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    Man Utd make transfer decision on Hannibal Mejbri after giving youngster pre-season to impress Erik ten Hag

    MANCHESTER UNITED have made a decision on the transfer future of youngster Hannibal Mejbri.The midfielder was given the opportunity to impress manager Erik ten Hag during pre-season.
    Hannibal Mejbri will not leave Manchester United permanently this summerCredit: Getty
    Several clubs have shown an interest in the 20-year-old this summer, with Borussia Dortmund even tabling an offer earlier in the window.
    Teams in England and France have also eyed both permanent and loan moves for Hannibal.
    Although talks are ongoing about a potential loan move, the Manchester Evening News report that United have ruled out selling the youngster this summer.
    Figures at the club, including Ten Hag, have been impressed with his performances during pre-season.
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    He starred in the Red Devils’ final friendly against Athletic Bilbao in Dublin on Sunday as his side played out a 1-1 draw.
    There are still doubts over the first-team playing time he will get this season, though, and Hannibal may still depart on loan.
    Premier League newcomers Luton are amongst the clubs who could sign him on a temporary basis.
    Hannibal spent last season on loan at Birmingham, making 41 appearances across all competitions.
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    He also has three senior United appearances to his name, with all of them coming in the Premier League.
    The Tunisia international has continued to be a regular for his country too, and featured at last year’s World Cup in Qatar. More

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    Mason Greenwood spotted training as Man Utd to make decision on striker’s future

    MASON Greenwood has been spotted training as Man Utd scramble to make a decision on his future at the club.The 21-year-old striker was seen doing kicking a ball around and practising shooting with his pals.
    Pictures of Mason Greenwood at a training session have emerged as his future at Manchester United remains uncertain
    The 21-year-old striker was seen doing ball drills and shooting practice
    Greenwood, who became a father last month, was joined by his own dad at the public training ground.
    The England star hasn’t touched a ball for Utd since he was arrested for attempted rape, assault and coercive control last January.
    He was charged last October with attempted rape, sexual assault and controlling behaviour, with a trial set for this November.
    But those charges were dropped in February by the Crown Prosecution Service.
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    Greenwood has remained “in limbo” about his future at the club after chiefs launched their own five-month probe into the claims.
    No decision has been revealed on whether or not the star striker will return – even though the new season is just days away.
    Manager Erik ten Hag and the majority of the first team have suggested they were open to the idea of bringing the Greenwood back.
    But United’s women’s team were understood to have reservations, while sponsors were left concerned about being linked to the footballer.
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    A source said previously: “All the players believe he deserves a second chance because he’s innocent in the eyes of the law.
    “He didn’t have the opportunity to clear his name in court because the charges were dropped, so the players feel like he has been left in limbo.
    “They know it will be difficult but they are willing to support him through it, and protect him.
    “Some of the younger players came through the academy with him so there’s a loyalty to him.
    “They know he’s made mistakes but the lads who’ve spoken to him say he’s grown up a lot in the past 18 months and will come back a lot wiser.”
    It is not the first time Greenwood has been spotted training outside of Carrington.
    In June he worked on his close control and shooting in a 90-minute session on an £85-an-hour pitch.
    It was the first time he had been pictured at a training session since his arrest.
    He had grown his hair since he was last pictured — and was not wearing Nike boots after the firm ended their sponsorship deal.
    Greenwood joined Utd aged just six and rose through the ranks to land himself a regular spot on the first team.
    In 2019, he became the youngest footballer to play for United in the Champions League when he took to the pitch aged 17.
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    Greenwood has made 129 appearances in total for the Red Devils and netted 35 goals.
    For the full video visit the Man Utd The Religion YouTube page.
    Greenwood hasn’t played for Utd since January last year
    Mason Greenwood is currently subject to an internal investigation at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty More

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    United No2 to help Andre Onana cope with the Premier League after deciding to stay at Old Trafford

    TOM HEATON plans to share tips with Andre Onana to help the new Manchester United keeper cope with the Premier League.The 37-year-old goalkeeper is set to stay at Old Trafford despite summer interest from top-flight newboys Luton and Championship side Hull.
    Andre Onana will make his Manchester United debut against Wolves in the Premier League next Monday
    Tom Heaton is staying at United for now despite summer interest from Luton and HullCredit: Getty
    And United No2 believes he can give an insight to ex-Inter Milan keeper Onana, who has replaced David de Gea for £47million, ahead of the new season opener against Wolves next Monday. 
    Heaton said: “Hopefully I can offer him something about Premier League football and the requirements and the different challenges.
    “He’s a really good lad and a great character.
    “I’ve really enjoyed the style of his play, he’ll suit this manager and how he wants to play really well.
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    “Hopefully I can learn a bit from him. I’m always trying to develop and evolve.
    “He and I have got on really well so far and I’m looking forward to working with him, competing with him and then we’ll see where it goes.”
    Heaton was named skipper for Sunday’s 1-1 pre-season draw with Athletic Bilbao in Dublin with Bruno Fernandes rested.
    The ex-Aston Villa and Burnley stopper was picked by boss Erik ten Hag ahead of Harry Maguire, who was stripped of the armband this summer.
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    Heaton, who had a spat with Brandon Williams on the tour of the USA after the defender made a mistake in the loss to Borussia Dortmund, added: “It was a bit of a surprise. 
    “I’m a temporary custodian but it’s still a proud day. It’s always an honour to captain Manchester United and I certainly enjoyed that.
    “We’ve got a few senior players in the team. You make your point when it’s required. It might be an arm around someone or a raised voice.
    “There was a bit made of me and Brandon having a little bit a few games ago but it’s only natural.
    “It happens week in, week out. You want that as long as it’s within balance and all for the right reasons.
    “Then it can only make everyone better. Pre-season has been good, I’ve really enjoyed it.
    “I’ve had plenty of minutes, personally, which has been great. We’ve put in some really good performances.
    “The manager wants to step on to the next level, which is exactly what this football club should be doing.
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    “We’ve gone to different parts of the world, seen all the support for the football club, which has been magnificent.
    “But I think everyone’s looking forward to starting the Premier League season and getting going next week.” More

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    Man Utd ‘keeping close tabs on ex-Barcelona star.. but will only pull trigger on transfer if Harry Maguire quits’

    MANCHESTER UNITED will only start talks with Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo once Harry Maguire’s future is decided.United are interested in the 23-year-old centre back but will only make a move if Maguire leaves, reports claim.
    Barcelona signed Todibo from Toulouse in 2019, aged 19Credit: Reuters
    According to Fabrizio Romano, United had contacts informed on the conditions of a Todibo deal.
    He added that no talks have been opened or offers made, with any move hingeing on Maguire – who was booed by fans after his error cost United a goal in the friendly with Athletic Bilbao – leaving.
    The England international was stripped of the club captaincy last month following a three-year stint in the role.
    He started just eight games for United last season with Lisandro Martinez and Rapheal Varane being Erik ten Hag’s preferred centre-back pairing.
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    He has appeared in several pre-season games, while West Ham reportedly had a £20m bid rejected for him, with United demanding around £40m.
    Todibo has established himself at Nice after joining from Barcelona following an initial loan spell.
    He joined Barca from Toulouse in 2019 and was sent out to FC Shalke in 2020 where he made a few appearances in the Bundesliga.

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    The Spanish giants then loaned him out to Benfica next but his time in Lisbon was unsuccessful due to an achilles tendon injury.
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    His final loan spell was at Nice where he moved on a permanent deal in 2021 for £8.5million.
    Todibo has now made 67 appearances for Nice in Ligue 1, becoming a key player in their back line.
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    Manchester United new boy Rasmus Hojlund runs 100m in under 11 seconds but what will he bring to Dream Team?

    RASMUS Hojlund will be added to Dream Team today!No doubt many Manchester United fans will be keen to back their new striker when he’s available – they’ll have to fork out £4million of their initial budget to make it work.
    For perspective, that puts him level on price with the likes of Alexander Isak, Darwin Nunez and Christopher Nkunku.
    Inevitably, Dream Team gaffers will be asking: what will Hojlund bring to this season’s revamped fantasy game?

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    Has Hojlund got what it takes to thrive in Dream Team this season?
    Physically, the 20-year-old resembles a laboratory footballer; he’s 6ft 3in tall and, according to Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, can run 100m in under eleven seconds.
    Hojlund’s pace and his willingness to run in behind is perhaps the primary reason one of the world’s biggest clubs may end up paying a total of £73million for his services.
    The Red Devils have been crying out for an out-and-out striker since it became apparent Cristiano Ronaldo was not suited to Erik ten Hag’s desired approach.
    Anthony Martial (£3m) has been dogged by injuries and the Wout Weghorst (£2m) experiment bemused supporters and neutrals alike.
    Still in the infancy of his career, Hojlund has only 27 professional goals to his name at club level but while he lacks a proven track record, he set tongues wagging in Italy with a series of thrilling performances for Atalanta in the wake of the World Cup.
    Dream Team gaffers may know him from a viral video that exhibited his freakish acceleration, a burst through the middle against Lazio that propelled him from the halfway line, through two defenders, and one-on-one with the goalkeeper in the blink of an eye.
    Hojlund was presented at Old Trafford at the weekendCredit: GETTY
    He registered 16 goals and seven assists in all competitions last season, split between Atalanta and Austrian club Sturm Graz, but of course Man United are paying for his potential as well as his immediate impact.
    Although It goes without saying that his transfer fee is a reflection of the market – clubs from other countries know that Premier League giants will fork out huge sums.
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    Bruno Fernandes (£6.5m) has been the only midfielder in the same realm as Kevin De Bruyne (£7m) in terms of creative metrics over the last three and a half years.
    The Portuguese playmaker guarantees Man United’s centre-forward a healthy supply of chances on his own and Hojlund’s combination of pace and height means he should benefit from throughballs and crosses into the box.
    However, Dream Team bosses should be aware the Denmark international is still a raw talent in need of moulding to some degree – his finishing has been no more than moderate to date.

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    Man Utd star Raphael Varane slams football chiefs for ‘damaging the game’ and asks ‘why aren’t players being heard?’

    RAPHAEL VARANE has slammed the FA over new rule changes that will see Premier League referees add on more minutes to games.The new set of rule changes seek to curb the amount of time wasting by following the 2022 World Cup’s lead – which saw long periods of added time become common place.
    Varane has slammed players’ congested schedulesCredit: Getty
    But Varane has taken to Twitter to express his, and he says other players, concerns about the amount footballers are being forced to play.
    He has accused the FA of “damaging the game” and claims “players are not being heard” in the cutting statement.
    He tweeted: “We had a meeting last week with the FA. They recommended from the referees new decisions and rules.
    “From the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it’s at a dangerous level for players physical and mental well-being.
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    “Despite our previous feedbacks, they have now recommended for next season: longer games, more intensity, and less emotions to be shown by players. We just want to be in good condition on the pitch to give 100% to our club and fans. Why are our opinions not being heard?
    “As a player I feel very privileged to do the job I love every day but I feel these changes are damaging our game. We want to be at our maximum level, the best we can be and put on amazing performances for fans to celebrate every week.
    “I believe it is important that we, players and managers, highlight these important issues as we want to protect the game we love and give the fans our best.”
    The rule changes were announced at the end of last month and could see games regularly last over 100 minutes.
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    Longer games have been a feature of the women’s World Cup in Australia with the clock essentially paused for any stoppages in a match.
    Mens football got its first taste of the new rules during the Community Shield final between Arsenal and Manchester City yesterday with Arsenal scoring a 101st minute equaliser.
    City manager Pep Guardiola was critical of the amount of time added on in the game and said that games would last until “tomorrow morning at 8am” if the rule changes remain in place.
    Guardiola’s criticism echoed that of Varane’s when he said that managers and players had not been consulted enough when the rule changes were proposed.
    He said: “We will have to get used to this. We were winning 1-0. I had a feeling that not much happened to extend eight minutes.
    “But it is a good question for the international board and all the people because they don’t consult with the managers, they don’t consult with the players.”
    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also fell foul of the new rule changes when he was shown a yellow card by Stuart Atwell after waving an imaginary one in an attempt to get Rodri booked. More

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    You’ve been saying Rasmus Hojlund’s name all wrong… according to Man Utd’s £72m transfer himself

    RASMUS HOJLUND has revealed that fans have been saying his name all wrong.The new Manchester United striker has set the record straight on how to pronounce his last name.
    Fans have been saying Rasmus Hojlund’s name all wrongCredit: Getty

    Hojlund completed his £72million move to the Red Devils on Saturday.
    He was presented to the fans at Old Trafford before the club’s friendly against Lens after signing from Atalanta.
    However, in an old clip from his time at Sturm Graz, he revealed that most fans do not know how to say his name.
    Explaining the correct pronunciation, he said: “My full name, and I don’t think anyone here can pronounce my last name correctly.
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    “Anyone would like to try – Hojlund. The ‘D’ is like ‘I learn’.”
    Hojlund spent seven months with Sturm Graz before joining Atalanta last summer.
    During his time in Austria, he scored an impressive 12 goals in just 21 appearances.
    United fans will be hoping he can emulate that form in front of goal in the Premier League this season.
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    They will have to wait to see him in action, though, with the Danish international currently out injured.
    He is set to miss the first two matches of the season due to an injury he picked up whilst still at Atalanta.
    Hojlund has already been ruled out of United’s opener against Wolves on August 14.
    Meanwhile, he is also a doubt for their trip to Tottenham the following Saturday.
    Rasmus Hojlund explained how to say his last nameCredit: TikTok – KrisKrisSports More

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    Man Utd complete impressive turnaround to beat Lens in penultimate pre-season friendly after Andre Onana concedes howler

    MANCHESTER UNITED turned on the style to hit back against RC Lens and claim victory at Old Trafford.It was all smiles after a comical first half from the Red Devils saw them go into the break 1-0 down.
    Erik ten Hag saw his side come from behind to beat Lens
    Andre Onana was lobbed during the first half
    But second-half goals from Marcus Rashford, Antony and Casemiro sealed the win.
    What a day it had been for the new signings up to that point though.
    Striker Rasmus Hojlund was introduced to the new crowd just as it was revealed he will miss the first two games of the season with an injury.
    Mason Mount continued his ropey pre-season since a £60million switch from Chelsea by missing a sitter.
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    Meanwhile Andre Onana proved that being a sweeper-keeper can leave you vulnerable as he was lobbed from 45 yards.
    But a fired up United dominated last season’s La Ligue runners-up after the break.

    They were level just three minutes from the restart when Antony released Rashford with a fine ball from the right and last season’s top scorer found the back of the net with the aid of a deflection.
    Ten Hag’s men were ahead just five minutes later when a great touch by Rashford sent Alejandro Garnacho flying down the wing.
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    The Argentinian international fired a crossfield ball for Antony whose first touch was poor but whose second beat Brice Samba who was slow off his line.
    Casemiro was credited with number three on 58 minutes but didn’t know much about it.
    Luke Shaw delivered the ball from the left, Rashford’s flick header was going wide until it his Casemiro on the forehead and beat the ‘keeper.
    But what of the first-half?
    It was the 15th minute when Mount’s chance presented itself.
    A superb ball with the outside of his boot by Bruno Fernandes sent Garnacho away.
    Mason Mount endured a frustrating afternoon
    His first touch was poor but he managed to hook it back across goal and slightly behind Mount who swung and completely missed with the goal at his mercy.
    Then on 23 minutes Onana found himself in the back of his own net.
    He was out on the edge of his area when a loose pass by Diogo Dalot was seized upon by Florian Sotoca.
    Spotting Onana well off his line he hit a brilliant chip that United’s new £47million goalkeeper tried to claw away as he back-peddled. He could not reach it and ended up in a heap in the netting with the ball beside him.
    At that point you were wondering if a fourth successive pre-season defeat was on the cards after going down to Real Madrid, Wrexham and Borussia Dortmund in the US.
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    The real United emerged second-half.
    This was a confidence booster as they head off to Dublin to face Athletic Bilbao tomorrow (Sunday). More