Casemiro was the walking red card but this big star needed to step up vs Palace

Manchester United were beaten by Crystal Palace 0-1 at Old Trafford this evening. Here are our player ratings for the game.

(A score of 6 is around average)

Andre Onana 6- Andersen’s miraculous strike left him with no chance and didn’t have much to do otherwise. Another clean sheet was sullied.

Diogo Dalot 7- A bright spark in an otherwise dour game by United. Marshalled Palace’s left diligently and made some great thrusting runs in attack.

Raphael Varane 6- A couple of misplaced passes summed up a sloppy display but also made some goal-saving interventions to keep Palace at bay in their brighter moments.

Victor Lindelof 5- Bothered physically by Mateta and looked rattled at times. Needs to improve otherwise he’ll lose his place to Jonny Evans.

Sofyan Amrabat 5- No encore of the League Cup performance here as he harried Palace everywhere, sometimes conceding needless little fouls as a result. Conceded the set-piece Palace scored from.

Casemiro 4.5- United’s specialist defensive midfielder looks best when he’s attacking. Got booked for a wild lunge in the first half and was a threat to get sent off throughout the game.

Mason Mount 6.5- Was a rare bright presence as he tried to link midfield with the attack by playing progressive passes and turning away from challenges in midfield. A key player in current form.

Bruno Fernandes 6- His effort can never be questioned but quality can. Hollywood balls look great when they come off but he becomes a frustrating player to watch when they don’t. They didn’t in this game.

Facundo Pellistri 5- Looked off it physically and went down too often at the slightest of touches in search of free kicks. Needs to add a lot to his game to threaten Antony’s place on the right.

Marcus Rashford 3- Irresistible or unplayable in a bad way. Marcus Rashford has only two performance levels at the minute and the latter was here. Too erratic in possession and wrong decision-making left him as the player where attacks go to fizzle out.

Rasmus Hojlund 6- His partnership with Rashford needs a lot of work. Missed a chance to score his first at Old Trafford courtesy of Mitchell’s goal-line interception. Never stopped trying though.

Substitutes:

Alejandro Garnacho 7- Made a bigger difference in the first two minutes after coming on than Pellistri did in his 60 minutes.

Anthony Martial 6- Showed some good touches and dribbles but not much impact otherwise.

Christian Eriksen 5.5- Looked a step behind the game’s pace even off the bench.

Harry Maguire 6- Subbed late on, not much impact.

Donny van de Beek 6- Subbed late on. Not much impact.

The post Manchester United 0-1 Crystal Palace: Player Ratings appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

"Cristiano was phenomenal": Former Man United striker denies rumours of Ronaldo rift - report

Former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, has denied the claim that he had a fractured relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo.

While both players made the move from Old Trafford to the Santiago Bernabeu, they only shared a dressing room while they were both at Real Madrid in the 2014/2015 season.

Chicharito was only there for a year on loan, during which it was murmured that the two forwards did not quite have the best of relationships.

Now, in an interview granted to Paramount+, as reported by The Mirror, the Mexican forward has revealed that, far from the claims being put forward as to their relationship being fractured, they actually had a great understanding.

As he put it:

“Cristiano was phenomenal in the locker room and also in his way of being.”

“I don’t think I have met or seen a player who has come out to say that Cristiano is a difficult or complicated person.”

Chicharito does admit, however, that he had a difficult time in Madrid, particularly at the beginning.

“I always divided it as the first six months being very complicated because I played practically nothing,” he said.

Chicharito perhaps joined up with Los Blancos in the wrong year.

Despite their dominance in the preceding years and thereafter, Real Madrid would fall short in both the Champions League and La Liga, with a FIFA Club World Cup as a consolation prize.

“Some unfortunate injuries arose and I was given an opportunity in the second part, which was extraordinary and unique,” he said.

The post Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez denies claim of difficult relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

"Little Scouse scally": Ex-United academy star reveals details of club legend's competitive streak

Steve Bruce’s son Alex, has admitted to having a tough time breaking through partly due to the greatness of his father and his legendary status at Manchester United.

Alex revealed that since everyone knew he was Steve Bruce’s son, most footballers who were trying to make a name for themselves picked on him.

The 38-year-old was of course part of the Red Devils’ prestigious academy before being released at the age of 16. He then moved to Blackburn Rovers as a trainee.

United’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney, previously revealed that he tried to become known a bit more by “kicking the s—e” out of’ Steve Bruce’s son, Alex, whenever they faced off against each other.

According to Alex, who spoke to club media via The Manchester Evening News, Rooney was not the only one to adopt such a tactic, although the former striker in particular let his competitive nature get the best of him at times.

He said, “As a kid, I played a lot, got quite good and United took me into the youth system. loved that, but obviously, there were other things that went with the territory. ‘You Steve Bruce’s son?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘I’ve been told to kick you today.'”

“Things like that. Wayne Rooney’s a good mate of mine, and when he used to play against us for Everton we would kick lumps out of each other.”

“He openly tells me now that when we were kids they used to look forward to playing us. ‘There’s Steve Bruce’s son. Let’s kick s—e out of him.'”

Alex added, “This was when we were 11, 12, 13 years of age. I’ve got the scars from that little Scouse scally!”

He was certainly not the only footballer to find himself on the end of Rooney’s fiery temper and no-nonsense approach on the pitch.

As Alex alluded, the two are now friends.

As per The MEN, Rooney and his wife Coleen attended Alex’s wedding in 2015.

The post Steve Bruce’s son, Alex, opens up on Wayne Rooney’s ruthless competitive nature appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Uninspiring United star "high on list" of PL rivals for January transfer - repor

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay is strongly being considered by Fulham as a possible replacement for Joao Palhinha in January.

Palhinha came close to sealing a blockbuster move to Bayern Munich on deadline day, but the deal collapsed. This is because Fulham could not secure the services of a replacement.

The Cottagers were interested in signing McTominay this summer, but the Scotland international turned them down.

Palhinha signed a new five-year contract with Marco Silva’s side but according to Sky Sports, this has not deterred Bayern, who remain keen on bringing the Portuguese to the Allianz Arena.

It’s understood that Palhinha’s new terms do not include a release clause.

Bayern are expected to bid for the Fulham star as early as January when the winter transfer window opens.

As a result, the London outfit are already on the hunt for someone to replace their combative 28-year-old midfielder.

Sky reports, “With more than three months remaining before then, Fulham have more time to line up his replacement and Manchester United’s Scott McTominay is understood to remain high on their list.”

“McTominay was thought to be reluctant to leave Old Trafford right up until the final moments of the summer window, when Sofyan Amrabat arrived on an initial loan from Fiorentina, but he may be more open to switching clubs in 2024.”

The Carrington academy graduate is not the only option for Fulham.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg is also on their radar.

Like McTominay, Hojberg was approached by Fulham in the summer but he rejected them. The Dane is of the opinion that he can secure a switch to a bigger club in Europe.

McTominay has hardly impressed for United this season whenever given opportunities by Erik ten Hag, and it may be that an exit from the club may be the best outcome for all parties.

His poor displays this term were made more glaring by Sofyan Amrabat’s fantastic performance against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.

Amrabat’s introduction to the team plus the imminent return from injury of Kobbie Mainoo will only serve to limit McTominay’s minutes at United.

Factor in Hannibal Mejbri’s emergence and the fact that Mason Mount is also back and the situation looks even more grim for the Scot.

The post Scott McTominay is high on Fulham’s list of Joao Palhinha replacements in January appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Ornstein provides fascinating insight into Jadon Sancho standoff with Ten Hag

There has no been development on Jadon Sancho’s exclusion from the Manchester United first team, indicating that relations between the player and Erik ten Hag may have broken down irreparably.

Sancho has had a torrid time since he moved to Old Trafford, with the England star unable to make much impact or justify his hefty price tag.

His best contribution so far has been last season’s six goals and three assists, with the winger taking a break mid season to train away from Old Trafford.

His troubles have reached a peak, following an astonishing open tiff with United manager Erik ten Hag.

The club have since taken disciplinary action against the 23-year-old, effectively banishing him from contact with the first team – even restricting his access to the first team dining facilities.

With United being short on wingers at the moment, Sancho’s absence is a genuine cause of concern but with neither party willing to budge so far, a resolution does not appear imminent.

The Athletic journalist, David Ornstein has confirmed this much, in his Ask Ornstein periodic.

As he put it:

“I’m not aware of any change to his situation and therefore the longer this goes on you suspect the outlook becomes increasingly bleak. The actual issue at stake is as little as one tweet. But obviously it runs much deeper.”

“Sancho deleting the tweet appears to show he knows it breached club rules. Yet the apology that Erik ten Hag wants, to our knowledge, has not arrived.”

Despite the bleak outlook, Ornstein does offer some positives, as apparently talks are ongoing between representatives of United and Sancho.

“The last I heard there was dialogue taking place between the respective parties to find some kind of resolution,” he said.

The post David Ornstein confirms that there has been no change in the Jadon Sancho situation appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Uncovering the real reason behind United's worsening injury crisis - analysis

If there’s one area where Manchester United appears to be struggling more than their major rivals, it’s their seemingly ever-extending injury crisis.

As listed by Premier Injuries, Man United have 10 players unavailable, the second-highest amount in the Premier League behind a struggling Chelsea side.

This morning, United’s injury woes got even worse.

The Peoples Person revealed that left-back Sergio Reguilon is the latest player to enter the treatment room, with a minor injury threatening to keep him out of action until after the international break in October.

With Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia both still on the sidelines, United are now without a natural left-back available for selection.

Key centre-back Lisandro Martinez is the day’s other injury casualty, and he could be out of action for up to three months after aggravating a foot injury that he suffered in April.

While United have been boosted by the recoveries of Raphael Varane, Mason Mount, and Sofyan Amrabat, all of whom impressed during United’s 3-0 drubbing of Crystal Palace in the League Cup on Wednesday night, this doesn’t compensate for the fact that further players seem to be continually being ruled out of action.

Still, the question remains – why are United constantly faced with an extensive list of injured players?

Because Erik ten Hag does a good job of keeping details on his players’ injuries under wraps, this proves to be a difficult question to answer.

When Scott McTominay was out for five weeks with an ankle injury, the Dutch manager withheld the real reason for his absence until after the midfielder returned to action.

He also kept the real nature of Varane’s and Mount’s recent injuries under wraps.

But while Ten Hag has done his best to remain secretive, other senior officials have made their feelings known on the matter.

According to several club officials, United players have been largely vulnerable to injuries due to the many fixtures that they have been required to play over the past few seasons.

United played 63 matches in all competitions last season; the most of any team in Europe’s top five leagues.

After remaining secretive for so long, Erik ten Hag finally let the cat out of the bag on his club’s injury crisis, admitting today that this sort of heavy workload is exactly the reason why his squad is struggling.

“Players can’t deal anymore with this overload and I think that’s what you see in this squad at the moment,” the United boss confirmed today in a press conference.

While United did well to add a multitude of new signings to their ranks during the summer transfer window, it will be vital for Ten Hag and his coaching staff to rotate and manage players meticulously, ensuring that they make the most of their now-greater squad depth and working toward preventing further unnecessary injury complications.

The post Uncovering the reason why Manchester United are faced with so many injuries appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Man United star faced five-hour interrogation amid domestic violence allegations - report

Manchester United winger, Antony, reportedly faced up to five hours of questioning with the Greater Manchester Police yesterday.

Antony was questioned in connection with allegations of physical assault.

The Brazilian has been accused by his former partner, Gabriela Cavallin, of physically assaulting her on four separate occasions in the course of their relationship.

He has denied these allegations, however, and with police investigations going on in both Brazil and England, he has been dropped by the Brazil national team and was granted a leave of absence by Man United.

That leave of absence has now expired, and Man United have announced that Antony will be resuming training right away while he continues to cooperate with the police.

The full details of the club statement are covered in this report by The Peoples Person.

The 23-year-old winger has been in Brazil since the allegations first came to light in early September, where he has been assisting the police in their investigations.

He only returned to the UK earlier this week, and according to a report by The Sun, he voluntarily surrendered himself to the police shortly after his arrival in Manchester.

The report also shares that he has indicated his willingness to hand over his phone to aid investigations.

The tricky winger is known for his fiery disposition on the pitch but has given a tearful interview where he vowed his innocence and promised to share evidence in his defence.

Meanwhile, following the initial allegations from Ms. Cavallin, two other women have come forward to make similar allegations.

One, however, has voluntarily withdrawn the charges.

The post Manchester United’s Antony faces five-hour police grilling appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Official: Huge blow for Ten Hag as defensive mainstay set to be "out for an extended period"

Manchester United are set to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday on the back of two consecutive victories but manager Erik ten Hag still has major injury problems to deal with.

It seemed like the injury cloud was clearing as Raphael Varane made a solid comeback while Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat all made it through without any repercussions against the Eagles in midweek.

But now, United have issued an official update on Lisandro Martinez stating that the centre-back is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

Lisandro suffers recurrence of last season’s injury

The Argentine had missed the games against Burnley and Palace and the official stance was that he was feeling discomfort on the part of the foot where he was injured last season.

The 25-year-old had to be stretchered off against Sevilla in the Europa League last season and missed the rest of the season.

He did come back for pre-season but seems to have suffered a recurrence of the injury in the clash against Arsenal.

The Argentina international managed to play on against Brighton and Bayern Munich and as noted by fans and pundits, he was not at his best and now it is clear why that was the case.

“Lisandro Martinez will be out of action for an extended period due to an aggravation of the foot injury he suffered in April.

Lisandro Martinez will be out for an extended period due to an aggravation of foot injury he suffered in April. Martinez suffered the setback v Arsenal, played on v Brighton + Bayern, but needs rest. Could be same length of time as original absence (three months). #MUFC

— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) September 29, 2023

“It has now been determined that he needs a period on the sidelines for recovery and rehabilitation. Assessment is ongoing to decide next steps,” the club announced.

The Athletic have now claimed that the injury is worse than previously thought and the World Cup winner could be out for as long as three months.

Three months out, can United cope?

“Lisandro Martinez will be out for an extended period due to an aggravation of foot injury he suffered in April. Martinez suffered the setback v Arsenal, played on v Brighton + Bayern, but needs rest.

“Could be same length of time as original absence (three months),” Laurie Whitwell tweeted.

This is very bad news for Ten Hag as he prefers the left-footed profile and with Luke Shaw also missing, either Victor Lindelof or Jonny Evans will have to fill in.

Even Raphael Varane is injury-prone so it will be quite a challenge to deal with a hectic schedule, especially with so much pressure being put on the team by the British media.

The post Lisandro Martinez could be out of action for three months appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Official: Antony to return to Man United after leave of absence, will be available for selection

Manchester United have confirmed that forward Antony will return to the club after a leave of absence for 19 days.

The Brazilian has flown back to Manchester United and will resume training with the first team.

The inquiry is still ongoing but the club have said that his case will be “kept under review” while he is back available for selection.

He was sent on a leave of absence by the club in the second week of September after allegations of domestic violence against him surfaced.

The club took action and gave him an indefinite leave of absence as the noise around the matter reached fever pitch.

Below is the club statement in full:

“Since allegations were first made in June, Antony has co-operated with police inquiries in both Brazil and the UK, and he continues to do so.

“As Antony’s employer, Manchester United has decided that he will resume training at Carrington, and be available for selection, while police inquiries proceed. This will be kept under review pending further developments in the case.“As a club, we condemn acts of violence and abuse.

We recognise the importance of safeguarding all those involved in this situation, and acknowledge the impact these allegations have on survivors of abuse.”

Now, the club statement has said that the player has been cooperating with the authorities, both in the UK and Brazil and will “continue to do so”.

The case has now reportedly been taken over by the Manchester Police and the complainant and the player will both be questioned by the forces.

Out of the multiple allegations against the player, one has already been dropped and further inquiries into the other cases will make the picture clearer.

In the meantime, from a purely footballing point-of-view, this will come as a boost to Erik ten Hag because Antony is the undisputed first-choice on the right wing.

In his absence, the likes of Facundo Pellistri have been a gamely option but the manager is likely to bring the Brazilian straight back into the fold.

United’s next game is a Premier League fixture at home to Crystal Palace on September 30 and Antony could be on the bench as he builds up his match fitness again. 

The post Antony to return to Manchester United after a 19-day leave of absence appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Ten Hag planning for life after Sancho, poised to swoop for sensational Serie A winger - report

Manchester United have identified Juventus star Federico Chiesa as their ideal replacement for embattled forward Jadon Sancho.

This comes amidst uncertainty over Sancho’s future at United.

The 23-year-old has been training with the youth team as his row with Erik ten Hag continues.

Sancho issued a statement effectively branding his manager a liar for claiming he was not included in the matchday squad against Arsenal on September 3 due to poor training performances.

When asked to apologise to his manager, the Englishman refused.

He has not played a part in subsequent clashes vs. Brighton, Bayern Munich, Burnley and Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.

After the Palace game, Ten Hag informed reporters that it’s up to Sancho to decide how his future pans out.

It remains unclear whether the former Borussia Dortmund will ever play for United again. At the moment, a resolution does not appear to be forthcoming.

According to Calciomercato via SportWitness, it appears United are already looking ahead, well beyond Sancho.

The Red Devils have reportedly earmarked Chiesa as the perfect alternative to come in and have the impact Sancho never really had at Old Trafford.

It’s understood that the 20-time English champions want Chiesa “as early as January, ” even though there is an acceptance that it will be difficult to get a deal over the line during the winter transfer window.

Juventus are not prepared to take anything less than €60m for their star forward.

The Serie A giants are said to be keen on keeping the player and are already plotting to hand him a contract extension so as to ward off interest from admirers such as United.

Chiesa earns around €5m per year in Turin. Juventus’ plan is to extend his contract on the same terms until 2026, with a view to rewarding him with an improved financial package later on.

A meeting between the Old Lady and the 25-year-old’s agent is expected in the coming weeks to try and reach a compromise.

SportWitness note that there is also a chance that United have been dragged into the situation by people acting on Chiesa’s behalf, in an attempt to secure a bigger payday for the Italy international.

It certainly wouldn’t be the first time that United have been used in such a manner.

The post Man United want Federico Chiesa as Jadon Sancho replacement “as early as January” appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Anthony Martial’s dreams could be about to come true as sensational move plotted - report

La Liga giants Barcelona are reportedly keeping tabs on Manchester United pair Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial.

A report covered by The Peoples indicated that Barca are interested in Sancho with a view to possibly making a loan move for the player in January.

This is amidst the Englishman’s current troubles at Old Trafford.

Sancho was of course banned from the first team following his defiant refusal to apologise to Erik ten Hag.

This is after the 23-year-old put out a statement that strongly refuted his manager’s claims that he was dropped from the travelling squad that faced Arsenal on September 3 due to poor training performances.

So far, Sancho has missed games against Brighton, Bayern Munich, Burnley and more recently, Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.

After the Palace clash, Ten Hag told journalists that it’s up to Sancho to decide whether a return to the senior squad is possible – indicating that all the forward needs to do is issue an apology for his actions.

Sancho has so far refused to back down, effectively putting his United future in jeopardy. Rival clubs have become alert to the developing situation.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Three Lions international is not the only United player on Barcelona’s radar.

Martial is also admired by the Blaugrana.

In the face of their financial struggles, the Catalan club have been forced to be inventive in the way they go about their transfer business.

Xavi’s side have decided to prioritise loan signings and players who have been deemed surplus to requirements at their clubs. Sancho certainly fits this profile. Martial could also fall in the same category if United decide to sign another striker next summer.

It has not been lost on Barca that Martial is no longer a guaranteed starter at Old Trafford after Rasmus Hojlund’s arrival and this could give them the opportunity to swoop in for the Frenchman.

The post From Spain: Barcelona monitoring the situations of Man United’s Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Big development in Antony’s assault claims as ex-girlfriend makes significant move

Gabriela Cavallin, the ex-girlfriend of Manchester United winger Antony, is set to be interviewed by detectives in the UK next week over her assault claims against the Brazilian footballer.

The Mirror report that Cavallin will fly to the UK next week to elaborate on her claims that the Man United winger assaulted her on four separate occasions between June 2022 and May this year.

Two of the alleged incidents are claimed to have taken place in the UK, with both British and Brazilian police investigating the 22 year old’s accusations against her former partner.

Having been in Brazil since the beginning of September, Antony flew back to the UK as he looks to clear his name with the Greater Manchester Police, The Peoples Person reported yesterday.

Antony confirmed that he is ready to fully cooperate with the police in an effort to prove his innocence and see the charges against him dropped.

According to The Sun, the 23 year old is prepared to answer any questions that the police may have for him as well as hand over any device, including his mobile phone.

Brazilian police cleared Antony to travel to the UK after he was deemed to have fully cooperated with them.

They added that they do not require any further information from the player.

Following the release of assault allegations by Cavallin and two other women, United decided by way of a mutual agreement with the player that Antony would not return to the club until further notice.

Antony has also been excluded by Brazil from their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Since the allegations against Antony surfaced, one of the three women accusing him of assault has decided to drop her case against the player.

The United winger has also appeared on Brazilian television in an attempt to defend himself against the accusations.

The post Antony’s ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin to discuss assault claims with UK police next week appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Natural successor for Ten Hag? Ex-United man emerging as one of world’s top young managerial talents

Former Manchester United coach and current Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna is steadily growing in status and reputation as football’s next big thing.

During a time in which top clubs are leaning more towards younger managers with an attractive philosophy and ambitious objectives like Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, Julian Nagelsmann, Mikel Arteta and Ruben Amorim for example, McKenna looks next in line.

He was part of the backroom staff of three former United bosses – Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Soslkjaer and Ralf Rangnick.

According to The Daily Mail, it was Mourinho who first noticed McKenna’s capabilities and the potential he had courtesy of his work with the youth teams at Old Trafford. The Portuguese coach wasted no time in promoting him to the first team set-up.

Solskjaer elected to retain McKenna after Mourinho’s departure. Rangnick did the same when his Norwegian predecessor was sacked.

Soon after, McKenna left United and took up the managerial job at Portman Road.

Since he was appointed, Ipswich have been on a red hot streak which saw them earn promotion to the Championship.

McKenna’s style of play, that is effective and eye-catching in equal measure, has seen the Tractor Boys turn into a winning machine. To put this into context, since McKenna came to Ipswich in December 2021, only Pep Guardiola in the top four tiers of English football has won more league games (48 to 46).

If there were any doubts regarding how Ipswich Town would fare in the Championship, which is a different proposition in comparison to League One, these fears have already been put to bed.

McKenna’s men sit in second place in the table, just below Leicester City on goal difference. The Foxes of course boast more resources and higher-quality players with significant Premier League experience.

So far this term, Ipswich Town have won seven of their opening eight league games. They’ve kept a clean sheet on four occasions.

The Mail notes, “Since Kieran McKenna took charge of his first game at Ipswich on December 29, 2021, no club in the top four tiers have won more league points (160). They have averaged 2.08 points per game across this period.”

“Last season, in winning promotion from League One with 101 goals, Ipswich became only the 14th team to reach a century in the top four tiers in England since 1967-68.”

The Suffolk-based outfit lead England’s second tier in terms of shots (146), shots on target (51) and expected goals (15.3).

McKenna’s most recent triumph came in the Carabao Cup third round when his side dumped Wolves out of the competition in a fantastic 3-2 victory. Even more special is that the win was attained despite 10 changes being made.

The victory against Wolves underpins the 37-year-old’s success and the renaissance he has undergone since leaving United in December 2021.

It’s understood that Brighton were keen on the former United coach before eventually settling on De Zerbi. On current trajectory, it won’t be long until another Premier League club comes calling.

The post Ex-Man United coach Kieran McKenna’s success with Ipswich Town is making him the next big thing appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Blind names "nonchalant and complete" United star who is one of the best in the world

Former Manchester United star Daley Blind has backed Erik ten Hag to return the club to the pinnacle of football and restore glory at Old Trafford.

Blind spoke to The Athletic and opened up on a number of topics including his life at United, Ten Hag, Jose Mourinho and how he is currently fairing at Girona.

The Netherlands international revealed that when he left United to return to Ajax, Ten Hag was “important to him” and was crucial in helping him fit into the side.

Blind explained that the most impressive thing about Ten Hag is his intelligence and tactical awareness.

“I had my doubts but after a month I was sold on it and believed in every part of it. We also had the right players to do it. He is tactically so clear in what he wants and it’s easy for players to follow that. If you leave things open, there’s a space for doubt.”

“We became like a machine, better and better. In time, he can do that for United. He’s a great manager, great personality. He’s direct, honest, and tells you what he sees. He’s not afraid to make big decisions. If you don’t like it, you can go another way because his train goes on.”

Blind also spoke at length about two stars who are contracted to the Red Devils at the moment – Andre Onana and Lisandro Martinez.

On Onana, the 33-year-old remarked that he is “one of the great goalkeepers in the world.” As per the Girona man, Onana is “nonchalant and complete” and when he puts his head down and focuses, there is no one better than the Cameroonian in the business.

On Martinez, Blind told Andy Mitten, “In England, you have an image of how each player should look and how the physical part of the player should be, but football these days is so much more than that. The typical English way of football isn’t seen in the Premier League anymore. So many managers from abroad have brought their different types of football to the table. Matches are now very tactical and about being in the right position.”

“For example, with Lisandro Martinez (United’s 5ft 9in former Ajax centre-back), he has this intelligence but also an aggression — he’s strong. People like to talk about his height when something goes wrong but he is so good on and off the ball that his height is not an issue. Martinez is a great player. He’s clever enough to stand his ground in the Premier League and it was the same for me.”

Blind added, “I didn’t have the aggression of Martinez or (Nemanja) Vidic, and I didn’t have the height of Smalling when I played alongside him, but I was in the right position nine times out of 10.”

The defender expressed to The Athletic his sympathy for Donny van de Beek, who has had his life at Old Trafford disrupted by injuries.

He however warned that things at United are constantly moving and a club of that size “doesn’t wait for anyone.”

Blind was questioned about what life was like under Louis van Gaal in England.

He noted that when he came to United, he quickly realized that the 20-time English champions were a completely different proposition compared to Ajax.

Blind referred to United as “a beast” that is popular worldwide and known by all.

The Dutchman said that his first season at the Theatre of Dreams was OK, partly due to the faith Van Gaal put in him. As per the footballer, his second campaign was even better because he stepped up and shouldered more responsibilities.

On why it didn’t work out for Van Gaal at the club, Blind replied, “We played quite good football under Louis but we didn’t score a lot of goals and we didn’t create a lot. We might lose a game to a counter-attack, that can happen to any team in the Premier League. When he left, United started buying a different type of player. It would have been interesting if Louis had those players as well.”

He divulged that Mourinho’s appointment after Van Gaal left made him feel like he had to prove himself to the Portuguese coach once more – a task he did successfully due to the fact that Mourinho was fair and gave him a genuine shot to show what he can do.

Blind however observed that as Mourinho brought in more players that suited his style of play better, his minutes at United became limited and so, he made a decision to return to Ajax.

He noted that his fortunes were not helped by an ankle injury he sustained.

Blind reflected on United’s triumph in the Europa League final against Ajax in 2017.

The Girona star revealed to Mitten that Mourinho gave them “a crazy brilliant plan” designed to beat Ajax’s high press and possession football.

United went on to win by two goals to nil.

Blind stated that he did not celebrate to the fullest as he and Phil Jones were randomly selected to do a doping test.

“It was my only European final and I felt the celebrations were taken away from me. There was only the trophy waiting when we got back to the empty training room.”

The post Daley Blind backs Erik ten Hag to turn Man United into “a machine” in frank interview appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Fuming fans of PL rivals slam club for outrageous decision ahead of United fixture - report

Fulham supporters have been left angry and bitterly disappointed by the club’s move to significantly increase ticket prices for their home game against Manchester United.

Fulham are set to host United at Craven Cottage on Saturday November 4.

The clash kicks off at 12.30pm.

The Daily Mail reports that Fulham have raised the price of tickets for the affair by a huge margin – an act that has left fans of the London outfit vexed.

Last time United were hosted by Marco Silva’s men, the highest priced ticket stood at £100. This is now valued at £160.

The Mail notes that it initially cost £35 to sit in the family area at Craven Cottage. This price has now risen to £67 for the cheapest option.

Ticket prices for juniors, that is people under the age of 18, range between £31 to a whopping £80.

The Fulham Supporters Trust released a statement criticising the club for their decision, which will limit fans’ ability to cheer on their team and support them against Erik ten Hag’s men.

The statement read, “The prices for the Riverside Stand are the highest we have ever seen for individual matchday sales and are likely to be financially out of reach for many of those who hold club membership.”

“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 matchday ticket prices across London clubs in particular and we will continue to monitor how Fulham compare against our peers.”

“Matchday ticket pricing will be an agenda item for our October meeting with the club.”

Expectedly fans also took to social media to express their outrage. United’s travelling support will also have been hit by the hike in prices in one of the most expensive grounds in the country.

The post Fuming Fulham supporters slam club for expensive home tickets against Man United appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

United women’s exciting new signing suffers cruel injury before season even starts

Manchester United midfielder, Emma Watson, has suffered an ACL injury whilst playing for Scotland on international duty.

The club confirmed earlier today that the 17-year-old talent is currently undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at Carrington with the support of United’s medical teams.

Watson had only just signed for Manchester United women in the summer and is yet to make her competitive debut for her new club.

The midfielder issued a statement about her injury and has adopted a positive attitude towards her recovery.

Watson said: “Last Thursday I had to face my biggest footballing fear!”

“Absolutely devastated but I’m fully focused and committed to my rehab to ensure I’m back better, fitter and stronger than before and as soon as possible,” she continued.

The news comes as a blow to both Watson and the rest of the squad as they continue preparations for the opening game of the WSL this weekend.

“Football is a journey full of highs and lows and I truly believe everything happens for a reason. This is a new challenge for me and I’m determined to smash every goal that United and I have set for the coming months,” she said.

She concluded by thanking the fans for their messages of support: “Thank you for all your kind words of encouragement and support. The comeback is on!”

ACL injuries have been a hotly discussed topic in the women’s game in the last few years due to an increase in their frequency.

Though research shows women are six times more likely to suffer these types of injury than men, more research is needed to determine how to protect players from them.

Players are typically sidelined for 12 months after sustaining an ACL injury but Watson will have plenty of support at United to help her get back to her best.

The post Manchester United’s Emma Watson suffers ACL injury on international duty appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

United launch bold contract renewal that will delight fans, speaks volumes - report

Manchester United are finally showing offshoots of progress with two wins and clean sheets on the trot after a stuttering start in Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge of the club.

There were a lot of expectations put on the Dutchman’s shoulders after a terrific debut season where he handled tricky situations with authority while implementing his style all over the football club.

United also reclaimed their status as a Champions League club via a third-place finish while also winning their first piece of silverware in six seasons — the Carabao Cup.

New contract for ETH

However, the new season has brought its fair share of challenges including having to deal with Jadon Sancho, Antony’s major off-the-field problems and a debilitating injury situation.

Despite a slow start which has included four defeats in the first eight games in all competitions, the club seems to be happy with the manager and according to 90min, are set to begin contract extension talks.

The report insists that the initial plan was to offer a new contract post the 18-month period and that is exactly what is happening.

“Manchester United are planning to open talks over a new contract for manager Erik ten Hag, 90min understands. The Dutchman is contracted to United until June 2025 with the option to extend for a further year.

“But it’s understood that renewal talks were always pencilled in for around 18 months into the initial deal. The club’s hierarchy intend to continue with them and have already touched base with Ten Hag’s camp.”

The report further adds that despite the club being in the middle of a very protracted takeover, senior officials at the club are backing the manager with club CEO Richard Arnold proceeding with the contract renewal as part of his remit.

ETH deserves the backing

“Chief Executive Richard Arnold has been given autonomy over processes since his appointment and is attempting to proceed as normal with regards to contract renewals for players and staff.

“Marcus Rashford signed a new long-term contract over the summer and it’s understood Ten Hag is now in line for talks. Arnold and John Murtough are understood to be very happy with Ten Hag and continue to give him their full backing.”

This is a good sign especially since the British media are attacking Ten Hag with mischievous reports as soon as a result goes bad or the next controversy hits.

Fans trust the Dutch manager and want to see the club backing him and a new contract will once again reiterate to the players who the boss is at Old Trafford.

The post Manchester United have started contract extension talks with Erik ten Hag appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Destined for greatness: insider says United star's "mentality" is "always to be on the big stage"

Manchester United midfielder, Sofyan Ambrabat, is a player who has always been tipped for success. His path there hasn’t always been linear but there is a sense that his time has finally come.

The Moroccan arrived at Old Trafford this summer, after a protracted saga, on an initial loan with an option to buy.

Arguably, despite being a known figure in European football, Amrabat only really made his name at the 2022 World Cup.

The 27-year-old captained Morocco through an impressive run that saw the Atlas Lions become the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

The story of Amrabat’s rise to the dizzying heights that are Old Trafford began many years ago. Robin Pronk, a veteran of youth development in Dutch football, has spoken to The Athletic, providing some fascinating insights into the player’s history.

In 2016, then a youth coach with FC Utrecht, Pronk became acquainted with two characters who may now prove instrumental in Man United’s short-to-long term future.

The first was a young but fast rising coaching star by the name of Erik ten Hag. The second, an outstanding youth midfielder – Sofyan Amrabat.

As he tells it, there was one game, where Amrabat, then 19 and playing for the club’s under-21 team, really stood out, catching his attention:

“We won 2-0. It was for the title and, in matches like this, the big players always stand up and make a difference. He was very important for us that day. His mentality was always to be on the big stage.”

Amrabat would eventually go on to make his professional debut under Erik ten Hag. To this day, the player remains grateful to the Dutchman, which may perhaps partly explain his “United or nothing” stance when informed about the Red Devils’ interest.

Speaking on Ten Hag’s influence on his career, he said:

“That was so important for me,”

“He made a plan for me. He asked me about my strong points and what I wanted to improve. From the first day, he was busy with me.”

According to Pronk, as the Atheltic report details, Amrabat, surprisingly, was not always the hardworking, focused professional that he is today.

“To be honest, Sofyan was not really hard working in the beginning,” he said.

At some point, the player apparently began to actively apply himself, and there are some who believe that this is down to the influence of Amrabat’s big brother, Nordin, who once played for Watford.

Rob Alflen, first team manager at Utrecht at the time is one of those. Speaking of his evolution into a consummate professional, Alflen said:

“He also had the example of his brother being a professional footballer.”

“Sofyan always felt he had to get as far, at least, as his brother. That brought its own pressure. Some people, faced with that pressure, find it too hard and can do nothing about it. Sofyan, on the other hand, has shown he can handle pressure and turn it to his advantage.”

Amrabat has always cut the profile of a player who relentlessly demands more from and for himself. As a youth player, he would hound Utrecht first team manager, Rob Alflen for opportunities.

This summer he was insistent on making the move to a big side.

The first to come knocking were Barcelona, whose pursuit was welcomed by the player. In an attempt to force a move, he missed a training session, and posted a cryptic message on his Instagram account, presumably a come-get-me plea to the Catalan giants:

“Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.”

Fortunately, from United’s perspective, that deal fell through, but the player clearly retained his desire to move on and up.

When the chance for a reunion with Erik ten Hag came, his answer was an unhesitating yes.

Now that he’s arrived at Old Trafford, he’ll have very little time to settle before facing the stern test of contributing in an inconsistent United team.

Amrabat, however, is not one to shirk from the hard challenges. While his relentless displays caught the eye in the World Cup, few would have known, as the Athletic report shares, that the combative midfielder required pain killing injections to manage excruciating back pain.

Those who have managed him in the past, including Erik ten Hag, will have known to expect such grit.

It’s still early days for the Moroccan, but United fans will hope that he settles quickly and starts to show what he’s about.

The post The inside story of Sofyan Amrabat’s rise to the global stage appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

"A special moment": Academy gem's achievement hailed by Ten Hag and staff

Manchester United began their Carabao Cup defence on a dominant note, easing past Premier League side Crystal Palace 3-0 at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Manager Erik ten Hag rotated heavily and it paid dividends as key stars got the night off while under-performing and reserve players managed to impress.

The third-round encounter was extra special for academy graduate Dan Gore who made his first-team debut in the 61st minute of the contest when he came on to replace Sofyan Amrabat.

Dan Gore earned his United debut

He more than held his own and showed fantastic awareness with the ball at his feet including a few line-breaking runs into the heart of the Palace defence.

Gore became the third academy star to make their debut under Ten Hag with Charlie McNeill and Kobbie Mainoo doing it before him.

He was part of United’s pre-season squad and impressed in the game against Olympique Lyon where he assisted Donny van de Beek with a fantastic cut-back.

It was also the academy graduate’s birthday and the 19-year-old could not have asked for a more special birthday gift. And as the manager pointed out after the game, it was not a gift. The youngster had earned his chance.

“I think it’s a great birthday. But I’ve said it, I’m not a manager, nor have coaches, who gift players opportunities. They have to deserve it. Once they deserve it, they get the opportunity.

“But they have to prove it. I think Dan Gore did but also young players, such as Hannibal, [Facundo] Pellistri, Garnacho. They have to do it every time again,” the manager told the club’s media team.

Gore became the 247th academy graduate to make his competitive debut for the club and the midfielder was equally delighted with the achievement.

Congratulations Dan… debutant number 247 takes his first steps in to the professional game. Well done to family, friends and staff that have supported him on his journey so far ! #muacademy #mufc https://t.co/UcgjpXEi8J

— Nick Cox (@Coxy3012) September 26, 2023

He has been part of the matchday squad on a number of occasions this season and finally getting his chance was a dream come true moment but the player acknowledged the need to keep working hard.

“It tops the list of birthdays, it was truly a special moment. I don’t think words can describe that feeling, seeing the fans, it is everything you’ve dreamed of, coming true.

Special moment for Academy starlet

“It means everything [to make your debut], growing up as a United fan [along with] my whole family, it means a lot to them and they were all here supporting me.”

“You have to work hard every day in training and then, hopefully, the opportunities come your way,” the youngster told MUTV after the contest.

Head of Academy Nick Cox could not hide his pride at Gore’s debut and insisted there is more to come from the fabled United academy.

The midfielder was part of United’s FA Youth Cup-winning side in 2021 and was named the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year last season.

The post Dan Gore celebrates 19th birthday by becoming 247th academy star to make Man United debut appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

"Ashamed", "Embarrassed": Roy Keane offers strong opinion on United's Sancho situation

Roy Keane has described how he would feel “embarrassed” to be in Jadon Sancho’s position at present, but offered a route back into the fold at Manchester United for the winger.

Sancho has been banished from the first-team following a public dispute with Erik ten Hag over the his application in training.

Sancho was not included in the squad for the match against Arsenal, with Ten Hag revealing after the match it was due to substandard performances at Carrington.

The winger responded immediately on X (formerly known as Twitter) with an emotional repudiation of his manager’s words.

The Dutch manager is reported to have demanded an apology from Sancho for these accusations. The 23-year old refused, reaffirming his position that he’s been made a ‘scapegoat‘ under Ten Hag’s watch.

Sancho has neither played for, nor trained with, the first team since this point.

Keane believes the winger is wrong to have allowed his commitment to be questioned, but contends things can change quickly in football dressing rooms.

The midfield maestro knows a thing or two about falling out of favour at Old Trafford, but one area which could never be questioned was Keane’s attitude and work ethic.

The midfielder was a consummate professional who set the standard on the training pitch at Carrington as United captain. Speaking on The Overlap, he revealed he would never put himself in a position to be accused of not training at the requisite level.

“I’d be embarrassed, I’d be ashamed of my life if the manager ever came up to me, or even spoke through the media,” he said.

“People say you can’t say stuff about the players through the media, yes you can, you can send messages out to people.”

The Ireland international asserted, however, that Sancho and Ten Hag could resolve their differences and the dressing room would move on “very quickly.”

“If you have got questions marks over this player, he is not training properly and he does turn around and show some sort of humility and says maybe I got it wrong, you can move on very quickly,” Keane said.

“We’ve been in dressing rooms where players have come in and said: ‘Sorry lads I have made a mistake’ and it is forgotten about very quickly. Football dressing rooms are a strange dynamic. If a player shows they care and they are human, it’s fine, we move on quickly.”

Gary Neville, speaking on the same podcast as Keane, was less optimistic. The former United fullback asked when had we ever seen a manager publicly call out a player in the press and it produced a positive result. “It’s usually the end,” Neville concluded.

It remains to be seen which former United great will end up being correct on a delicate situation which appears no closer to a resolution.

The post Roy Keane offers Jadon Sancho a path back to the first team appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

"He would walk into most PL teams": Former captain backs under-fire United defender

Manchester United’s defence of the Carabao Cup got off to a solid start last night (Tuesday), with a 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.

It was perfect night for Erik ten Hag, who was able to give minutes to players in need of match sharpness, on top of a clean sheet and three well-worked goals.

Harry Maguire completed 90 minutes in his first start of the season and will be happy with his night’s work after being largely untroubled by the Palace front line.

The defender has been the subject of huge media attention since losing the armband to Bruno Fernandes in the summer and is no doubt fighting for his place in the United side.

Former United captain Steve Bruce has recently offered support to the England man and did so once more before and after last night’s game.

As reported by The Daily Mail, Bruce believes social media has played a key role in Maguire’s current situation and was pleased to see him get some minutes under his belt yesterday.

“It’s good to see him on the pitch as he hasn’t started. It’s really difficult situation for him because this criticism is coming from where?

“I can’t see it from the stands, not sure where it escalates but maybe social media. It’s very rare fans here get on top of anybody’s back, they never single out an individual, I don’t think it generates from stadium, maybe social media is the key to it all,” said Bruce.

Bruce continued by saying despite the odd mistake, Maguire hasn’t let United down since he joined the club and has proven himself as a very good player.

“He (Maguire) has never let anybody down, I don’t think he has let Man United down, of course he has made a few mistakes and the odd own goal, he has made mistakes, he is a centre-back but over the years has proved to be a very good player,” he added.

Furthemore, Bruce claims that Maguire would be a sure starter in most sides in the Premier League.

“Lets not forget he is a very good player who would probably walk into most premier league teams,” he said.

Maguire will certainly be happy with his performance last night and will hope it can serve as building block for him to regain some form, going into the heart of the new season.

United entertain Palace once more at the weekend, with Roy Hodgson’s side visiting Old Trafford for the Premier League fixture on Saturday.

The post Steve Bruce praises Harry Maguire on his return to Manchester United first team appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Ten Hag tries to build team unity by hosting social gathering - report

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag held a barbecue for his players and their families at Carrington in an effort to foster unity within the team.

The event took place on Sunday, after United’s morale-raising win against Burnley.

The victory at Turf Moor relieved some of the pressure that was building on Ten Hag and the club following a run of three consecutive defeats at the hands of Arsenal, Brighton and Bayern Munich.

Chris Wheeler of The Daily Mail reports that the importance of staying united and sticking together was the main topic of the barbecue.

Ten Hag also took the opportunity to thank the close family members of his stars for their sacrifice and continued support.

It’s understood that the gesture was well received and appreciated by the players and their loved ones.

Wheeler adds, “The families were treated to what was described as a healthy barbecue, with a number of activities laid on for the children including a bouncy castle, face-painting and entertainers.”

“Ten Hag is said to have made his way around the room chatting with family members and thanking them for the sacrifices they make to help the players be at their best.”

The barbecue was planned for a number of weeks before the actual day.

This is not the first time such an occasion has taken place at United.

Just last month, club staff, the players and their families were treated to a fun-filled event at Old Trafford.

It seems that this is a tradition Ten Hag is keen on developing and enforcing as part of his reign at United.

The post Erik ten Hag hosts barbecue for Man United players and their families appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

"Not easy to play against him": Palace defender wary of threat posed by United's latest star

Manchester United will start their defence of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday when they face fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.

Last season, Erik ten Hag ended the club’s six-year trophy drought by beating Newcastle United in the final of the cup competition at Wembley.

The manager opted to select a strong team in each round, highlighting how seriously he took the competition and things are not expected to be too different this time around.

Rasmus will shine in England, says Joachim Andersen

Rasmus Hojlund, who was United’s big summer signing, is expected to feature and he has already shown glimpses of his talent and opened his account for the club against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

One player who knows a lot about the 20-year-old is Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen who also happens to be his and Denmark international teammate.

And the Eagles star has been impressed with the United forward’s start as a United player and warned that there is plenty more to come from the young Dane.

Having seen him evolve as a player since his debut for Denmark, Andersen feels Hojlund has all the attributes required to succeed in England.

“It’s going to be fun to play against him! He’s a young lad with a good character, a lot of energy and really good attributes,” the defender told the Crystal Palace media team.

“He’s quick, he’s strong and he has a lot of energy. It’s not easy to play against a player like him and I think his start [in England] has been really good. He scored last week so I’m really happy for him.”

Andersen also added cheekily added that while he hoped for more from the United man, he believes he can stop him when both sides meet this week.

In fact, United’s Carabao Cup clash against the team from Selhurst Park will be followed by a Premier League encounter against the same side.

Clash of the Danes at Old Trafford

“Hopefully he’ll score a lot of goals for our national team… but I think I can handle him in the games we’re going to play against each other!”

“I don’t know if I’ve experienced something like that before. Of course, it’s difficult to play two games at Old Trafford in one week, but it is what it is.

“Hopefully we can get some good results. It’s a lot of travel in one week, but that’s how it is!”

From a United point of view, fans will be hoping Hojlund can get the better of his international teammate on both occasions and ensure the Red Devils can build some momentum going forward.

The post Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen is a big admirer of Rasmus Hojlund appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Jonny Evans hails the influence of "amazing" ex-teammate who "took him under his wing"

Manchester United star Jonny Evans has hailed the impact of former teammate Rio Ferdinand on how his career has unfolded.

Evans recently made his 200th appearance for United in a 1-0 win against Burnley at Turf Moor, eight years after his first spell at the club.

The North Ireland international was sensational. He not only registered an assist for the only goal of the match but also scored only for VAR to chalk off his headed effort.

At 35, Evans is one of the senior players in the current United team. His experience and leadership are some of the reasons Erik ten Hag deemed it fit to hand him a one-year contract.

In an interview with TNT via club media, he noted the influence of those he played with including Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown.

Evans said, “I’ve seen things where I thought ‘I’d like to try that’ or I like the way they do something. So I’ve learnt a lot over the years and your youngest days are probably when you’re most impressionable and I think, you know, obviously Rio [Ferdinand], Wes [Brown], [Nemanja] Vidic – top players.”

“I was always sort of coming in to try to learn as much as I could from them and I remember Wes giving me tips on how to, not necessarily how to head the ball, but how to compete to head the ball.”

“And I used to watch Rio and Rio had an unbelievable skill of getting his leg in front of the centre-forward and nicking the ball.”

“So they were all brilliant, as defenders, to learn off and I’m very fortunate to be able to see that up close and be able to learn from such top players.”

He explained that off the pitch, Ferdinand was undoubtedly his role model.

As per Evans, the former England international “took him under his wing” and moulded him into the professional he is today.

He added that Ferdinand was an “amazing” player to look up to and have in the dressing room.

Evans told TNT that his exit from United in 2015 was “a natural process” and that while he never wanted to leave, his desire to get regular playing time elsewhere ultimately motivated his decision to seek a fresh challenge.

The post “Took me under his wing”: Jonny Evans hails Rio Ferdinand’s influence on his career appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

United seeking to end goalscoring woes by signing €85m World Cup winner - report

Despite strengthening up front during the summer transfer window, Manchester United are still not finding the back of the net with any real regularity.

They are the lowest goalscorers in the top nine, with only seven to their name currently with new signing Rasmus Hojlund yet to open his account in the Premier League.

The Dane has shown his quality but the manager was aware before his arrival that it would be foolish to burden the 20-year-old in his debut season and hence had asked for a proven goalscorer alongside him.

United still struggling to score goals

The club failed to back yet another manager and Ten Hag was forced to start Marcus Rashford upfront on his own where he struggled while Anthony Martial was his usual lackadaisical self.

Whether the club will help the manager in January remains to be seen with links emerging regarding a surprise raid for Porto’s experienced hitman Mehdi Taremi.

If not January, United are definitely expected to be in the market for a striker next summer and Fichajes have claimed that Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez could be the focus of a transfer raid from United.

The Argentine has started the new season in sensational form, scoring six goals in as many games while also producing two assists.

Last campaign, the World Cup winner had notched 28 goals and 11 assists in 57 games as the Nerazzurri reached the Champions League final.

It is well-known that the Milan side are not in the pink of financial health and are expected to sell at least a few assets next summer to balance the books like they did with Andre Onana this summer.

However, Martinez already has a fresh contract proposal from Inter and the player is still deliberating over it. If he does not accept, a sale is likely.

Lautaro Martinez could be the answer

“Lautaro Martínez has emerged as one of Manchester United’s big goals for next season, with the Argentine footballer from Inter Milan being a personal request from Dutch coach Erik Ten Hag.

“With a new renewal in the air, Lautaro Martínez’s future is by no means assured at Giuseppe Meazza beyond this summer, since the Italian team needs to sell several of its best men again to balance its accounts.

“Manchester United will seek to reach an agreement with Inter to acquire Martínez, having an offer in hand to continue in the Nerazzurri, which if rejected, could lead him to be one of the main protagonists of the next summer transfer market.”

The 26-year-old striker, who has a contract at Milan till 2026, is currently valued at €85 million as per Transfermarkt. Whether United can match that asking price is a question that will only be answered next summer.

The post Lautaro Martinez is Erik ten Hag’s “personal request” to improve Man United’s strikeforce appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

ex-United player drops huge career update after returning to the club

The Manchester United squad underwent something of a culling this past summer transfer window as many long-serving players were let go.

The chief among them, in terms of time at the club, was Phil Jones, who finally departed the club as a free agent after a spell that promised so much initially was cut short in latter years due to injury problems.

Now, Jones has given his next big career update in a social media post.

The former United player shared pictures of himself in a classroom and United’s training ground as he revealed the holistic education he has now embarked upon.

Jones has enrolled in the Global Football Sport Directorship course with the PFA Business School, which would prepare him for front-office roles like Technical Director, Director of Football, and other executive-like positions.

Start of a new journey. Great to begin the global football sport directorship course with the PFA business school, learning new things about the game, whilst also continuing to push ahead with my A licence and badges at the club that gave me so much.

Excited to get started. pic.twitter.com/a1SATTx4TP

— Phil Jones (@PhilJones4) September 26, 2023

In addition, he is also in the process of doing his coaching badges.

He is close to securing the A licence for coaches with the help of United and holding a continental licence from UEFA will enable him to man the touchlines of a Premier League club in the future if he so desires.

Former teammates like Jesse Lingard, Tom Cleverley, and Timothy Fosu-Mensah were quick to congratulate him for his latest life update as he seeks to put a turbulent playing career behind him.

Stretching himself to both, on-pitch and off-the-pitch roles likely means that he will call it curtains on his playing career.

From the 2019-20 season till his departure from United, Jones managed to make only 13 appearances across four seasons as one injury after another never allowed him to get a continuous run in the team.

In the 2022/23 season, he didn’t manage to make even a single appearance as a career that was destined for stardom ended with a whimper.

Now he will hope to make his mark on the sidelines or in the front office with his new courses.

The post Phil Jones gives major career update after leaving Manchester United playing career appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Huge United takeover update arrives, months of deadlock could finally be broken - report

After months of conflicting stories and non-update updates, the Manchester United takeover saga has finally received a credible report.

Bloomberg reports that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is now restructuring his bid for Manchester United to break the impasse and get the process moving forward.

Ratcliffe’s initial bid was to take on a majority stake and leave Glazers with a certain percentage as well.

That would leave United on the stock exchange but voting shares would transfer to the INEOS chief.

However, that was not acceptable for minority investors as their shares would then remain unsold and there would be no profit for them on the sale.

It was different from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani’s bid. The Qatari, through his foundation, offered to do a full takeover of the club and take it off the stock exchange.

In that scenario, the minority investors would also receive their due from selling their shares.

Therefore, the latter’s bid was more beneficial for minority investors and Ratcliffe’s bid was more alluring for the Glazers.

Add to that the growing uncertainty due to differing opinions among the Glazer siblings, and the process has plodded along for nearly a year without a solution.

The hope in the fanbase will be that this restructuring of the bid, which aims to appease the minority investors as well, will finally kickstart the concrete steps of the process and rid the club of the increasingly unpopular Glazers.

It remains to be seen how successful his restructuring attempts are and if they are able to convince the minority investors to change their stance on the bid.

It will also be interesting to see what, if any, response Sheikh Jassim’s side has to this development as it was widely reported in April that they have made their full and final offer for the club.

The post Sir Jim Ratcliffe restructuring Manchester United bid to appease minority investors and break the deadlock appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

United rejected chance to sign superstar this summer who’s setting la Liga on fire

Manchester United could do with a few attacking reinforcements now but the one player the club was linked with throughout without any concrete movement was Joao Felix.

The wantaway Atletico forward was reportedly offered to many clubs as he sought a move away from Diego Simeone’s team, including United.

Now, Paulo Futre, former Director of Football at Atletico Madrid with good Portuguese connections, has confirmed the same.

In an interview with Cadena Sar’s El Larguero, Futre said he “argued” with Mendes on the phone about Felix’s comments on wanting to join Barcelona.

Mendes, in return, said that he had no role in Felix saying that and he had instead offered him to other clubs, saying he had “spoken to Manchester United”.

Futre then tried to call Mendes’ bluff and confirmed this statement from “friends” at United and “it was true”.

He added that United rejected the chance to sign the player, and they were not the only ones.

Felix was also offered to Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal but the answer from every club was the same.

Atletico did find an agreement with Aston Villa but this time, Felix rejected their advances as his heart was set on a move to Barcelona.

The Portuguese eventually did get his wish as he joined the Catalan club on an initial loan deal.

Since then, he looks to have found his footing back in the game after a couple of years in the wilderness, scoring and assisting for fun in a new environment.

However, United are unlikely to lose much sleep over it as Felix’s stint at Chelsea showed that he is perhaps not suited to this particular league’s style of play and Barcelona is a much better fit for him tactically.

The post Paulo Futre confirms Jorge Mendes telling him that he offered Joao Felix to Manchester United appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

"No truth at all" - Romano quashes fans' hopes of United signing World Cup winner

Manchester United transfer activity under Erik ten Hag has seen multiple midfield players join the ranks at Old Trafford.

Casemiro, Mason Mount and Christian Eriksen have signed permanent deals at the club with Sofyan Amrabat joining on a season-long loan this year.

Austrian international Marcel Sabitzer also spent the second half of the last campaign with United as Ten Hag continues to look for the perfect potion in his engine room.

Another player who has been widely linked with joining the aforementioned is Frenchman Adrien Rabiot.

Rabiot was close to a move to Manchester in the summer of 2022 but personal terms proved to be a stumbling block and Ten Hag eventually plumped for Real Madrid superstar Casemiro instead.

There were also further rumours in the recent transfer window but Rabiot remained a Juventus player.

As reported by The Peoples Person, United are still very much interested in acquiring the player but transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has since poured cold water over a potential deal.

Romano says rumours of a move to the Premier League are now wide off the mark for Rabiot, who has become a key player in Turin.

Furthermore, the Turin club are pushing for the World Cup winner to commit his future to the club, hoping Rabiot will extend his current contract.

“We’re once again seeing Adrien Rabiot linked with Premier League clubs, but honestly there is no truth to the rumours at all. There are no talks ongoing now, no decision will be made now.

Juventus are considering offering a new deal to Rabiot in the next months as he’s a key player for them, they really want Adrien to stay so I’m sure they will push for it,” says Romano.

Ten Hag is clearly an admirer of Rabiot and it wouldn’t be a surprise for United to go back in for the player if he doesn’t commit to staying in Italy.

The 28-year-old has shown his class at Juventus over the last two seasons after a turbulent spell in France with PSG.

However, as things stand, it looks as though he will likely stay put and United will have to do some convincing, should they reignite their interest in the midfielder.

The post Fabrizio Romano pours cold water over news of Adrien Rabiot’s move to Manchester United appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Picture: Two former United stars go head-to-head in unlikely league showdown

Manchester United has been the home of some of the finest players in the footballing world down the years.

United’s rich history has seen players from around the globe don the red shirt and two former stars came up against each other in new surroundings, at the weekend.

Juan Mata and Shinji Kagawa’s current sides met in the Japanese J1 League, with Mata making the move to Asia just a few weeks ago.

Shinji Kagawa and Juan Mata 'Re-United' in Japan last night 🤝🇯🇵#MUFC pic.twitter.com/ksrwUfnp8j

— United Peoples TV (@UnitedPeoplesTV) September 25, 2023

It was Mata’s Vissel Kobe side that triumphed on the night, beating Kagawa’s Cerezo Osaka by one goal to nil on home soil, cementing their place at the top of Japan’s premier division.

Additionally, the slender defeat has all-but ended Kagawa’s sided slim hopes of catching Kobe, with Osaka now 10 behind the leaders, with just six games to play.

The pair of playmakers had differing degrees of success in Manchester, with Mata undoubtedly having the better personal spell but Kagawa did leave Old Trafford with a Premier League winners medal.

Kagawa was part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s final title-winning squad in the 2012/13 season, making 26 appearances that season and 57 overall, during his spell at the club.

His clever hat-trick that season against Norwich at Old Trafford will go down as his personal highlight but Kagawa never quite fulfilled his potential at United, moving back to Dortmund after just two seasons.

Mata, on the other hand, enjoyed almost a decade-long spell at United, having joined on deadline day of the winter transfer market in David Moyes first season in charge.

Despite not winning a league title in Manchester, the Spaniard did become a fan favourite at Old Trafford, largely due to his classy attitude both on and off the pitch.

Mata enjoyed many-a-fine moment in a United shirt but his wonderful brace in a 2-1 win at Anfield under Louis van Gaal will undoubtedly remain the standout.

An excellent low finish gave United the lead on the day before an outstanding bicycle kick sent the away fans into raptures and ensured the three points, in what was one of United’s best displays at Anfield in recent times.

Mata also scored the equaliser in the FA Cup final success under Van Gaal, forcing the game to extra-time before Jesse Lingard‘s volley won the trophy against Crystal Palace, at Wembley.

The midfielder won a League Cup and Europa League during his time at the club, before moving to Galatasaray in the summer of 2022.

Mata spent one season in Turkey before his move to Japan and United fans around the globe will wish the two players all the best, as they enter the twilight of their respective careers.

The post Former Manchester United stars Juan Mata and Shinji Kagawa go head-to-head in Japan appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.