Premier League

MANCHESTER UNITED snubbed the opportunity to sign Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix before he completed a loan move to Barcelona.However, United were not the only Premier League side to turn down the opportunity to sign the 23-year-old.
Manchester United snubbed a deal for Joao FelixCredit: Getty
Felix made a move to Barcelona on transfer deadline day having been linked with a number of European giants.
Prior to the move he publicly made comments about the Catalan side being his dream team which did not impress Atletico boss Diego Simeone or former winger for the club Paulo Futre.
According to Futre, Felix’s agent, Jorge Mendes informed him that he had talks with Manchester United about signing the forward but they were not in favour of a deal.
It’s claimed Manchester City also snubbed the transfer.
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Futre told Cadena Ser’s El Larguero: “When Joao said he dreamed of playing for Barca I began to live a nightmare that lasts to this day.
“I called Jorge Mendes and told him the statements that Joao had made and he said no.
“We argued on the phone and he told me that he had spoken to Manchester United.
“I can verify what he told me because I have friends and they said it was true.
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“Later he had spoken with Manchester City, I also checked and they didn’t want Joao either.”
The forward spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea, making 20 appearances and scoring four goals.
He has managed three goals and two assists from four games for Barca.
The only serious interest from the Premier League came from Aston Villa who had an agreement with Atletico at the start of July.
Confused by the lack of interest, Futre added: “What happened between Joao and Diego Simeone happens every day in football.
“It’s something normal. What is not normal is that phenomenal coaches knew that Joao was a genius but nobody wanted him.
“Neither Arteta, nor Guardiola, nor Klopp, any club… My question is why?
“The only team that has wanted him has been Aston Villa.
“Joao said no when there was an agreement between Atletico and Aston Villa at the beginning of July.” More

FULHAM have been slammed by fans after releasing their ticket prices for the visit of Manchester United.The Cottagers have bumped up their ticket costs for the November 4 clash in every stand.
Fulham supporters are up in arms over the ticket prices for their clash with Man UtdCredit: Getty
And it means the highest-priced adult ticket is now a whopping £160 for those wishing to sit in the Riverside Stand.
Supporters have branded Fulham “out of touch” as the cheapest ticket comes in at £67, making the club one of the most expensive to watch in the Premier League.
One fan reacted to the news saying: “Genuinely a disgrace.”
Another added: “We’re a football club that off the pitch are so out of touch with reality. By charging these prices, you are more than likely replacing genuine supporters who now can’t afford to go with day trippers who have bundles of money.
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“The club can’t afford to alienate supporters.”
A third wrote: “I have no issue with the price of the riverside tickets being a premium providing the Hammersmith and Putney are respectable to accommodate all fans.
“This really is not respectable.”
And another commented: “If I sit in the Riverside stand do I get Marco [Silva] giving me a half-time foot rub? Because that’s the only way that price is reasonable.”
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Fulham Supporters’ Club reacted by stating they are “extremely disappointed” with the pricing, which are the highest ever.
A statement read: “The Trust is extremely disappointed with the ticket prices released for the Manchester United game on 4 November.
“The prices for the Riverside Stand are the highest we have ever seen for individual match day sales and are likely to be financially out of reach for many of those who hold Club membership.
“Adult prices around the rest of the ground have increased approximately 18 per cent since last year, which is similar to the increase in season ticket prices for this season.
“We continue to have concerns that Club members, including concessions, are being priced out of attending games.
“There seems to be a marked increase in match-day ticket prices across London clubs in particular and we will continue to monitor how Fulham compare against our peers.
“Match day ticket pricing will be an agenda item for our October meeting with the Club.
“We are also aware that the Manchester United fixture is notorious for non-Fulham supporting fans finding their way in to home supporter areas.
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“We hope the Club, in increasing prices as they are, will be making every effort to ensure that this does not happen and that any non-Fulham supporting fans subsequently identified in home areas are removed and prevented from buying tickets in the future.
“This would ensure that, in paying higher prices, Fulham fans at least enjoy a good match-day experience.” More

JADON SANCHO is reportedly BANNED from all first-team facilities at Manchester United.The English winger, 23, was exiled from the senior squad after publicly slamming Erik ten Hag.
Jadon Sancho has been banned from the first-team areas at CarringtonCredit: Getty
Erik ten Hag wants Sancho to apologise before accepting him back into the foldCredit: Getty
Ten Hag accused Sancho of not training well enough to warrant a place in United’s matchday squad to face Arsenal on September 3.
But Sancho hit back on social media, describing himself as a “scapegoat” and essentially calling his manager a liar.
Sancho has not featured for the club since and was banished from first-team training under Ten Hag’s ruthless stance – with some team-mates disagreeing with the Dutchman’s call.
And now the Mirror report he is not allowed to go into any of the areas at Carrington for the senior men’s team – including the canteen.
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It means Sancho is eating alongside the Red Devils academy players – as well as training with them – with no return date to get back into the first-team fold.
Ten Hag, though, is said to be willing to relent and welcome Sancho back with open arms – on one critical condition.
A source told the Mirror: “There is an easy way to resolve this situation, which is for Jadon to say sorry to the manager.
“Something has to give – and it won’t be the manager.”
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Should no resolution be found, Ten Hag will surely be keen to sell Sancho in 2024.
A move to Saudi Arabia would likely be on the cards, especially given Sancho is earning a reported £350,000 per week at Old Trafford.
Although reports in Italy suggest Jose Mourinho wants to sign the outcast winger for Roma while former club Borussia Dortmund could offer him an escape route back to Germany.
Ex-Manchester City youngster Sancho joined United from Dortmund for £73million in 2021.
The 23-cap Three Lions international, though, has struggled to deliver with just 12 goals in 82 Red Devils appearances.
Last season, Ten Hag permitted the player to miss four months as he dealt with physical and mental issues.
Sancho’s exile as well as Antony’s current leave amid allegations of domestic violence has left Ten Hag short of options on the right wing in recent matches.
United scraped past Burnley 1-0 on Saturday to make it three wins and three defeats from their six Premier League matches this season. More

NEWCASTLE broke a Premier League record with EIGHT different goal scorers – and Amanda Staveley was the one to break the news. Eddie Howe’s side ran riot at bottom of the league Sheffield United with an 8-0 drubbing.
Amanda Staveley told Newcastle players they broke a Prem recordCredit: Getty
Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff celebratingCredit: Rex
Sean Longstaff, Dan Burn, Sven Botman, Callum Wilson, Anthony Gordon, Miguel Almiron, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak all scored.
And Longstaff – who kickstarted the goal fest – revealed it was co-owner Staveley who informed them of their feat.
Sky Sports’ Keith Downie posted on X: “Sean Longstaff has revealed that club owner Amanda Staveley came in the dressing room after the match and broke the news to the players they’d broken the Premier League record with 8 different scorers in one match.”
The hammering was Newcastle’s joint biggest win in the Premier League after the thrashing against Sheffield Wednesday in 1999.
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But still perfectionist Howe said: “It was very good. I don’t know whether it was the complete performance.
“We are always looking to look and find things to improve. It’s a really tough place to come, especially off the back of a European week for us so delighted with the players.”
Newcastle came into the trip to Bramall Lane having drawn 0-0 against AC Milan in their return to the Champions League.
But they responded in resounding fashion to their five-day turnaround from Italy to Sheffield.
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Howe said: “Well that was the key to the game. If we didn’t turn up in the best condition Sheffield United would have beaten us.
“First of all we had to attack the game in the way that we normally would.
“We had to be ready for what they would throw at us, try and quieten the crowd and we started really well and got the goal early. That settled us down and we played some really good football after that.
“It shows you that the players were very motivated for the game. They were hungry for goals and for success.
“I do think we’ve got a really motivated group. I see really good character traits throughout the whole squad.
“It’s a long season for us. We’ve got a lot of challenges to come but certainly the last week has been a return to form for us.”
Eddie Hpwe celebrates the hammering over Sheffield UnitedCredit: Getty More

FORMER Aston Villa CEO Christian Purslow joined fans in an Unai Emery chant at Stamford Bridge’s away end. The businessman left his role as chief executive in the summer with Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo “Monchi” joining as the club’s President of Football Operations.
Ex-Aston Villa CEO Christian Purslow with Unai EmeryCredit: Getty
But Purslow continues to show his support for Villa and proved that with an away trip to Chelsea.
Footage posted on social media showed the former club boss – once of Chelsea – belting out a chant about manager Emery.
And unsurprisingly Villa fans – who celebrated a 1-0 win – loved Purslow’s passion.
One said: “Fair play to him!”
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Another added: “The man of the people.”
One hailed: “Fair play to him. Get in!”
Villa improved on their great start to the season and sit in sixth after Ollie Watkins’ opener was enough to split the sides in West London.
Watkins went 12 league games without scoring before Villa’s trip to Chelsea but hopes his first of the season will be just the start.
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He told Villa TV: “The first one is always hard to get.
“I’m delighted to get off the mark now. It’s a bit of a relief, really, because the more the games go by, there’s a lot of talk and pressure.
“But I just try and block that out and I back myself in front of goal no matter what anyone says.
“I’m looking forward to the games coming up now and plenty more goals for the season.”
Ollie Watkins celebrates Aston Villa’s winner at ChelseaCredit: AP More