Football
“He told me he’s a pure Man United fan and will join…He has personal terms agreed already, he’ll be with us after the Euro”: Bruno Fernandes confirms Man United major transfer target has agreed terms to join Man United and will Reds player after the EURO
Over the last decade, Manchester United have signed an abundance of talent who were supposed to help return the club to its glory days.
The transfer activity has largely been a failure, but the signing of Bruno Fernandes could prove to be the best decision in the recent history of the Red Devils.
The Portuguese Magnifico has been simply out of this world since joining in 2020, scoring 79 goals and providing 66 assists in 233 appearances.
If there was anyone to lead Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s rebuild towards triumph and dominance, it’s Fernandes, and therefore, it’s no surprise to see that the new owner wants to sign a player who could make the captain even better.
Man United want to sign a defensive midfielder
In the last 48 hours, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano took to X to say that Man Utd are ‘seriously considering’ bringing in a new midfielder.
An option that’s been discussed is Edson Alvarez, who previously worked with Erik Ten Hag at Ajax.
It’s said that the Mexican has been discussed internally due to the Dutch boss appreciating his quality and personality.
However, any deal this summer could prove to be difficult, with West Ham United viewing him as a key player that they’d like to keep.
Why Edson Alvarez would be perfect for Fernandes
Since joining West Ham last summer for £35.4m, Alvarez has become known for being an old-fashioned, no-nonsense defensive midfielder.
The 26-year-old featured as the deepest midfielder within the 4-2-3-1 formation, becoming a “monster” at the heart of David Moyes’ midfield, as Hammers present Dan Woffenden stated.
Across the campaign, the Mexican started 28 times in the Premier League, while also making seven appearances in the Europa League.
However, he’s not exactly shown his true potential since moving to England, with his play style at Ajax proving that he has more to offer, which Ten Hag will help him unleash.
During his time at Ajax under the current United boss, Alvarez operated as a lone number six, taking on the majority of the defensive responsibility.
As shown by his tackles, balls recovered, and duels won, the number 19 has always been a monster defensively, with football scout Jacek Kulig describing him as a “superb tackler” who is “fast, tenacious, and charismatic.”
This defensive security in the middle of the field would benefit Fernandes significantly, as it would unleash him in higher positions up the field where he can work his magic.
During the number eight’s best campaign at Old Trafford, where he scored 18 league goals and provided 12 assists in 2020/21, he played ahead of a Scott McTominay and Fred duo, who gave him the freedom to express himself more in and around the box.
The addition of Alvarez could see that version of Fernandes return next season, but what else can the former Club America player bring to the table?
Unlike West Ham, who only had 40.8% possession last season, Ajax always dominated possession, which allowed the midfielder to showcase his technical ability.
This gives an indication of what he could bring from an in-possession perspective at United, considering that Ten Hag would likely duplicate what worked for him at Ajax.
Overall, the signing of Alvarez may not be one that will get the Red Devil’s faithful off their seats in excitement, but he could play a huge role in making the team much more competitive and successful.
Football
“Call it a Day”: Manchester United Midfielder Slammed Over ‘Disastrous’ Liverpool Performance
Old Trafford witnessed a revealing scene during the pre-game festivities as Manuel Ugarte was introduced to the Manchester United faithful. The Uruguayan’s debut couldn’t have come at a more poignant time.
As the 23-year-old midfielder took his introductory bows, his predecessor, Casemiro, was gearing up for what would become a fateful encounter against Liverpool—a match that would underline the vast gulf the Brazilian now needs to bridge.
The defensive midfield role at Manchester United has been a subject of intense scrutiny and Casemiro, once a stalwart at Real Madrid, found himself overwhelmed in a game that laid bare many of United’s deeper systemic issues.
The match ended in a 3-0 defeat, with Casemiro’s disastrous performance a glaring weak spot. As Jamie Carragher insightfully remarked earlier, it might be time for Casemiro to step away from the top echelons of football, suggesting, “Football has left him at this top level. He needs to call it a day at this level and move.”
Despite the immediate criticisms, it’s crucial to remember Casemiro’s significant contributions to football, underscored by his wife’s poignant social media post showcasing his extensive trophy haul.
Such a decorated career deserves recognition, even as discussions about his current form persist. As Gary Neville empathetically noted, even the best can falter under pressure, reflecting on his own career’s twilight years.
For Manchester United, the challenge is not just about replacing a player but about realigning their entire midfield setup to compete effectively against top-tier teams like Liverpool.
Casemiro’s situation serves as a stark reminder of the relentless pace and physicality of the Premier League, where even the most experienced players can find themselves outpaced and outplayed
Football
“Biggest mistake of his life”: Real Madrid star told he has made the biggest mistake of his life for joining the Los Blacos
Kylian Mbappé joined Real Madrid as a free agent this past summer transfer window. While this is a significant step in his career, one person believes it’s the wrong decision.
Moreover, he notes that it’s an easy route to securing his football glory as winning the Ballon d’Or and UEFA Champions League at PSG would have had a different meaning than winning these honors at Real Madrid.
As a result, Cyril Hanouna stated in his interview with Europe 1 that the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner made a mistake leaving his hometown club.
“For me, Kylian Mbappé made the mistake of his life,” Hanouna stated (h/t Le10Sport). “I didn’t elaborate last time, but I’ll do it now. Winning the Champions League with Real Madrid is normal. Of course, winning the Champions League with Real Madrid, everyone does it. All the players who are at Real Madrid, at some point, will win the Champions League.
“Being Ballon d’Or at Real Madrid is rather easy. Benzema won it at Real Madrid. Mbappé should have stayed at PSG, won the Champions League with PSG, and won the Ballon d’Or with PSG. The club was giving him everything; it would have been his club. He would have been the main man at PSG.”
PSG are a young but exciting team, and perhaps they might not have the expectations of winning the Champions League this season. However, Real Madrid has the pressure of winning the competition this campaign with the Frenchman; if they don’t, then many will consider Year 1 of Mbappé a failure.
It will be interesting to see how this tournament plays out this season as Real Madrid know who they’ll be facing in the league phase. Mbappé won’t win the Ballon d’Or this year, but winning the Champions League and playing a key role could help his chances in 2025.
Football
“A really good signing”: Alan Shearer gives his verdict on Arsenal’s unexpected signing as he backs the player become a valuable star in the team
The term ‘baptism of fire’ is often overused in football, but it rings true for Raheem Sterling when considering he could make his Arsenal debut away to Tottenham Hotspur.
For a different player, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta might decide against deploying his new signing on such an occasion, but Sterling certainly has the mental resolve to handle it.
Sterling has endured some tough times in the past for England, criticised for his performances, and he’s been subject to similar at Chelsea too.
But in north London, the 29-year-old now has a new home, and the majority of Arsenal fans are excited to see if Arteta can recapture Sterling’s best, in a similar vein to Kai Havertz.
The two are at very different stages of their career, but like just Havertz, Sterling may find his confidence once again, a player who is still in his prime years.
Alan Shearer explains why Raheem Sterling could be really ‘valuable’ to Arsenal
Speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast, Alan Shearer was very happy that Sterling had managed to get away from a ‘horrible’ situation at Stamford Bridge, which could have become even more messy.
And the pundit then went on to explain what Sterling can offer Arsenal, a move that suits both parties.
Shearer said: “Yeah I think it’s a really good move for him. I think it was important that he got out and played.
“It would have been horrible for him to sit there and rot in the stiffs, not even maybe, not even see first team football, never mind train or whatever with them.
“So I think it was really important for him to get out with his experience and know-how, he could be valuable to Arsenal.”
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