Football
“If he choose Man United over Man City, I’ll resign as a football coach…He’s the player we can’t afford to see him playing for them, they may become undefeatable with him”: Pep Guardiola angered by World-class player’s decision to join Man United as Man City increases bid to convince him from Man United transfer
A report has claimed that a certain Manchester United target has caught Pep Guardiola’s eye.
On several occasions, both Manchester clubs have targeted the same player over the years.
While Manchester United were heralded at the time for winning the race to sign the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Alexis Sanchez, Fred and Harry Maguire, who were widely reported to be Manchester City targets — the blue side of the city had the last laugh in all such instances.
Ronaldo, Sanchez and Fred had underwhelming spells at Old Trafford while Maguire’s time at the club has largely been disastrous.
Manchester City, on the other hand tend to do great business and considering Pep Guardiola’s status at the Etihad Stadium, they would ideally like to reward him with his dream signings after having won four consecutive Premier League titles.
Why Pep Guardiola rates Manchester United target Jarrad Branthwaite
Despite the Red Devils no longer being the juggernaut of a side they once were, their standing in English football remains of arguably the biggest club in the country.
As a result, on the basis of their status alone, it seems several players still gravitate towards the opportunity of playing for one of the most prestigious clubs in world football.
Even so, if City enter the picture in United’s pursuit for a player — they have every reason to be worried, with their cross-town rivals being the gold standard in English football.
According to a report by The Sun, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is considering a move for Jarrad Branthwaite — a player Erik ten Hag would like Manchester United to sign in the summer, even if they manage to wrap up the potential acquisition of Matthijs de Ligt.
Guardiola is believed to be “impressed” with how well Branthwaite plays out from the back as well as his defensive qualities.
The report states that the 22-year-old’s current valuation is £80 million — a claim that was made in June — with Everton internally considering him as a defender who should command similar fees to the likes of Josko Gvardiol, who was signed by Manchester City for £77.6 million, the £80 million (BBC Sport) man, Harry Maguire and Wesley Fofana, who Chelsea paid £75 million (Sky Sports) for in 2022.
Manchester City do not necessarily need Jarrad Branthwaite
As excellent a centre-back as Branthwaite is, unless Manchester City intend to sell one of their defenders, one wonders why Pep Guardiola is interested in his signature.
The rationale of considering the Englishman as a potential signing would add up if the plan at the Etihad Stadium was to let go of an an injury-prone centre-back like John Stones.
With Stones, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol not linked with summer exits, the idea of adding the youngster to their roster seems unnecessary.
Especially if the Sky Blues are asked to pay a whopping £80 million to address an area of the squad that is not a priority in the slightest.
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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