Erik ten Hag acknowledges Harry Maguire’s primary desire to play regular matches for Manchester United, emphasizing his importance in the team’s pursuit of their objectives. Last summer, West Ham United made a £30m bid for the 31-year-old defender, indicating their interest in acquiring him. However, the deal fell through before the transfer deadline, as confirmed by Maguire in October when negotiations failed to reach an agreement. Initially, Maguire found himself out of the starting lineup at the beginning of the 2023/24 Premier League season under Ten Hag. Yet, due to a combination of poor results and injuries to other United…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim has dismissed reports claiming he’s reached an agreement to join Liverpool as their new boss. Earlier this week, German outlets suggested a deal had been struck, but according to 90min, talks with Amorim’s agent have not progressed to that point. Addressing the rumors during a press conference ahead of the match against Gil Vicente, Amorim made it clear that his focus remains on Sporting CP’s success. He stated unequivocally that there have been no interviews or agreements with Liverpool or any other club. While Liverpool have reportedly engaged with Amorim’s representatives and discussed financial terms,…
Real Madrid’s concerns over Jude Bellingham’s form have surfaced following the 20-year-old’s underwhelming performance against Manchester City in the Champions League. Despite enjoying a successful season at the Bernabeu, scoring 20 goals in 33 appearances, Bellingham’s recent form has raised eyebrows. With only three goals to his name so far in 2024, Madrid reportedly paid a hefty sum of €103m (£88.5m) for Bellingham last summer, heightening worries over his fatigue. Reports from SPORT suggest that Madrid fears Bellingham’s physical exhaustion, particularly evident in recent matches. Although he remains a pivotal player in the La Liga squad, concerns emerged during the…
Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher persists, although they are exploring alternative midfield options ahead of the summer transfer window, according to 90min sources. Gallagher’s contract at Stamford Bridge runs until the end of the 2024/25 season. While Chelsea are contemplating his future and the potential sale of another academy product, they are unlikely to finalize any decisions until the summer. If Gallagher were to be sold, Chelsea would seek a fee in the region of the £55m package they received for Mason Mount from Manchester United last year. However, Tottenham’s valuation of Gallagher falls between £35m and £40m,…
Carlo Ancelotti remains optimistic about Rodrygo’s injury, indicating that the Real Madrid forward may not be sidelined for long despite missing training. Rodrygo, who showcased his prowess with a goal in Madrid’s 3-3 draw against Manchester City, skipped training on Friday due to a knock, prompting concerns over his availability for the Champions League quarter-final return leg on Wednesday. Providing an update on Rodrygo, Ancelotti affirmed that the 23-year-old could even be ready for the weekend’s encounter with Mallorca. “Rodrygo sustained a knock yesterday, but he should be fit [for Mallorca], along with the rest of the squad,” Ancelotti disclosed.…
In contrast to last summer’s midfield frenzy, this year’s transfer window is poised to center around strikers, with the forward market undergoing a noticeable shift in reliability and potency. Europe’s top clubs may find themselves adjusting expectations or taking calculated risks to secure potential scoring assets. One such anticipated move involves Viktor Gyokeres, who has been in scintillating form for Sporting CP, tallying 36 goals and 15 assists in 42 appearances since joining from Coventry City last summer. Despite a lack of Premier League interest upon his departure from Coventry, England’s elite clubs are now eyeing his return from mainland…
Barcelona manager Xavi has confirmed his intention to give Ilkay Gundogan a rest by omitting the midfielder from Saturday’s squad to face Cadiz. Gundogan, 33, has been a fixture in Barcelona’s lineup this season, featuring in every game and missing just 429 minutes out of a possible 3,980. However, his heavy workload has drawn criticism from Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann. With Barcelona preparing for the return leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, Xavi sees the opportunity to provide Gundogan with some much-needed rest. “We want to give him a break,” Xavi explained in Friday’s press…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged the critical importance of his team avoiding further setbacks in the Premier League title race. As the defending champions aim for an unprecedented fourth consecutive title, they find themselves trailing behind Arsenal and Liverpool in third place. Ahead of their match against Luton Town, with Liverpool hosting Crystal Palace and Aston Villa visiting Arsenal on Sunday, Guardiola stressed the significance of every league encounter. “The Premier League holds immense importance for us. I anticipate a match akin to our previous encounters in the league, such as our 2-1 victory towards the FA Cup’s…
Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, has suggested that he may drop Rodri from the starting lineup. After their 3-3 draw against Real Madrid in the Champions League, Rodri admitted feeling “tired.” “Every one of us can do better, even myself, but we need to rest, to be honest,” the Spaniard said. “I do. I do need a rest.” When asked about Rodri’s remarks on Friday, Guardiola responded, “If a player doesn’t want to play, he’s not going to play. If he’s tired, feeling exhausted, it can happen – another player will step in. “I will have to rotate central defenders,…
Victor Boniface expressed his joy at returning to the football field after a lengthy injury layoff. The Nigeria international made his comeback last week after being sidelined for approximately three months due to an adductor injury. Boniface marked his return with a goal in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-0 victory against West Ham United. “I feel good, I feel happy to be playing football again,” he remarked after the match. “It was not easy being out for two, three months, missing many games. I’m still working my way back, but I’m glad to contribute to my team.” Reflecting on their win against…
The Ballon d’Or stands as the pinnacle of individual accomplishment in football, annually crowning the world’s best player. Traditionally dominated by luminaries like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the 2024 race promises an intriguing shift as new talents emerge. Here’s a look at five players with strong prospects for claiming this esteemed accolade: Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid’s Rising Star Since joining Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham, at 20, has dazzled in a more attacking midfield role, topping La Liga’s scoring charts and impressing in the Champions League. With Real poised for success and the European Championship looming, Bellingham could be…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided insight into Erling Haaland’s recent struggle to find the net against Real Madrid. Haaland’s inability to score against the LaLiga giants persisted across two matches last season. In the recent quarter-final first leg, the 23-year-old faced formidable opposition in Aurelio Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger, resulting in a 3-3 draw. Guardiola commended the defensive efforts of Tchouameni and Rudiger, acknowledging their effectiveness in neutralizing Haaland. He remarked, “With three goals at the Bernabéu, Haaland found himself tightly marked by two central defenders. While Haaland possesses significant potential for improvement, enhancing team dynamics is paramount…
Manchester United shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently met with Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley to facilitate the finalization of the acquisition of sporting director Dan Ashworth, according to reports. Ratcliffe, who acquired a 28% stake in United earlier this year, now oversees footballing operations at the club. Following an internal restructure, Omar Berrada is poised to join from Manchester City as CEO this summer, while the departure of football director John Murtough from Old Trafford was confirmed earlier this week. Following Murtough’s exit, it was revealed that United intend to divide his responsibilities between two potential new hires – Southampton’s Jason…
The ongoing speculation surrounding Frenkie de Jong’s future at Barcelona continues unabated, with reports from Spain once again suggesting a potential move to Paris Saint-Germain. The Dutch midfielder was initially linked with a departure from the club during the 2022 summer transfer window, with Manchester United eyeing him as their first marquee signing under then-manager Erik ten Hag. However, after months of negotiations, the Red Devils eventually abandoned their pursuit and opted to sign Casemiro from Real Madrid instead. Barcelona has been under significant pressure to offload players to address their financial woes, a situation that has persisted over the…
Xavi maintains his stance on departing Barcelona at the end of the season. The Blaugrana head coach announced his intention to step down in January, citing stress as a primary reason for his departure amid media scrutiny of his credentials. Despite Barcelona’s remarkable resurgence in form since then, including a recent 3-2 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, Xavi remains steadfast in his decision. Acknowledging previous experiences, Xavi noted the tranquility that follows such decisions. Despite public calls for him to reconsider, including appeals from club officials and midfielder Pedri, Xavi affirms that his decision…
Mauricio Pochettino has acknowledged the potential absence of both Enzo Fernandez and Axel Disasi for Chelsea’s upcoming clash with Everton on Monday. The latest injury report from the Blues, unveiled on Friday, revealed concerns for 11 first-team players, with Fernandez and Disasi currently “undergoing medical assessment” following issues encountered in the 2-2 draw against Sheffield United. When questioned about their availability for the Everton fixture, Pochettino disclosed that Fernandez and Disasi require further evaluation before any decisions can be made regarding their participation. “We will see,” Pochettino remarked. “They are under assessment. They have different types of issues. We don’t…
According to a report, Tyrell Malacia of Manchester United has missed the entire 2023/24 season due to complications surrounding a knee injury sustained last summer. Despite United’s repeated assertions of his imminent return to action, Malacia has not played a single minute of football this term. His absence from social media and public appearances with teammates has fueled speculation about the accuracy of reports regarding his whereabouts. Reportedly, the left-back underwent surgery on a longstanding knee issue upon returning for pre-season training in July. However, he opted to receive treatment from a surgeon in the Netherlands instead of United’s suggested…
Barcelona’s manager, Xavi Hernandez, has praised several of his players following their 3-2 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday. Raphinha opened the scoring for the LaLiga giants, but PSG took the lead with goals from Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha. Barcelona equalized through another goal from Raphinha, before Andreas Christensen headed in the winner. “We played well, defended well, and attacked. Tactically, we did really well. They made a lot of changes, but we defended [Kylian] Mbappe really well. “We created many chances, Raphinha and Robert [Lewandowski] made the difference, and…
Manchester United’s challenges this season have been closely associated with the absence of Tyrell Malacia, a scenario that manager Erik ten Hag believes has been significantly overlooked, according to reports from Man Utd News. The Dutch left-back has been sidelined since last summer due to a knee meniscus injury that required surgery, ruling him out for the entirety of the current campaign. This void in Manchester United’s defensive setup, particularly in the left-back position, has been noticeable. Luke Shaw’s frequent injuries have exacerbated the situation, leading to the team playing without a natural left-back in 22 out of 43 games…
UEFA has announced its Champions League team for the week, which includes three Manchester City players and a Barcelona duo, among others. Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Joško Gvardiol, Andreas Christensen, and Raphinha showcased stellar performances for their respective clubs during the quarter-final first-leg fixtures. Here’s the lineup: Goalkeeper – Gregor Kobel (Dortmund) – 3 points Defenders – Ben White (Arsenal) – 5 points – Andreas Christensen (Barcelona) – 6 points – Joško Gvardiol (Man City) – 11 points Midfielders – Bernardo Silva (Man City) – 9 points – Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) – 9 points – Vitinha (Paris) – 9…