Premier League
MAN UTD GUN FOR JUVENTUS’ MARIO MANDZUKIC
Under achieving Premier League side, Manchester United are having additional talks with Juventus to sign Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic.
The
Croatian was the striker that Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong held in the foul
that led to the penalty kick converted by Luka Modric at last year 2-0 defeat
of the Super Eagles at the Russia 2018 World Cup.
Manchester United have virtually secured Paulo Dybala. Now they want Mandzukic as an addition to end their struggles since the era of Sir Alex Ferguson.
According to 90Min publication, Mandzukic, who has already been linked with United both in summers past and in recent weeks, is a more typical ‘number nine’ and could be seen as a direct replacement for Romelu Lukaku as the Belgian prepares to secure his dream move to Turin.
Italian journalist Romeo Agresti tweeted that talks have been held in addition to the Dybala – Lukaku swap, suggesting there is a chance United could end up with both if successful, and that Mandzukic is not simply an alternative should Dybala decide against the Old Trafford move.
Agresti had already reported that Lukaku has agreed personal terms with Juve after United reached their own agreement with the Serie A champions earlier this week. Lukaku is tipped to earn €9m per year in Italy.
Dybala holds the key to the transfer being completed. It has been reported by the English media that he and United are still some way apart in terms of settling on wages, but Agresti notes the overriding feeling is that Dybala’s time at Juventus has come to an end.
There was talk earlier this week that former Juventus and United left-back Patrice Evra has personally called Dybala to urge him to make the switch to Old Trafford. Now, the Daily Mailreports that Cristiano Ronaldo has given his younger teammate similar advice.
It is said that Dybala sought advice from Ronaldo with a message via WhatsApp and was given a resounding endorsement for the proposed move from the veteran superstar, who won the first of his five career Ballon d’Or awards during his six-year spell at United.
Ronaldo allegedly told Dybala to go and become a ‘champion’ like he did, and the Mail report claims the 25-year-old is now ready to accept United’s offer.
Thomas Partey, who formerly played for English Premier League soccer club Arsenal, has been charged with rape and sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday.
Partey, a Ghana international, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to three women and the offences reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, the statement said.
Partey’s management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 5.
Partey, 32, was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($59 million) in October 2020 and became a key member of Arsenal’s first team.
He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.
-Reuters
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Five players including England forward Marcus Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho have informed Manchester United that they wish to explore a future away from the Premier League side, a club source said on Friday.
Brazilian midfielder Antony, Dutch defender Tyrell Malacia and England international Jadon Sancho are also looking to leave the club, the source added.
Rashford, who has made more than 400 senior appearances for United, has fallen out of favour with manager Ruben Amorim, played for Aston Villa on loan while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings.
Amorim had called Rashford’s work rate into question, saying he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all.
Rashford said he was feeling fitter and better since joining Villa, where he scored two goals in 10 league appearances.
United also failed to qualify for the Champions League as they lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. Garnacho, who was a late substitute in the final, voiced his displeasure on social media after the loss.
“Up until the final, I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know,” he wrote in a post . “The final will influence (my decision), but the whole season, the situation of the club.”
Sancho was on loan at Chelsea, where he made 31 league appearances last season. Antony, who joined United from Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for a reported initial transfer fee of more than $100 million, scored five goals in 17 LaLiga appearances on loan at Real Betis.
Malacia joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on loan in February.
-Reuters
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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he said on Tuesday.
The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.
“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal, told reporters on Tuesday.
“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”
Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.
“I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so,” Fernandes added. “I spoke to the coach Ruben Amorim who really tried to talk me out of it. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave.
“I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career.
“It would have been easy to move there but I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it. I am happy with my decision.”
The 30-year-old Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for United last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.
However, it was a season to forget for the team, as they finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league finish in half a century, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
-Reuters
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