United to leave because I wanted to play but I still have a contract. They know what I want, so we will see at the end of the season. I’m here just for the end of the season and that’s it.”

  • Manchester United out of Champions League

    Manchester United out of Champions League

    Atletico Madrid dumped Manchester United out of the Champions League round of 16 after edging to a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

    Renan Lodi scored the only goal just before half-time as Diego Simeone’s side won 2-1 on aggregate after a late draw in the first leg last month.

    Tuesday’s result means United’s trophy drought will now almost certainly stretch to five years, with Ralf Rangnick’s side already eliminated from the FA Cup and 20 points behind leaders Manchester City in the Premier League.

    “I think we played a very good first half — exactly the way we wanted to play with a high energy level but we couldn’t convert that into one or two goals,” Rangnick said after the match.

    “Conceding that counter-attacking goal just before halftime didn’t make life any easier. It was hard in the second half and always interrupted. There was always somebody lying on the floor.”

    United named three changes from Saturday’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur, with Bruno Fernandes coming in to start and Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford dropping to the bench.

    Teenage United forward Anthony Elanga, who turned hero to score a last-minute equaliser in the first-leg, went close to opening the scoring on Tuesday.

    This was when his run toward the near post in the 12th minute was rewarded with a low cross from Fernandes, but he saw his shot stopped by goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

    United goalkeeper David de Gea then produced an outstanding diving save to push wide a long range effort from Rodrigo De Paul.

    Atletico had the ball in the back of the net midway through the first half when Joao Felix tapped in to an empty net at the back post, but Marcos Llorente, who supplied the assist, was ruled offside.

    It was a typical display of the kind of gritty defending and swift counter-attacking for which Simeone’s side have been known.

    United, for all their pressure, were unable to create enough quality opportunities to get themselves the goal they needed.

    The visitors did eventually take the lead in the 41st minute through Lodi as he scored a jumping header at the back post following a floated cross from Antoine Griezmann.

    The move came after Atletico won back possession from Elanga, who looked to have been fouled but saw protests waved away by referee Slavko Vincic.

    On Vincic’s calls, Rangnick adeed: “I would also say some curious refereeing decisions. I wouldn’t say they were decisive but at least he fell too often for those time-wasting antics.”

    United pushed for an equaliser in the second half but were unable to find a way back into the match, resulting in their sixth elimination in their past eight Champions League knockout ties.

    “In the second half it was a brilliant collective effort from the team, one of the best this year,” Simeone said in a postmatch news conference.

    “I’m happy, that’s why I celebrated it in the dressing room.”

    Elsewhere in the Champions League also played on Tuesday, Darwin Nunez’s 80th minute goal proved enough as Benfica shocked hosts Ajax 1-0 (3-2 on aggregate) to progress to the last eight.

  • Moutinho fires Wolves to first win at Old Trafford since 1980

    Moutinho fires Wolves to first win at Old Trafford since 1980

    Joao Moutinho fired Wolves to a first win at Old Trafford since 1980 as Ralf Rangnick’s unbeaten start to life as Manchester United’s interim manager came to an end.

    The Red Devils finished 2021 with a much-needed home win against Burnley.

    But the new year got off to a terrible start as their sloppy, disjointed display was punished by Bruno Lage’s impressive visitors.

    Wolves had not played for 15 days due to coronavirus-related postponements.

    But they showed few signs of rust at Old Trafford, where Mourinho struck late on to secure a deserved 1-0 win.

    Wolverhampton Wanderers had failed to win in their last 10 league games at Manchester United and it looked like that run might continue.

    This was after they failed to score in a one-sided first half in which they managed an eye-watering 15 shots.

    Phil Jones, making his first appearance in 708 days, was one of the few to impress for Manchester United.

    They belatedly showed flickers of life after Rangnick’s decision to take off lively attacker Mason Greenwood was booed.

    Replacement Bruno Fernandes struck the bar and then sent over a free-kick which Cristiano Ronaldo directed home from an offside position.

    But Romain Saiss also hit the woodwork from a free-kick and Wolves found a way through in the 82nd minute.

    That was when Moutinho controlled a clearance and hit a low drive past David De Gea to send the travelling hordes into raptures.

    There was a similarly impressive roar at the final whistle after goalkeeper Jose Sa superbly saved Fernandes stoppage-time free-kick to seal victory.

  • Paul Pogba tells family members of Man Utd decision

    Paul Pogba tells family members of Man Utd decision

    Manchester United playmaker Paul Pogba wants to remain at Old Trafford.

    While his contract runs down and amid interest from Real Madrid, PSG and former club Juventus, L’Equipe says Pogba is now favouring staying at Old Trafford.

    The midfielder and his agent, Mino Raiola, is yet to resume new contract talks with United, however he has told family confidants that he now wishes to remain.

    Pogba’s last actions for United were being sent off in defeat at home to Liverpool.

    The midfielder remains the player with the most assists in the Premier League this season.