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      Man Utd youngster Anthony Elanga claims he suffered racist abuse while playing for Sweden in U21 clash with Italy

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      MANCHESTER UNITED youngster Anthony Elanga has claimed he was racially abused during Sweden Under-21s’ draw with Italy.The Swedish Football Association have confirmed they have filed a police report after Elanga came forward.
      Anthony Elanga claims he was racially abused during Sweden Under-21s’ draw against ItalyCredit: Rex
      Elanga claims he was hit by vile abuse while celebrating his side’s last-gasp equaliserCredit: Getty
      Elanga was booked for his celebration with the young forward appearing to talk to the referee after the gameCredit: Getty
      It’s claimed the United winger, 19, was abused by vile home fans in Monza while celebrating his Tim Prica’s 92nd-minute equaliser in Italy – much to his bemusement.
      After the game, the Sweden star was visibly agitated and remonstrated with the referee, before the two teams continued to exchange words in the tunnel.
      Head of security for Sweden’s Under-21s, Martin Fredman, told SVT Sport: “Right now, people from our side are sitting down in Italy and drawing up a police report – then we will see how they classify the whole crime.
      “I received information there was an incident in connection with the goal.”
      Fredman continued: “Exactly what has been said I will not go into as there may be several witnesses to the incident.
      “The player has had to give a version of what has happened.

      “Elanga, all team-mates and leaders are pleased that we are taking this further.
      “Anthony has woken up today and feels OK with how we are handling this.”
      Sweden Under-21 boss Claes Eriksson said: “We have told our version of what happened and have submitted an oral report to both the referees and the match delegates.
      “We are now waiting for feedback through the match report and the referee report.
      “Once they have arrived, we decide how to proceed.
      Eriksson added: “No one should have to be exposed to racism, it is completely unacceptable.
      “We all stand behind and support Anthony in this.”
      Elanga made his Man Utd debut last season, playing two Premier League games – and scored in the final-day win over Wolves.
      Solskjaer lists Man Utd kid Anthony Elanga’s four attributes that give him the ‘X Factor’ More

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      Ex-Man Utd goalkeeper Sergio Romero has a new club as he joins Venezia in Serie A after Old Trafford departure

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      EX-MANCHESTER UNITED goalkeeper Sergio Romero has finally found a new club after joining Venezia.The 34-year-old left the Red Devils in the summer when his contract expired and has held talks with a number of teams.
      Former Manchester United keeper Sergio Romero has finally found a new clubCredit: PA
      The Argentine international has joined Italian side Venezia until the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
      Now he has penned a deal with the Italian minnows until June and will be looking to help the 17th-placed Serie A side beat the drop.
      The Argentine stopper also has the option of staying an extra year if everything goes to plan.
      Venezia released a statement confirming the news earlier, staying: “Venezia FC is pleased to announce the signing of Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero, 34, on a free transfer. 
      “Romero is Argentina’s all-time most-capped goalkeeper and last played for Manchester United. Welcome, Sergio.”
      Romero twice came close to joining Everton only for the transfer to collapse both times.
      He has also discussed terms with LaLiga sides Valencia and Granada.

      And potential switches to Roma and Spezia were ended when financial constraints led to them looking elsewhere.
      Romero impressed as deputy to David de Gea after his arrival at Old Trafford in 2015.
      But Dean Henderson’s emergence on the scene at United led to him growing frustrated over a lack of game time and led to his departure.
      Romero’s wife even vented her fury on social media when he was denied a loan move to Everton last year.
      The Toffees were prepared to cover his £100,000-a-week wages and fork out a £2m fee to secure his services.
      However, United then demanded a permanent £8m fee despite him entering the final 12 months of his contract.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
      Man Utd’s Sergio Romero’s wife Eliana Guercio says he deserved the opportunity to go to another club More

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      Gary Neville says Man Utd pal Wayne Rooney ‘threw the odd punch, but never when someone didn’t deserve it’

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      GARY NEVILLE has spectacularly claimed Wayne Rooney ‘threw the odd punch, but never when someone didn’t deserve it’.Manchester United legend Rooney, 35, will be he subject of an explosive documentary coming to Amazon Prime in early 2022.
      Gary Neville had admitted Wayne Rooney would ‘throw the odd punch’ but only to those who deserved itCredit: Amazon Prime
      Wayne Rooney is well-known for his on-pitch temper and he opens up about it during an upcoming documentary for Amazon PrimeCredit: Amazon Prime
      The show will look at the now-Derby boss’ career on and off the pitch – from his childhood growing up in Croxteth, Merseyside to his turbulent marriage to Coleen.
      And in one incredible clip, former United and England team-mate Neville opens up on Rooney’s aggressive streak.
      During the documentary, Neville claims: “He played like he’s a street kid.
      “Of course, he threw the odd punch… but I never saw him throw a punch when they didn’t deserve it.”
      Rooney himself admits he ‘wasn’t the nicest kid’ and suggested fighting was a way of life for him growing up in Liverpool.
      In one scene, Roo recalls: “I was brought up to fight… fight for everything. That will never leave me.

      “I grew up in Croxteth. If you’re from there, you don’t think it’s a violent place.
      “But I’ve had full on arguments with my dad and he’d give me a slap.
      “I wasn’t the nicest kid. I had a lot of fights when I was younger.”
      Even former Premier League rival and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry could tell Roo had a mean streak.
      In the Amazon show, the Frenchman claims: “You looked at him and you knew: He wanted to destroy everything that was in front of him.”
      Most-infamously, Rooney was sent-off after lashing out at Cristiano Ronaldo – who would become his team-mate later that summer – at Euro 2004.
      He was also infamously filmed having a boxing fight with fellow pro Phil Bardsley in his kitchen – and getting knocked out.
      Wayne Rooney admits he ‘wasn’t the nicest kid’ and claims his dad would ‘slap’ him during blazing argumentsCredit: Amazon Prime
      Rooney went on to address his numerous off-field scandals.
      But he emotionally admitted he wants to be be remembers for ‘who I am, not what I’ve done’.
      In the documentary, he claims: “What people don’t understand is, you’re 17 years of age… there’s going to be mistakes made.
      “People still look at me in a different way. But it’s important that people remember me for who I am rather than what I’ve done.  
      “Football is, and will be, part of my life until the day I die… whether I like it or not.”
      Elsewhere in the documentary, Coleen reveals she’s ‘forgiven’ Rooney for his antics, but admits they’re ‘not acceptable’.
      *’Rooney’ will launch worldwide exclusively on Prime Video in early 2022, the official trailer is available to watch here. 

      Wayne Rooney’s life – on and off the pitch – is set to be explored in a 2022 documentary from AmazonCredit: Getty More

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      Ex-Sunderland defender Paul McShane could play for Man Utd U21s in Papa John’s Trophy clash aged 35

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      FORMER Sunderland star Paul McShane could line up for Manchester United against his old club on Wednesday – in the Under-23s team.The 35-year-old defender returned to Old Trafford last summer as a player-coach for their U23s.
      Paul McShane could play for Man Utd in the Papa John’s Trophy against old club SunderlandCredit: Getty
      The veteran defender returned to the Red Devils as player-coach and has already featured for their youth sideCredit: Getty
      He came through the Red Devils’ youth set-up before leaving for West Brom in 2006 and going on to play at the Black Cats, Hull City, Reading and Crystal Palace.
      McShane, who left Rochdale at the end of last season, joined Neil Wood’s coaching set-up at Carrington as one of a trio of over-age players.
      And he was not brought in to only help improve the U23 strikers in training, but he has also been coaching the team out on the field, utilising his experience to help his young team-mates.
      McShane has featured for United’s second string in both the Premier League 2 and the Papa John’s Trophy.
      That is because U21 sides are allowed to name three over-age players in each match.
      And that means McShane may well be in action again when United’s young guns head to the Stadium of Light tomorrow in the Papa John’s Trophy.

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      The veteran played the full game as United beat Bradford 3-0 in their last match in the competition.
      United’s head of academy Nick Cox said after McShane’s appointment: “He was playing league football last season and he’s an A-licence coach so that’s a unique blend of skills that he brings.
      “He will join us predominantly in a coaching capacity so he is going to be a resource that will help improve the players around him and he will do that in a number of ways.
      “He will train with the group to make sure the intensity of the sessions is high because he is used to playing in intense environments in senior football.
      “He will give us a new different perspective from a coaching point of view from within the session and see different things, which is really important, and he can coach from within the session as well.
      “He will give our exciting, young attacking players a daily challenge so they will be able to go up against him knowing he’s played in the European Championship and played in some huge games, FA Cup finals.”
      McShane never played a competitive match for United during his two seasons with the first team in the mid-2000s.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
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      Ex-Man Utd wonderkid John Cofie cost the Red Devils £1m aged 14, retired at 27, and now mentors kids at school

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      IN 2007, promising striker John Cofie seemingly had the world at his feet.Then 14, the teenager had the world at his feet and was rated as one of the top talents in England playing for Burnley.
      Sean McGinty, Paul Pogba, Sam Johnstone, John Cofie and Jesse Lingard celebrate winning the FA Youth Cup for Man Utd in 2011Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United soon swooped for the wonderkid in an astonishing £1million deal – making him the youngest ever million pound footballer.
      However, he failed to make a single appearance for the Red Devils and left the club in 2013.
      Spells at clubs including Barnsley, Crawley Town and Wrexham failed to reignite his career.
      At 27, the former England U17 star hung up his boots – having played just 77 times for 13 different clubs.
      Today, Ghanaian-born Cofie works at a school in Lancashire, where he mentors kids in their football programme he was once a part of.
      WANTED BOY
      Cofie was brought over to the UK by Burnley after impressing at a football camp in Germany, where his father served in the army.
      He enrolled at Moorland School and was taken under the wing by their Head of Football Development, Charlie Jackson.
      Cofie starred at youth level for The Clarets and was soon called the best player of his generation.
      Astonishingly, managers from the country’s top clubs would try to visit Cofie at school to convince him to sign for them.
      Cofie was one of the leading players of his generation when he signed for United in 2007Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      While Cofie was an aspiring star at United, he was mentored by Moorland School coach Charlie JacksonCredit: Instagram
       “It was ridiculous. To name Chelsea and Liverpool doesn’t even begin to tell the story,” Jackson told the Burnley Express.
      “There were so many clubs and we had to turn certain managers from big clubs back down the drive.
      “They all wanted to speak to him face to face. He was a Liverpool fan as a kid so we thought he was going to go there and then United came in.”
      £1MILLION AT 14
      In 2007, it was Fergie who won the race to sign the prodigy.
      The £1million deal made him the youngest ever million pound footballer and world news.
      He continued his development in their youth team, where he would team up with a French boy wonder by the name of Paul Pogba, who he is still pals with today.
      And Cofie was an integral part of the club’s FA Youth Cup winning side in 2011.
      Jackson believes he was a better player as a kid than World Cup winner Pogba.
      Cofie was a member of United’s 2011 FA Youth Cup winning sideCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard are still pals with CofieCredit: Instagram
      “I think at 14 he was the best player,” Jackson said.
      “He was better than Pogba. The only player that ran him close was Ravel Morrison, who was an unbelievable talent, but the ups and downs in his world have changed him.”
      WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN
      But it was the pressure of the price tag that would take its toll on young Cofie.
      His prolific streak in front of goal in his formative years began to desert him with the burden of expectation weighing upon him.
      Jackson said: “The price tag was the scary thing and that’s something that I wanted to protect him from.
      “The £1.25m price tag at the time was ridiculous for such a young boy and the press got hold of that pretty quickly. I wouldn’t have released that if I was Burnley or Manchester United.
      “I think that was probably the beginning of the downfall of how that was going to go in my opinion. That’s the sad thing about football when you’re putting price tags on academy players.
      In 2013, Manchester United released CofieCredit: Pacemaker Press
      Jackson believes the price tag put too much pressure on CofieCredit: Instagram
      “It’s just madness. He went there, he was doing well but that price tag, later on, played its part. It’s a lot of pressure.”
      END OF THE ROAD
      By 2013, Cofie ended up on football’s scrapheap.
      He was released by United after several loans away at Royal Antwerp, Sheffield United and Notts County.
      During that period, he admittedly “fell out of love” with the game.
      “It was no shock to me because as I was growing up I was picking up what happened behind the scenes, going on loan I was getting an idea of what the industry was like,” Cofie told the Manchester Evening News.
      After he left United, Cofie became a journeyman footballerCredit: Bradley Ormesher – The Sun
      Southport FC was one of the many clubs who Cofie tried to resurrect his career atCredit: Bradley Ormesher – The Sun
      “Nothing in football surprises me, if you’re good enough they will keep you, if not then it’s bye.
      “It wasn’t an issue for me when it came. I sat down with Fergie, he was holding meetings with players anyway but I wanted to see him a few weeks earlier, he said what he had to say, I said what I had to say and that was that.
      “I left with my head held high.”
      THE AFTER LIFE
      Once he left United, Cofie became somewhat of a journeyman.
      Uninspired spells in Norway, Wales and even Northern Ireland failed to inspire him and game-time and injuries didn’t help his cause.
      So, in 2020 – at the age of just 27 – it was no surprise that he decided to hang up his boots.
      Now, he has joined his old mentor Jackson again at Moorland School, where he helps coach young kids who aspire to be the next football superstar.
      “Because John has played at a good level and played with some of the best players in the world, there’s ready-made advice for the kids,” Jackson explained.
      In 2020, at the age of just 27, Cofie hung up his bootsCredit: Bradley Ormesher – The Times
      Cofie is now back at Moorland School alongside Jackson as a mentor and coach for the kidsCredit: Instagram

      “It’s great to have him back, his enthusiasm hasn’t changed, he’s still got the same attitude to life, which is good. He’s not allowed football to define him, which is a big thing. Football can do that, good, bad or indifferent.
      “It’s been good to bring him back because he’s been able to speak to the kids about his past, present and what could potentially be their future.”
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      How Liverpool missed out on Cristiano Ronaldo just a week before Man Utd transfer after ‘fee trebled’ overnight

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      LIVERPOOL failed to sign Cristiano Ronaldo only a week before he joined Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson gazumped his rivals, according to Phil Thompson.The then-Reds assistant boss has revealed that his team were one of many English clubs interested in the Portuguese forward.
      Ronaldo went on to become a mega star at Old TraffordCredit: PA:Press Association
      Ronaldo had already declared that a move to Anfield was “a dream” with agents Paul Stretford, Jorge Mendes and Tony Henry negotiating his exit from Sporting CP.
      In recalling the 2003 transfer to The Athletic, Thompson states that a £4million fee was required.
      He noted: “I asked what kind of salary he would want and they said it was £1 million per year after tax. That was a lot for an 18-year-old kid but they said that was negotiable.
      “It was a Sunday and I explained to them that I needed to go back to Liverpool and speak to Gerard Houllier and see what we could do. I fed all the information back to Gerard, who said he would speak to [chief executive] Rick Parry.
      “Lo and behold, the following week I’m at Melwood when the yellow ticker on Sky Sports News says: Manchester United sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting for £12.2m.
      “I couldn’t believe my eyes.”
      As Thompson says, United had not paid the £4m fee earlier touted and he was left shocked at how the figure changed overnight.

      The former defender continued: “Tony told me that when he’d got off the plane on the Monday he had got a call to say he was off the deal. It was down to Stretford and Mendes instead.
      “It was astonishing that the fee trebled.
      “He was clearly a big talent but no one could have predicted back then how great he was going to be.”
      Ronaldo went on to win a treble of Premier League titles in Manchester with 118 goals in almost 300 appearances in his first spell with the club.
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      Cristiano Ronaldo SIXTH favourite for Ballon d’Or behind Lionel Messi and Chelsea star N’Golo Kante

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO is once again in the running for the Ballon d’Or – but is only sixth favourite.The 36-year-old striker completed a fairytale return to Manchester United this summer from Juventus.
      Cristiano Ronaldo is the sixth favourite to win the Ballon d’OrCredit: EPA
      And he has certainly hit the ground running with five goals in six games in all competitions.
      Last season for Juve the Portuguese superstar scored 36 goals in 44 games.
      But that isn’t enough to make him one of the favourites for the coveted prize.
      Lionel Messi is ODDS-ON to secure his SEVENTH Ballon d’Or. The 34-year-old is now at Paris Saint Germain and scored 38 goals in 47 games.
      Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski is the second favourite at odds of 5-1
      He netted an incredible 46 goals in just 38 games to help Bayern to the Bundesliga title.

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      Chelsea midfielder Jorginho is third-favourite at odds of 5-1 with Manchester City schemer Kevin De Bruyne next best at 12-1.
      Jorginho’s Stamford Bridge team-mate N’Golo Kante is a 12/1 shot with five-time winner Ronaldo next at 16-1.
      Meanwhile, CR7 has been awarded Premier League Player of the Month following a stellar return to Old Trafford.
      After an emotional second Red Devils debut against Newcastle, CR7 scored three goals in three Prem appearances in September.
      The 36-year-old scored twice in the 4-1 win against Newcastle at the start of the September, as well as the opener in the 2-1 victory over West Ham.
      CR7 beat Joao Cancelo, Antonio Rudiger, Allan Saint-Maximin, Ismaila Sarr and Mohamed Salah to the award.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
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      Glazers have survived years of protests and won’t leave Man Utd until someone makes them an offer they can’t refuse

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      ARE MANCHESTER UNITED fans revolting?I guess we will see after the international break and the tricky set of fixtures that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team face.
      Fans of Manchester United have been protesting for years to get the Glazers out of the clubCredit: AP
      Joel and Avram Glazer and their family have put another £100m of United shares up for saleCredit: PA
      Maybe the Glazer family think that by putting another £100million of shares up for sale right at the beginning of the Premier League’s latest break, they will avoid a significant public backlash from supporters opposed to their ownership.
      And maybe they’re right.
      When United fans stormed Old Trafford and forced the postponement of the Liverpool game in April, they had been triggered by United’s involvement in the European Super League plans.
      That embarrassing fiasco led to years of anger and frustration at the Glazers’ ownership – and the general discontent of lockdown – pouring out in an inexcusably violent fashion.
      No-one wants to see a repeat of that, of course.
      And you could argue that United fans have less to complain about six months later.

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      The club invested £135m over the summer in Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and up-and-coming talent Cristiano Ronaldo.
      Yes, even without the latest proposed sale of shares, the six Glazer siblings have taken more than £1billion out of United in loan repayments, dividends and management fees since the 2005 takeover.
      Yes, a lot of that money could instead have been invested in the playing squad and the increasingly dilapidated Old Trafford.
      But what more could the Glazers realistically have done in the last few months to boost the team’s fortunes on the pitch? 
      Buy a world-class defensive midfielder, perhaps. But that depends on them being available to buy. A stupid-money bid for Erling Haaland? There was no guarantee United would have won any such auction.
      Re-signing Ronaldo instead  – which spiked the share price, you’ll have noticed – was a calculated gamble. We’ll see in the next few weeks if it pays off for Solskjaer on the pitch as it already has for the Glazers off it.
      Cristiano Ronaldo’s return has already paid off for the Glazer familyCredit: Rex
      Before the next international break, United will play lose-able Premier League games against Leicester, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City, plus a Champions League double-header against Atalanta.
      The results in those matches will shape the mood of the majority of United supporters.
      Groups like the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust will do their best to keep up the pressure on the owners whatever happens, but most fans care little about politics and finance, and a lot about what happens on the pitch.
      They’re not alone. The Chelsea fans who were so appalled by their club’s support for the ESL that they took to the streets are noticeably less vocal since the Champions League triumph and the £98m signing of Romelu Lukaku.
      The latest protest by Hammers United, the group that wants David Gold, David Sullivan and Karren Brady out of West Ham, hardly registered last weekend.
      WHY WOULD THEY LEAVE?
      For their part, the Glazers have made it clear that they are going nowhere. Even if Kevin and Edward successfully sell their shares, the family will still control 69 per cent of the stock.
      Why would you give up an asset that keeps paying out, time after time? The Glazers won’t do that until someone makes them an offer that even they can’t refuse, and it’s hard to see that happening anytime soon.
      Years and years of fan protests have not forced the Glazers out.
      Even if United struggle this autumn and the supporters mobilise again, the only person who might end up leaving the club is Solskjaer. 
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
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