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      Snarling Man Utd fans pelt cops with bottles and shout ‘f***ing pigs’ in terrifying new video from protest front line

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      POLICE officers were pelted with bottles by swarming Manchester United fans shouting “f***ing pigs” in shocking new footage from yesterday’s protests at Old Trafford. Terrified cops were drastically outnumbered by a minority of violent demonstrators at the largely peaceful protest outside the ground, before fans karate kicked their way into Old Trafford.
      Furious fans faced off with police, with some hurling bottles while yelling “f***ing pigs”Credit: @@robbie_m79/Twitter
      The officers were drastically outnumbered by the hundreds of fans who later stormed the stadiumCredit: @@robbie_m79/Twitter
      The footage shows the ferocious gang launch bottles and other objects as they faced off with police, antagonising them with howls of “f***ing pigs” and “f***ing cowards”.
      Officers drew their batons in attempt to fend off the mob, as glass shattered just inches from them and some were physically struck during the clash.
      An estimated 10,000 fans gathered outside the Theatre of Dreams in protest of the club’s owners, the Glazer family, resulting in the Red Devil’s Premier League game against Liverpool being postponed.
      Greater Manchester Police have launched an investigation after two officers were injured during the disturbance on Sunday.
      Assistant chief constable Russ Jackson condemned fans “reckless and dangerous” behaviour after one copper was attacked with a broken bottle and slashed across the face – requiring emergency hospital treatment.
      Tempers continued to flare throughout Sunday’s planned protestCredit: pixel8000
      Cops struggled to subdue the angry mob of fansCredit: @@robbie_m79/Twitter
      One man was pictured with a substantial slash to his face during the protest
      One fan karate kicked the door, allowing protestors to rush inside Old Trafford
      Demonstrators stormed the pitchCredit: pixel8000
      “At different points, bottles and barriers were thrown, officers assaulted and people scaled the stadium structure creating risk for themselves and officers,” he continued.
      Supporters chanted and let off flares outside Old Trafford before one protestor spectacularly karate kicked his way inside, much to the delight of fans who promptly charged indoors.
      The club have vehemently denied reports that a door was opened by staff, releasing a statement explaining the throng of fans climbed the gates at the end of the Munich tunnel to gain access.
      Others then opened an external door which allowed the herd to travel through the concourse area and onto the pitch.
      Some slid down the tarpaulin sheets covering the empty seats or snuck through the disabled section to storm the pitch shortly before the scheduled kick-off.
      But even after authorities managed to usher the crowds away, it was decided the match would not go ahead.
      Staff inside the stadium were ordered to remain in offices with the doors locked for their own safety, before another invasion took place.
      “A second breach occurred when a protestor smashed the door of a disability access lift, enabling a group to enter the stand,” Man U’s statement read.
      Yesterday’s United statement explained: “Following discussion between the Police, The Premier League, Trafford Council and the clubs, our match against Liverpool has been postponed due to safety and security considerations around the protest today.”
      Players did not leave their hotel rooms amid further safety concerns, after hundreds gathered outside the Lowry Hotel – even blocking the squad from leaving the premises.
      Balls, corner flags and other items were snatched up by fansCredit: AFP
      Police have condemned Manchester United fans who turned today’s protest violentCredit: AFP
      Fans were protesting the club’s owners, the Glazer familyCredit: AFP
      A cop appears to punch a protesting fan a number of timesCredit: Youtube / Lowry Hotel, Manchester
      One emerging video appears to show a police officer repeatedly punch one demonstrator who lay on the ground, after he was dragged behind a police van by three coppers.
      They shout at the young man to “stop resisting”, while one appears to strike him multiple times, before pushing away people filming.
      He yells at the person recording “get back now” and “do as I say”, before the cameraman says “I am doing as you say, no need to touch me”.
      The players and staff eventually left the hotel at 7.15pm, with a police escort.
      The demonstration had been planned days in advance, with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pleading for it to be peaceful.
      But tempers flared during the protests with supporters seen throwing punches at each other.
      And footage later emerged online showing fans inside the ground where they stormed onto the pitch and lit off flares.
      A flare was thrown towards the Sky Sports studio, where Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was watching on.
      Some fans threw barriers towards the police officersCredit: Reuters
      Police had to deal with flares inside the stadium as fans got inCredit: Getty
      Things started to get ugly at Old TraffordCredit: Reuters
      Sky Sports said during their live broadcast that pitch
      side cameras as well as balls, corner flags and other items have been taken.
      The majority of fans protested peacefully, angered by the Glazers who have cost the club in the region of £1.5BILLION in servicing the debt incurred by their 2005 takeover.
      For United legend and Sky pundit Gary Neville the protest was simply an expression of a the fans frustration with the way United has been run-down by the Glazers who he says should now do the ‘honourable thing’ and sell up and get out.
      He was pictured fist-bumping a fan inside Old Trafford amid the chaos.

      Neville said: “There’s huge discontent. They’re basically saying enough is enough.
      “The Glazer family have been resilient and stubborn for many years. I think they’re struggling for many, many years to meet the financial demands this club needs and have done for some time.

      “This stadium, if you go behind the scenes, is rusty and rotting. The training ground is probably not even in the top five in this country.”
      With the club already hugely security conscience after a number of embarrassing blunders, an explosives search team later arrived to sweep the stadium.
      Parts of it will also have to be deep cleaned as part of Covid protocoals with one fan understood to have made it into the changing rooms.
      One lad climbed on to the goal at the Stretford EndCredit: Action Images More

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      Man Utd flop Di Maria out for revenge on English football after nightmare spell when PSG face Man City

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      MANCHESTER was not a happy time in either the life or the career of Angel Di Maria.He was, of course, in the red of United. But now he stands between the sky blue of City and their dreams of reaching a debut Champions League final.
      Angel Di Maria has a point to prove when he faces off against Man City in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      Di Maria, meanwhile, has pedigree in the tournament. He was a key part of the Real Madrid side that won the trophy in 2014.
      And last year he came close to saving Paris Saint Germain in their first ever final, putting centre back Marquinhos clean through on goal when PSG were a goal down to Bayern Munich.
      Manuel Neuer blocked that one and Bayern held on to win. Earlier this month Di Maria gained revenge on Bayern in this year’s quarter finals. Now comes his moment to gain revenge on English football.
      His relationship with England in general, and with then-United coach Louis Van Gaal specifically, was not a happy one. The 33 year old Argentine is entitled to the view that he was not treated with due respect.
      Pundit and former star Graeme Souness, for example, criticised the end product of his solo bursts – an argument easily dismissed by the fact that Di Maria was the king of the assists in last year’s Champions League.
      Souness went further, dismissing Di Maria as `a kidder.` The former Liverpool maestro, is, of course, fully entitled to his view.
      But this one seems strangely perverse. It is surely absurd to believe that a kidder could have survived at the top level for so long, accumulating league titles in Portugal, Spain and France.
      It would mean that Di Maria has been able to deceive a lot of quality people, including those who have been playing against him.
      Di Maria struggled to get to the grips with the English gameCredit: Dave Pinegar – The Sun
      A strained relationship with Louis Van Gaal didn’t help Di Maria’s causeCredit: Getty – Contributor
      As well as his many achievements at club level, Di Maria has also had a considerable influence for Argentina – and especially on the career of Lionel Messi.
      The biggest title that Messi can boast for his country is the 2008 Olympic gold medal, when Di Maria raced away to score the only goal of the final against Nigeria.
      A few years later came those three finals lost in quick succession – the 1-0 defeat to Germany in the 2014 World Cup, and then losses to Chile after a penalty shoot out in the finals of the Copa America in both 2015 and 16.
      Every time, the absence of Di Maria was crucial. In 2014 he scored the late goal that won the second round match against Switzerland, helped set up the only goal of the quarter final against Belgium, scored early by Gonzalo Higuain.
      Soon afterwards he pulled up with a muscle injury and limped out of the competition. Argentina did not score another goal in the World Cup.
      He limped out of the 2015 Copa in Argentina’s second game, and lasted less than an hour of the 2016 final before the injury curse struck once more.
      The simple conclusion is that Messi has been most effective for Argentina when Di Maria has been on the field, opening up the pitch with his pace, closing down spaces with his spirit of sacrifice.

      Lionel Messi has been at his best for Argentina thanks to Angel Di MariaCredit: AFP

      This perhaps sheds light on one of the striking characteristics of Angel Di Maria – an absence of ego.
      He seems happy to do whatever the team needs, to operate as part of the supporting cast, be it to Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
      He may be one of the most under-rated players of recent times – and Manchester City will under-estimate him at their peril.
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      Man Utd coach Martyn Pert studied accountancy, worked with Shaq O’Neal and his analysis was called ‘brilliant’ by Bielsa

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are heading in the right direction.Second in the league and semi-finalists in the Europa League, the Red Devils are continuing to improve as they ultimately look to win the Premier League title for the first time since 2013.
      Martyn Pert shares his thoughts with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the training groundCredit: PA
      Marcelo Bielsa called Pert’s work ‘brilliant’ after reading his analysis of the Chile 2010 World Cup teamCredit: Social media
      One person who has helped get the likes of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes match-ready is Martyn Pert, who arrived at Old Trafford in 2019.
      The strength and conditioning specialist, 43, was name-checked by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, after he joined the club from MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps.
      After a failed playing career, Pert trained to be an accountant but jacked it in to follow his football dream.
      He travelled around Europe – watching training sessions and picking up tips, until he scored his first job at Cambridge United.
      In his storied journey before he took his first coaching session at Carrington, Pert’s work has been called “brilliant” by Marcelo Bielsa after sending the Argentine an analysis report.
      He also worked with basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal.
      ‘THIS AIN’T FOR ME’
      Pert played in the same youth team with Danny Mills and Craig Bellamy at Norwich, but when that didn’t work out he enrolled on a management accountancy course at Loughborough University.
      However, ringing in his ears was his grandad’s advice that he should enjoy whatever he does with enthusiasm.
      Not enthralled by number crunching, he told his mates he wanted to become a football manager.
      Pert studied to be an accountant before he got into footballCredit: PA
      “My mates laughed when I told them,” Pert told Training Ground Guru.
      “They wanted to work for Goldman Sachs and Price Waterhouse Cooper. But I can remember my grandad getting me my first tactics book at 13 and my mum saying I was already picking teams from that age.”
      KEEN TO LEARN
      Persistent Pert wrote to clubs all around Europe to see first-hand how training sessions are done.
      Eventually, he was invited by Brondby, Ajax, Heerenveen, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and AC Milan to study their drills.
      He saved money, got in his Ford Fiesta and drove around Europe for 16 weeks.
      “I was in a tent, going to the clubs in the day before coming back at night. I met the youth team director at Bayern Munich, sat down in his office,” he said.
      “He was genuinely excited I was there. I met Franco Baresi in Italy – we sat down for a coffee.”
      Pert’s journey to Carrington has been a storied oneCredit: Getty
      BACK TO SQUARE ONE
      Ambitious Pert completed his B Licence at 23 and his A Licence at 24.
      He then scored a job as Cambridge United U14 coach, after the brother of his youth coach at Norwich, Dan Ashworth had taken over as youth development officer at the club.
      Pert formed a close relationship with Aidy Boothroyd at Cambridge, who took him to West Brom full-time.
      But when Boothroyd left for Leeds, and budget cuts were made, he was out of a job and had to think on his feet.
      Just like he did before, he decided travelling would be his best bet.
      With a £7,000 pay-off from West Brom, Pert booked a flight into Montreal and a return out of Rio de Janeiro.
      Before he arrived at Manchester United, Pert was with MLS club Vancouver WhitecapsCredit: Getty – Contributor
      FEELING THE HEAT
      During his world tour, Pert managed to secure three months work with the Miami Heat.
      He shadowed strength and conditioning coach Bill Foran, while watching legendary NBA coach Pat Riley manage stars like Shaquille O’Neal and Dwayne Wade.
      Pert revealed: “I was picking up water bottles, watching Pat Riley, sucking it all up. I’d do anything just to be around and pick up the messages Pat was giving to the players.
      “They had some stars – Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal – but no matter how much money they made, Pat still had an authority over them. They had big respect for him.”
      After taking a sabbatical, Pert spent three months with the Miami Heat where he got to work with Shaquille O’NealCredit: Reuters
      TRIP TO SEE BIELSA
      Pert followed pal Boothroyd to Watford in 2005, and helped get the club promoted.
      However, when Boothroyd was fired, Brendan Rodgers came in and hired his own team.
      Pert rejoined his friend at Coventry City, briefly, as assistant manager. It lasted just six months, until again they were let go.
      Waiting for the phone to ring, he downloaded all of Chile’s games at the 2010 World Cup and sent his analysis on how they played to Athletic Bilbao, where Marcelo Bielsa was manager.
      “I didn’t expect too much but he wrote back to me and said, ‘brilliant’”.
      Years later, Bielsa would invite Pert round to his home to discuss the beautiful game.
      Pert sent his notes to Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao and the Argentine responded with a letter before inviting him round to his homeCredit: Getty
      “A few years later, when I was the assistant at Vancouver White Caps, I was in Buenos Aires with Robbo (manager Carl Robinson) and I got up at 5am and drove to Rosario, which is three and a half hours away, to meet Marcelo Bielsa in his house,” Pert continued.
      “He talked football to me for three or four hours and was genuinely humble and interested I had driven all that way to meet him and listen to him talk about football.”
      THE DREAM JOB
      Today, Pert is shaping Manchester United’s first team – after taking assistant manager jobs as far as Bahrain (2012-13), Cardiff City (2013-14), and Vancouver Whitecaps, where he spent four years until 2018.
      On his travels, he also picked up different languages, most notably Portuguese which has helped him communicate in training with Fred and Fernandes.
      And Pert was given a name check earlier on this campaign by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, when the Norwegian praised his assistant’s work in helping to improve Fred’s form.

      “He [Fred] struggled with the language last season, and to be honest I would not have expected that to be a problem when he came in because Jose was the manager, so he probably communicated with him really well.
      “One of our coaches, Martyn Pert, has come in from Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS and he is fluent in Portuguese, so it’s easier for Fred to communicate with us all now.”
      Coach, strength and fitness conditioner, and now translator… is there anything Pert can’t do?
      Sir Alex Ferguson used family pride to motivate Man Utd stars and stressed importance of their upbringings More

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      Man Utd in Raphael Varane transfer boost as defender could be forced out of Real Madrid after David Alaba signing

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have received a huge transfer boost in their pursuit of Raphael Varane.Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is likely to add some defensive reinforcements this summer, with Real Madrid star Varane believed to be on the shopping list.
      Man Utd have been given a timely boost in their transfer pursuit of Raphael VaraneCredit: Getty
      And according to the Manchester Evening News, the French centre-half could be ‘forced out’ with the club close to sealing a deal to sign Bayern Munich defender David Alaba.
      The Austria international announced he would leave the German giants at the end of the season, and a five-year contract is on the table at the Bernabeu.
      Varane is yet to sign a new deal with the Spaniards and could leave for free at the end of next season.
      The MEN writes that “if the World Cup-winning Frenchman declines a new deal Bernabeu bosses will have to sanction his exit”.
      Solskjaer is thought to have made a new partner for Harry Maguire his transfer priority.
      But Chelsea have emerged as serious contenders for Varane, according to German publication Bild, due to Thomas Tuchel’s interest in the player.
      Madrid could demand as much as £86million for the 27-year-old after a decade of starring for the team.
      United have also been linked with Varane’s defensive partner at Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos.
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      The club legend is also yet to agree a new deal, and would be available on a free.
      Real’s signing of Alaba has been given the green light – by his team-mate at Bayern Joshua Kimmich.
      The 26-year-old told Sky Germany: “He has won everything here multiple times.
      “Twice the treble, once even six titles in one year. Real is in any case a worthy club.
      “There aren’t many steps you can take after playing for Bayern but Real Madrid isn’t that bad as the next step.”
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      Paul Pogba ‘wants £500,000-a-week contract’ to stay at Man Utd with Real Madrid, PSG and Juventus waiting in wings

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      WORLD CUP winner Paul Pogba is reportedly demanding £500,000-a-week to stay at Manchester United.The French star, 28, is currently under contract until June 2022.
      Paul Pogba is reportedly demanding a new deal worth £500k-a-week, according to the Daily StarCredit: EPA
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      And his agent, Mino Raiola is said to have told senior members of the United hierarchy his client will sign a deal, but ONLY if it’s worth a staggering half a million per week, according to the Daily Star.
      Should United agree to Pogba’s demands, it would make him the highest paid player in the club’s history.
      The Daily Star also claim that PSG, Real Madrid and Juventus have all been informed how much it would cost to secure his signature.
      Incredibly, with image rights included to that base wage Pogba could net somewhere in the region of £800,000-a-week.
      Pogba and Raiola are aware that his next move will probably be the last lucrative deal he is likely to be offered.
      The Red Devils signed the midfielder for a club-record fee of £90million in 2016.
      But during his time with the Premier League giants he is yet to win a league title, with only EFL Cup and the Europa League winners’ medals to his name.
      This season, Pogba was slow out the traps as he struggled for form earlier in the campaign.
      However, since the turn of the year his performances have improved – and he recently captained the team in the quarter-final Europa League win over Granada.
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      And manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could thank former United star Darren Fletcher for his upturn in fortunes.
      The ex-Scotland international was brought into the senior side’s coaching set-up back in January to lend his experience to United’s current crop of midfielders.
      As The Sun reported, Fletcher has helped the Frenchman improve the defensive side of his game.
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      Jose Mourinho insists he ‘couldn’t care less’ after Man Utd star Paul Pogba’s slammed his management style

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      JOSE MOURINHO insists he ‘couldn’t care less’ about Paul Pogba’s criticism of his management style.The French midfielder hit out at his former manager and suggested he ‘goes against his players’ unlike current Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
      Jose Mourinho has revealed he doesn’t care what Paul Pogba thinks about his management styleCredit: Reuters
      He also revealed details of the ‘strange relationship’ he had with the Portuguese during his time in charge of the Red Devils between 2016 and 2018.
      Pogba and Mourinho had a famous training ground clash in 2018 after the United boss thought Pogba had been laughing at the club’s defeat to Derby.
      And Pogba has revealed it is tough to explain his relationship with the Tottenham boss even now.
      However, when asked after Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Everton about the ex-Juventus star’s remarks, the Spurs chief said: “I would like to say that I couldn’t care less what he said.
      “I couldn’t care less – not interested at all.”
      World Cup winner Pogba had told Sky Sports: “What I have now with Ole is different, he wouldn’t go against the players.
      “Maybe Ole wouldn’t pick them, but it’s not like he puts them on the side like they don’t exist anymore. That’s the difference between Mourinho and Ole.
      “Once I had a great relationship with Mourinho, everybody saw that, and the next day you don’t know what happened.
      Pogba said he felt Moutinho goes against his own playersCredit: EPA
      “That’s the strange thing I had with Mourinho and I cannot explain to you because even I don’t know.
      “Maybe [Solskjaer’s methods work] because he is a bit closer to the people.
      “Every coach has their own way to coach and deal with players, and as a player you have to adapt. Sometimes it doesn’t suit you and sometimes it does.”
      The 28-year-old also laughed at Mourinho’s distraction tactics after United’s victory at Spurs last week.
      After the game the ex-Chelsea and Porto boss hit out at Solskjaer for saying he wouldn’t feed his son if he went down like Son Heung-min did after Scott McTominay’s hand brushed his face.
      The Portuguse said he is glad Son’s dad is a better father than Ole.
      But many accused Mourinho of vintage tactics used solely to distract the public away from his side’s pathetic collapse – throwing away a 1-0 half-time lead to lose 3-1.
      And asked for his thoughts on the post-game reaction, Pogba added: “I don’t know what happened, I’m sure Mourinho said something that would make people speak, that’s what he does.
      Mourinho and Pogba fell out at Old TraffordCredit: Reuters

      “We got the result we wanted, Ole knows it and we enjoyed that moment because we know Mourinho and we know what he likes. We don’t need this [war of words], we just focus on us.
      “We won the game, he lost the game and he doesn’t want to speak about the game, he wants to speak about the dad of someone, that’s what he does.
      “Everybody knows him, it’s very Mourinho.”
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      Burnley star McNeil’s joy at seeing childhood pal Greenwood blossoming at Man Utd… despite own disappointment at 14

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      THERE was a time Dwight McNeil and Mason Greenwood would fight it out in the cages at Manchester United’s training ground.Now the old friends have both been unleashed on the Premier League and their teams go head-to-head at Old Trafford tomorrow.
      Mason Greeenwood goes head-to-head against Dwight McNeilCredit: Getty
      Burnley winger McNeil trained at Man Utd when he was a kidCredit: Rex
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      Burnley winger McNeil, 21, had dreams of making the grade with his boyhood club — but his time with the Red Devils ended in disappointment, aged 14.
      The Rochdale-born star is not surprised by the progress of pal Greenwood, 18, at United as he pushes for a spot in England’s Euros squad.
      McNeil, a doubt for the clash after picking up a knock, said: “The main thing was training in the cage at night.
      “It was all a bit of fun, really, just playing games in this small area. But it improved me as a player in tight areas.
      “Mason was younger than me but he played up with us. He was always good with both feet — you could tell with Mason at a young age.
      “I know Mason personally and he’s a good man as well as a very good player. Sometimes I see him face-to-face on the odd occasion but on social media I speak to him.
      “It’s great that we’ve both achieved our  dream to play in the Premier League and,  obviously, Mason is doing so well at United and I’m really happy for him.
      “Every time he’s playing at the moment he’s doing well. 
      “He’s had some criticism but I know what kind of guy he is. Mason’s a good guy and he’s come back scoring goals so I’m happy for him.”
      McNeil was the United-mad kid who grew up wanting to be the next Ryan Giggs.
      McNeil grew up wanting to be the next Giggs
      Greenwood and McNeil have remained pals after time in the youth teamsCredit: Instagram @masongreenwood
      Old Trafford icon Giggs enjoyed a remarkable, trophy-laden career which ended with him racking up a club-record 963 appearances. 
      So although the Burnley winger’s dad Matt was a footballer,  it was Giggs who a young Dwight  modelled his game on.
      And he still has the shirt to prove it round at his parents’ house.
      McNeil admitted: “I think there’s one at  my Mum and Dad’s place. I used to watch everything Giggs did as a youngster. Direct dribbles past people, crosses, goals, leadership,  I just lapped it up.”
      McNeil had a dream to become a United winger just like his hero — but he suffered heartache after his folks broke the news he would not be kept on.
      He explained: “I was 14 and still at school. As a young kid it’s a hard one to take, especially when it’s your boyhood club and the one you grew up supporting.
      “But my parents still believed in me. We had a chat and all decided that the best thing was to come here and give it a go.
      Greenwood was a star at youth level for UnitedCredit: Instagram @masongreenwood
      “I look back now at being released by United and I wouldn’t have thought back then that I’d have all this experience under my belt by this age.
      “It was a hard one to take when I left but then I came here to Burnley and haven’t looked back since.
      “It just gave me that desire and determination to become a professional footballer elsewhere.
      “It made me focused on becoming a professional footballer. And hopefully, looking back on it, I’ve proved some people wrong.”
      If McNeil carries on like this, then surely his chance to shine with one of the big guns will come one day.
      Yet he dampened down the  speculation — for now at least — by signing a new long-term contract at Turf Moor in October.
      With the Clarets seemingly on course to beat the drop again, he said: “The gaffer calls it ‘outside noise’ and we didn’t hear anything.

      McNeill has blossomed at Burnley and plays for England U21’sCredit: Getty

      “It was a simple answer for me and the family to sign a new contract with the club.
      “I had a talk with my Dad and my family and we came to the conclusion that the best decision, the right decision, was to sign another contract.
      “Right now for me  it’s about playing for Burnley. I have loved the club since I’ve been here and I know the manager and the lads so well.”
      Mason Greenwood admits he wants to be Man Utd’s centre forward More