Man Utd transfer news

Subterms

    More stories

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Cristiano Ronaldo offered Man Utd transfer exit with Galatasaray set to go all out to land star in January

      by

      CRISTIANO RONALDO could be offered an exit route from Manchester United by Galatasaray, according to reports.The Red Devils forward, 37, was heavily linked with a transfer in the summer but, after showdown talks, stayed put at Old Trafford.
      Cristiano Ronaldo could be on his way to Galatasaray in JanuaryCredit: Getty
      However, he has been “p***ed off” with his bit-part role under Erik ten Hag – his only Premier League start was the 4-0 thumping at Brentford.
      Ronaldo was an unused sub in the 6-3 derby defeat at Manchester City on Sunday and is now being linked once again with a move away in mid-season.
      SunSport revealed his team-mates believe he will push for a move once again in January, six months before his contract expires.
      According to Fotomac, Turkish giants Galatasaray are set to go “all out” with an ambitious bid for the Portuguese ace in the January window.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      Club chief Erden Timur refused to talk about attempting to sign the £360,000-a-week ace but is said to be in constant communication with Ronaldo’s representatives.
      Okan Burak’s side currently sit fourth in the Super Lig after a woeful 13th-place finish last term.
      That result ensured they cannot offer Ronaldo any European football – let alone the Champions League – until the 2023-24 campaign at the earliest.
      Galatasaray have already lured stars Lucas Torreira, Juan Mata and Mauro Icardi to the Nef Stadium this season.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      But landing Ronaldo from United would be a major coup.
      However, Galatasaray may face competition from the Middle East with Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal potentially going back in for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
      Talks were held in the summer over a £2million-per-week contract but a deal collapsed because Al-Hilal were under a transfer ban.
      Ronaldo looks set to start in United’s Europa League clash at Neil Lennon’s Omonia in Cyprus.
      Mauro Icardi is among the big names currently playing for the Turkish giantsCredit: Getty More

    • 288 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd tried to get Ronaldo to go to Barcelona instead of Real Madrid in 2009 – and he could’ve played with Messi

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED almost managed to get Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to link-up… for Barcelona.Portuguese superstar Ronaldo shattered football’s transfer record in 2009 when he left Old Trafford to join Real Madrid for £80million.

      Los Blancos had already splashed out on Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso and Ballon d’Or winner Kaka in response to Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering debut season as Nou Camp chief the year before.
      But they were almost denied the jewel in returning president’s Florentino Perez’s masterplan if Sir Alex Ferguson had got his way.
      The legendary Scot was desperate to avoid losing Ronaldo to Real once he’d accepted that the former Sporting Lisbon winger was set to leave.
      Fergie had even said back in 2008 that he wouldn’t sell Madrid a ‘virus’ let alone his best player.
      And according to Spanish newspaper AS, the United boss realised at the time that Barcelona were the only other club who could afford Ronaldo.
      Fergie apparently contacted the Catalans to encourage a bid but the Portugal captain had already set his mind on a move to the Bernabeu.
      Most Read in Football

      Guardiola’s most notable signing that summer involved an infamous swap deal with Inter Milan involving Samuel Eto’o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
      But the acquisition of Ronaldo would have not only ushered in an era of pure dominance for Barcelona, but also have cancelled out his famed rivalry with Messi.
      Whether Manchester City chief Pep could have managed to get the two to play together is up for debate, as he boasted an embarrassment of attacking riches while in charge of Barca.
      While Arsenal legend Thierry Henry flourished for Barca on the left wing, Ronaldo could have occupied the opposite flank to leave Messi in the hole behind Ibra.
      Yaya Toure and Sergio Busquets may have had to share a spot on the substitutes bench, with Spanish duo Xavi and Iniesta holding down the two spots in the middle.
      Messi was asked by Mundo Deportivo last year whether he would pass to Ronaldo if the two were on the same team.
      The Argentine joked: “I guess so, in the end, yes.”
      Cristiano Ronaldo sealed a then-world record transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      The Portuguese superstar was also offered to Barcelona which would have made him teammates with Lionel MessiCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

    • 200 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd scouts ‘impressed’ by Benjamin Sesko as they target striker as Cristiano Ronaldo transfer replacement

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED scouts have been impressed by RB Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko, according to reports.The Red Devils considered a move for the 6ft 5in forward as Cristiano Ronaldo pushed for a summer exit.
      Benjamin Sesko has agreed to join RB Leipzig at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
      United ended up keeping the Portuguese star, with Sesko committing to sign for RB Leipzig.
      The Bundesliga side have agreed to pay £21.6million for the Slovenian teenager at the end of the season.
      But this has not deterred United from making a move.
      According to 90min, the Red Devils are still interested in the 19-year-old ace – despite the fact RB Leipzig would demand a serious profit to sell him.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      Erik ten Hag’s side aren’t the only side interested, with Chelsea and Bayern Munich also keen.
      The Red Devils could have a vacancy up front, with Ronaldo rumoured to be chasing a January exit after starting only one Prem game so far this season.
      Chelsea, meanwhile, could look for a long-term solution in the striker position after signing 33-year-old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as a stop-gap option.
      While Bayern would still like to sign a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski, although Harry Kane is their dream target.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      Sesko has scored five times in 15 appearances so far this term for RB Salzburg – drawing blanks in Champions League clashes with AC Milan, Chelsea and Dinamo Zagreb.
      He netted 11 times in 37 outings in all competitions last season, and has four in 15 caps for his country
      These include goals in each of his last three outings, against Serbia, Norway and Sweden respectively.
      Cristiano Ronaldo could leave Man United in JanuaryCredit: Reuters More

    • 238 Shares119 Views

      in Soccer

      ‘We briefly discussed it’ – Bayern Munich chief Kahn admits club considered rescuing Cristiano Ronaldo from Man Utd hell

      by

      BAYERN MUNICH “briefly discussed” signing Cristiano Ronaldo over the summer, claims club chief Oliver Kahn.The Portuguese forward made his desire to leave Old Trafford clear and missed the Red Devils’ pre-season tour due to “personal reasons”.
      Cristiano Ronaldo prepares for tonight’s clash with OmoniaCredit: Reuters
      Oliver Kahn discussed his side’s brief interest in RonaldoCredit: Rex
      Ronaldo, 37, ended up staying at United after a viable transfer failed to materialise – although the Bundesliga could have been a possibility.
      Speaking to Bild, Bayern CEO Kahn said: “We briefly discussed Ronaldo at Bayern and Dortmund probably did too.
      “We also see the big picture of the Bundesliga.
      “Of course, superstars like Ronaldo are an important factor in attracting attention to the league.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      “He is one of the greatest of the last decade. But we quickly dismissed that.”
      Ronaldo has started just one Premier League game this season, the 4-0 hammering at Brentford in August.
      He will be hoping to be selected tonight as United face Cypriot side Omonia in the Europa League.
      The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was left on the bench for the duration of his team’s 6-3 defeat at Manchester City last time out – with boss Erik ten Hag claiming it was out of “respect for his big career”.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      Ahead of tonight’s match, Ten Hag admitted that Ronaldo was “p***ed off” about not playing last weekend.
      The 52-year-old said: “He’s not happy that he wasn’t playing Sunday, don’t get me wrong.
      “Of course, he wants to play and he’s p***ed off when he’s not playing. Clear.
      “When you’re here and you’re happy, or satisfied, to be on the bench, this is not a club where you have to be, especially Cristiano.
      “He’s really competitive, as we all know. He’s not happy when he’s not playing.”
      Bayern could have been in the market for a striker after losing Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona.
      Read More on The Sun
      But they would prefer to sign Tottenham star Harry Kane, having publicly flirted with the England skipper.
      Bayern are claimed to have tentatively made contact with the 29-year-old’s representatives, with Kane’s Spurs contract set to expire in 2024. More

    • 288 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Ex-Man City academy kid Brandon Barker was secretly a Man Utd fan – but now hopes to beat them in Europa with Nicosia

      by

      LIFELONG fan Brandon Barker has more than one reason to want to do well against Manchester United.The Omonia Nicosia winger faces his boyhood idols tomorrow night in the Europa League.
      Omonia Nicosia winger Brandon Barker faces his boyhood idols on ThursdayCredit: Chara Savvidou
      The star came through the ranks at Man City but grew up supporting UnitedCredit: Getty
      But after growing up in Manchester City’s academy, Barker has extra motivation to pull off an upset with the Cypriot side.
      The 26-year-old told SunSport: “I spent 16 years at City — but I was always a Red growing up.
      “When I was seven I was at United. However, it was quite far from my house so we opted to go with the City route and that’s how the change happened.
      “After spending so much time there, I fell in love with Man City as well. When they play each other I try not to support anyone.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      “It would be special to beat them as half of my friends are City, half are United.
      “Nobody is expecting anything from us and rightly so — it’s Man United. But we will relish that.”
      Barker, who helps run a Manchester-based pressure washer business in his spare time, was once regarded as one of City’s top home-grown prospects as a teenager after being named their academy player of the year in 2014.
      He was hoisted up to first-team training under Manuel Pellegrini — and was regularly named among the substitutes before finally making his debut in an FA Cup fifth-round defeat to Chelsea in 2016.
      Most read in Sport
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      But his dreams of making it at the Etihad ended when new boss Pep Guardiola deemed him surplus to requirements and loaned him out to Dutch side Breda, Rotherham, Preston and then Hibernian in the space of three years.
      Barker added: “It became a bit of a whirlwind. I did every age group at Man City and I was fairly confident I would make the step up — and when Pellegrini was there I was with the first team every day and coped with it really well.
      “I was on the bench about 25 times so I must have been doing well. But with the change of manager I was out the door.
      “You can’t get angry about that but then I was caught in the loan trap instead of forcing your way out.”
      Barker signed a two-year deal with Omonia in June to link up with his former Hibs boss Neil Lennon, following an injury-plagued short-term deal at Reading last season.
      And after scoring against Genk to secure their group-stage spot, the winger believes he is starting to recapture the form which raised a lot of eyebrows as a kid back in Manchester.
      He said: “I’m here on a fresh slate. It has taken a lot of adjustment.
      The former starlet was tipped for big things but was shifted out of the Etihad by Pep GuardiolaCredit: Action Images
      Now he is hoping to down United in the Europa LeagueCredit: AFP
      “I have found it tough on my body because I barely played last season. So it has just been getting back in the swing of things.
      “I am still at a good age to crack on. I had a taste of European football in Holland but I was only 18 and not ready for it. Now I am at an age where I am in a ‘f*** it’ kind of moment.”
      Barker admits lining up against childhood idol Cristiano Ronaldo will be a dream come true.
      But he believes he and his team-mates will not be starstruck by United’s players, as he aims to give himself the perfect present after celebrating his 26th birthday today.
      He added: “Any opportunity you get to grace a pitch with those sorts of players is always going to be special.
      “Ronaldo is my greatest player of all time so it will be special for me as a United fan. But it is just a game and the boys will have their blinkers on and will do what we have been doing.
      “It is a chance to put this club on the European map. We got the opportunity to play in the Europa League from a cup run. We have done the hard work to get here so we may as well go for it.” More

    • 263 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd ‘warn Ten Hag he will have have very limited transfer funds in January EVEN if Cristiano Ronaldo is sold’

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED boss Erik ten Hag has reportedly been told he will have a limited budget next summer – even if they do sell Cristiano Ronaldo in January. And that will make the Dutchman reluctant to let his unsettled Portugal superstar go, according to ESPN.
      Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo has lost his starting place in the side under new manager Erik ten HagCredit: Rex
      It looks increasingly likely Red Devils legend Ronaldo will leave the club again after losing his starting spot under Ten Hag this season.
      The star, who has 142 goals for the Prem giants, looked a forlorn figure as an unused sub in Sunday’s 6-3 defeat at Manchester City.
      He has not started a Prem game since the 4-0 defeat to Brentford in early August.
      The five-time Ballon d’Or winner appears to have fallen behind Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in United’s pecking order.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      And sources have told ESPN he will be itching to find a new club in January if he cannot force his way back into the side.
      Ronaldo was reportedly keen to leave Old Trafford in the summer and linked with clubs including Serie A side Napoli.
      Uefa rules would allow Ronaldo to sign for a team in the Champions League in January as he has only played in the Europa League this season.
      His attitude to training and games is said to have remained “exemplary” since it became clear he would not be leaving in the summer.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      But ESPN says he is still “desperate to make the most of his last years at the top.”
      Ten Hag is said to be “understanding of Ronaldo’s situation but would still be reluctant to let him leave in January.”
      Ronaldo’s Old Trafford deal runs until until the end of the season, with an option to extend until summer 2024.
      And ESPN have learnt Ten Hag might be reluctant to let him go at the start of the new year because it is “highly unlikely there will be money to spend until next summer” for a suitable replacement. More

    • 213 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd outcast Donny van de Beek ‘targeted by Leicester as £13m transfer replacement for Youri Tielemans’

      by

      LEICESTER CITY are plotting a January move for Manchester United outcast Donny van de Beek, according to reports.The midfielder returned to Old Trafford over the summer having spent the second half of last season on loan at Everton.
      Donny van de Beek has made just three substitute for Manchester United this seasonCredit: PA
      Van de Beek’s arrival back in Manchester saw him reunite with old Ajax boss Erik ten Hag and looked like giving him a new lease of life at the Theatre of Dreams.
      But the Netherland international’s struggles have continued during the early months of the season.
      He’s yet to start a game and has played just 19 minutes in United’s first eight competitive fixtures,
      Van de Beek did come off the bench in each of Ten Hag’s first three matches in charge, but he’s not featured since the win over Liverpool.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      The 25-year-old is back in training after suffering an injury, but Casemiro’s summer arrival plus the resurgence of Bruno Fernandes Scott McTominay isn’t likely to help his need for minutes.
      And according to reports, Van de Beek is wanted by Leicester.
      The report claims that he could come in as a replacement for Youri Tielemans, who could leave in January, with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
      The Foxes are being linked with a loan deal with a £13m option to buy the Dutchman.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      Dutch giants PSV and his former club Ajax are also keen on Van de Beek’s services.
      United are expected to allow him to leave in some capacity in the winter to improve his game-time. More

    • 225 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Bruno Fernandes reveals he deliberately targeted ‘big’ centre-back in Man Utd training to ‘get used to being bullied’

      by

      BRUNO FERNANDES says he used to go looking for challenges with Manchester United’s giant defenders in training in order to toughen up for life in the Premier League. The 5ft 10in Portugal star arrived at Old Trafford two years ago after making his name in the Italian and Portuguese top flights.
      Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes says he used to enjoy tussles with Eric Bailly in trainingCredit: PA
      And fearing he might be out-muscled in the English game, the skillful playmaker has revealed that he used to target “big” players in training to ensure he would not be bullied in matches.
      Fernandes told Soccer AM: “I like to mess with the big ones so you get used to being bullied in the games.
      “One of the ones I would always mess about with was Eric Bailly.
      “Always in training, I would play as a No 10 and he would play as a centre-back and he has to jump on me.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      “I was always playing one-touch and he kicked me so many times.
      “And every time that I pass the ball to do a one-two he would always put me on the ground.”
      Ivory Coast’s 6ft 2in centre-half Bailly joined the Red Devils from Villarreal in 2016.
      The 28-year-old was sent on a season-long loan to Marseille in the summer at the start of Erik ten Hag’s reign as new United boss.
      Bailly made the switch after featuring just seven times in all competitions for United last term.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      Recalling their training ground tussles, Fernandes added: “He used to say, ‘Every time you get the ball – the first touch – I have to put you on the ground or you will run away from me’.
      “Even on the training ground, I would know he is coming and instead of moving backwards, I would run forward so he can’t kick me.” More