The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Manchester United

  • Man Utd table £30m bid for Benfica’s Nelson Semedo

    Man Utd table £30m bid for Benfica’s Nelson Semedo

     

    Manchester United has lodged a bid of £30million for Benfica defender Nelson Semedo, according to a report in Spain.

    The right-back would be Jose Mourinho’s second defensive signing of the summer and second from Benfica following Victor Lindelof’s £30million move to Old Trafford.

    According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, United have moved for Semedo and are waiting for a response on their bid.

    The player though is also interesting several other clubs and Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are all set to make offers too, claims the report.

    Barcelona are understood to have the Portuguese star as a back-up to Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin.

    Semedo, 23, has been linked to United previously, with a double deal with Lindelof reported. The player has four caps for Portugal and is currently in Russia with the Portugal squad for the Confederations Cup.

    Mourinho and United relied on Antonio Valencia at right-back last season, but the United boss is believed to be looking for an alternative to Valencia.

    Semedo was reportedly close to a move to Old Trafford in February.

    Portuguese media outlet Notícias ao Minuto claimed that the Red Devils reached an agreement in principle for the transfer of Semedo.

    The fee mentioned in February was £35million for a player who has a contract with Benfica until 2021.

  • Rooney and Coleen join others in star-studded wedding of Phil Jones

    Rooney and Coleen join others in star-studded wedding of Phil Jones

     

     

    They ended their season on a high after winning the Europa League.

    And the Manchester United players were again in a celebratory mood as they attended the star-studded wedding of defender Phil Jones and wife Kaya Hall in Nether Alderley, Cheshire, on Friday.

    Wayne Rooney and his glamorous wife Coleen were among the famous guests seen arriving at St Mary’s Church for the romantic ceremony.

    Looking super glam for the occasion, Coleen Rooney sported a black one shoulder midi dress featuring a ruffle hem teamed with a box clutch and strappy heeled sandals.

    Wayne, 31, looked dapper in a navy suit and tie as he arrived with Coleen, 31, who opted for a stylish one-shoulder dress for the occasion.

    Newlywed Kaya meanwhile looked every inch the beautiful bride in a stunning lace ivory gown as she left the church hand in hand with news husband Phil.

    Wearing her chestnut brown locks up in an elegant up ‘do, she showed off her radiant complexion, while her lips accentuated with a rose-tinted lipstick.

    The happy couple left in a white vintage car as the guests headed to the reception after the church ceremony.

    Phil and Kaya announced they were set to get married in December, with Kaya posting on Twitter: ‘Christmas Eve Service at the Church we’re getting married at…’

    The pair, who live in Alderley Edge, have been together for several years, with Kaya attending the Manchester United Christmas party back in December.

    Other United footballers in attendance included Phil’s fellow defenders, Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw.

    Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and former united player Jonny Evan also attended the intimate wedding on Friday.

    Phil Jones was not the only Red Devils player to get married this week, with Matteo Darmian marrying his long-term fiancee Francesca Cormanni in a lavish wedding ceremony in Italy on Wednesday.

  • Man U insist on £45m plus  Morata for David de Gea’

    Man U insist on £45m plus  Morata for David de Gea’

     

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly told Real Madrid that it would take a bid of £45m plus Alvaro Morata for them to sign David de Gea this summer.

    De Gea has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Spanish and European champions during recent transfer windows and was on the brink of completing the switch in 2015 before a mix-up with the paperwork scuppered the deal.

    The 26-year-old still has two years remaining on his contract at Old Trafford, and the Daily Star reports that Mourinho values the shot-stopper at £100m.

    United are understood to be interested in signing Madrid striker Morata this summer, though, and Mourinho would reportedly be willing to strike a deal which would effectively see Morata fetch a £55m price.

    The Spain international scored 20 goals across all competitions last season but is keen for more regular first team football ahead of next summer’s World Cup in Russia.

    United, meanwhile, are looking for a replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and are thought to have made Morata their number one target ahead of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku.

  • Ronaldo may leave Real Madrid after tax fraud accusation

    Ronaldo may leave Real Madrid after tax fraud accusation

    Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is not happy at being accused of tax fraud and wants to leave the club, a source close to the player said on Friday.

    Spanish prosecutors have accused the 32-year-old Ronaldo of defrauding the authorities of millions of euros in tax.

    Though he has since denied any wrongdoing, but the source who wanted anonymity said the accusation has upset the Portugal captain.

    “He feels he’s honest, has good character and did everything OK,” added the source.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ronaldo’s Real Madrid contract has a 1 billion euro (about £874.88 million, or N450 billion) release clause.

    “He’s very sad and really upset. He doesn’t want to stay in Spain. At this moment, he wants to leave,’’ the source added.

    Ronaldo, who joined Real Madrid from English side Manchester United for £80 million (about N40 billion) in 2009, signed a five-year deal with the European champions in November 2016.

    China would be one potential destination but the Portuguese forward’s advisers would prefer he stayed in Europe, most likely either moving to Paris St-Germain or returning to the Premier League.

    Ronaldo, who has helped Real win the Champions League three times and La Liga twice, is accused of evading tax to the value of 14.7m euros (£13m; $16m) between 2011 and 2014.

    Already, Real Madrid have released a statement saying they had “full confidence” in their player, and they were convinced he would prove his innocence.

    In the 2016/2017 season, Ronaldo helped Real win the Spanish title for the first time since 2012 as well as retain the UEFA Champions League.

    Ronaldo, who also won the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008, has scored a record 105 goals in the competition, 11 more than FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, his nearest challenger.

  • Usain Bolt to feature in Pro Evolution Soccer 2018

    Usain Bolt to feature in Pro Evolution Soccer 2018

     

    Usain Bolt will be a playable character in the latest edition of Pro Evolution Soccer.

    The Jamaican, a keen Manchester United fan, has previously spoken about wanting to play the game professionally, and gamers wanting to simulate that will now have the chance.

    Those who pre-order PES 2018, which will be released in the United Kingdom on September 14, will have access to the sprint king.

    And he admitted he was delighted to feature in the video game, calling it a ‘great honour’.

    Bolt said: ‘I love football and have played PES for as long as I can remember – it’s the best football game there is – and it’s a great honour to be a part of it and its success.

    ‘When the opportunity arose to be a player in PES 2018, it was too good to be true.

    ‘Having my face and movements scanned for use in the game was a fascinating process and I hope those who pre-order the game make full use of my pace and skill!’

    PES is the major competitor to EA Sports’ ultra-popular FIFA series.

    Creators Konami, who will be releasing the game on Playstation 4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360, also announced they had signed up Diego Maradona as an ambassador on Tuesday.

  • Football: Usain Bolt joins Manchester United line-up

    Football: Usain Bolt joins Manchester United line-up

    Usain Bolt will get to live out his dream as a Manchester United player when he becomes a playable character in the football video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2018.

    The eight-time Olympic gold medalist is likely to be the fastest player in the game.

    Any gamer who pre-orders PES, which is released on September 14, will be given access to use the Jamaican as a player.

    Bolt said: “I love football and have played PES for as long as I can remember – it’s the best football game there is – and it’s a great honour to be a part of it and its success.

    “When the opportunity arose to be a player in PES 2018, it was too good to be true.

    Having my face and movements scanned for use in the game was a fascinating process and I hope those who pre-order the game make full use of my pace and skill!”

    Bolt, who is retiring from athletics after the World Championships in London this summer, will also have a chance to take on Lionel Messi – albeit virtually.

    Last week, Bolt challenged the Barcelona ace to a race.
    He said: “I always like to try new things and Messi is one of the greatest footballers to ever grace the face of this earth.
    “It would be an honour [to race him] because I have never met Messi.”
  • Ibrah set to leave Man U for China or USA

    Ibrah set to leave Man U for China or USA

     

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not be offered a new contract by Manchester United after he was excluded from the club’s list of retained players published by the Premier League.

    The striker will leave Old Trafford when his deal expires at the end of June and will be available for any potential suitors on a free transfer.

    United signed Ibrahimovic on a one-year deal in 2016 but manager Jose Mourinho confirmed last November that the club was keen to take up an option to extend those terms by a further 12 months.

    However, no agreement was reached and Ibrahimovic suffered a serious knee injury in April that cast further doubt over whether he would be kept on at the club.

    The 35-year-old sustained ligament damage in the Europa League quarter-final second-leg win over Anderlecht and is not expected to be fit to return to action until January next year.

    United’s reported pursuit of Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata prompted further claims this week that Ibrahimovic’s time at the club would be brought to an end, despite him having scored 28 goals in all competitions to help his side to EFL Cup and Europa League triumphs.

    The former Sweden captain scored the winning goals in the Community Shield clash with Leicester City and the EFL Cup final against Southampton, while he hit 17 in 28 appearances in the Premier League.

    Napoli have been linked with a move for the ex-Paris Saint-Germain star after he admitted in February that he would relish the opportunity to play for the club before he retires.

    Moves to the Chinese Super League or MLS have also been suggested.

  • Man U ready to table £70million for Belotti

    Man U ready to table £70million for Belotti

     

    Manchester United are looking to act quickly in the transfer window and are ready to make a huge £70million offer for Andrea Belotti, according to Tuttosport.

    After United qualified for Champions League football next season, Jose Mourinho is eager to bolster his attacking options and is eyeing up the Torino striker as well as Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata.

    The Italian newspaper claims that Jorge Mendes is currently in Milan for negotiations and has informed Torino of United’s willingness to make a bid to put pressure on the Serie A outfit.

    However, the offer would still fall short of the 23-year-old’s 100million (£88m) release clause.

    United also face stiff competition from AC Milan and they have already had a bid turned down by Torino for Belotti.

    The Italy international was in fine form last season for Torino, who finished 9th in Serie A on 53 points.

    Belotti netted 28 goals in all competitions in the 2016-17 campaign and Torino will be desperate to keep their star player for another season.

    Meanwhile, United are also targeting Spanish striker Morata, who won La Liga and the Champions League with Madrid last season.

    The 24-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu and United are thought to have already had a £52million offer rejected by the Spanish giants.

    However, as reported yesterday, the Old Trafford outfit suffered a major blow in their pursuit of Morata after he admitted it would be ‘crazy to leave Real Madrid’ this summer.

    ‘I want to be playing and to be important to the squad, particularly next year when there is the World Cup,’ said Morata.

    ‘But I want to fight for my place here, I would be crazy to leave Real Madrid.’

     

     

     

     

  • Manchester United now top Forbes football rich list

    Manchester United now top Forbes football rich list

    Europa League champions Manchester United have overtaken record UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid as the world’s most valuable football club, going by statistics provided by business magazine Forbes.

    Manchester United were valued at $3.69 billion (about £2.86 billion, about N1.476 trillion) and returned to the top of the annual list for the first time in five years.

    Real Madrid’s Spanish rivals FC Barcelona were second with a worth of $3.64bn (about £2.82bn), as Real with $3.58bn (£2.77bn) went down to third.

    Six English clubs were in the top 10, with Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham joining Manchester United.

    German champions Bayern Munich were fourth, while Italian title winners Juventus were ninth.

    Real Madrid, winners of the Champions League and Spanish title in the past season, had been top for the past four years.

    But they saw their value drop by 2 per cent as Manchester United’s went up by 11 per cent.

    “Manchester United’s return to the top spot is a testament to their powerful brand and marketing acumen,” Forbes Media assistant managing editor Mike Ozanian said in a statement.

    Leicester, who won the English Premier League in 2015-16, were 19th and West Ham 15th.

    Forbes’ top 20 most valuable football teams

    • Manchester United —- $3.69bn (£2.86bn)
    • FC Barcelona —-   $3.64bn (£2.82bn)
    • Real Madrid —-    $3.58bn (£2.77bn)
    • Bayern Munich —-  $2.71bn (£2.1bn)
    • Manchester City —-  $2.08bn (£1.61bn)
    • Arsenal —–         $1.93bn (£1.5bn)
    • Chelsea —–     $1.85bn (£1.43bn)
    • Liverpool —–    $1.49bn (£1.15bn)
    • Juventus —–     $1.26bn (£976m)
    • Tottenham —–   $1.06bn (£821m)
    • Paris St-Germain —-  $841m (£652m)
    • Borussia Dortmund —-  $808m (£626m)
    • AC Milan —–     $802m (£621m)
    • Atletico Madrid —–    $732m (£567m)
    • West Ham —-       $634m (£491m)
    • Schalke 04 ——     $629m (£487m)
    • Roma ——       $569m (£441m)
    • Inter Milan ——    $537m (£416m)
    • Leicester City ——    $413m (£320m)
    • Napoli ——-        $379m (£294m)
  • Man U to beat Chelsea to £40m Ivan Perisic deal   

    Man U to beat Chelsea to £40m Ivan Perisic deal   

    Manchester United are set to beat Chelsea to Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic

    Both Premier League clubs are interested in Perisic, who is hot property after contributing 10 goals and 10 assists in 41 appearances for the Italian giants this term.

    And, according to The Sun, United are set to land the Croatia international for a fee in the region of £40m.

    It claimed Perisic has agreed a £100,000-a-week deal to move to Old Trafford this summer.

    Jose Mourinho reportedly gave the go-ahead to complete a deal after United won the Europa League to book their place in next season’s Champions League.

    Perisic, who joined Inter from Wolfsburg in 2015, is under contract with Milan until 2020.

    The Serie A giants are reportedly willing to sell Perisic to sidestep Financial Fair Play issues and that could mean striking a deal before June 30.

    And Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio confirmed United’s interest last night.

    He said: “[United] haven’t made us an official offer for Perisic but their interest is there.

    “We want to improve Inter and this is why we do not have any sellable or un-sellable players as of now.

    “We know that we already have many important players within our roster like Perisic and before we decide to sell him, we have to think about what’s best for Inter.

    “For me we have an as good squad or maybe even a better squad than most of the teams who finished ahead of us.

    “We don’t need all that much, we will certainly make some moves but we will first have to see what our new coach will want.”