REUTERS/Sergio Perez
Barcelona are on the lookout for a replacement for star defender Samuel Umtiti, as United look likely to sign him up.
As per Sport, the French international has refused to sign any iteration of a contract presented before him, and has practically ‘left the door open’ for the English giants to come and get him.
And though the Spanish league leaders have no intention or desire to cash in on their defensive cog, their unwillingness to meet his demands have stagnated any sort of negotiations.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho is planning to bolster his side’s defensive prowess, and is expected to make any big-money signing in order to do so. United are fully prepared to meet Umtiti’s £52 million release clause in order to snatch him up from Spain.
WATCH: 7 Things That Will Happen If Salah Joins Real Madrid
Consequently, La Blaugrana are scouting for potential replacements, with the Bundesliga seeming like a pool full of fish.
RELATED NEWS:
FOR SALE: Manchester United Ready To Accept Offers For Five Players
RB Leipzig star Dayot Upamecano seems to be someone Barca are very much interested in, but his €100 million buy-out clause seem to be something they are unwilling to take responsibility of, especially when it’s no secret that Leipzig are persistent negotiators.
Schalke defender Thilo Kehrer is also said to be one of the La Liga giants’ targets, and will reportedly cost them one third of Upamecano’s price tag.
Nevertheless, the Catalans’ priority is to keep the 24-year-old Frenchman, who has now established himself as one of the best centre-backs not only in the Barca squad, but in the Spanish league as well.
The post Does This Barcelona Move Confirm Samuel Umtiti Is Joining United? appeared first on BlameFootball.
REUTERS/Peter Cziborra
Man United are continuously being linked to a host of midfielders to join them in the summer.
With Michael Carrick retiring and Marouane Fellaini likely to depart, manager Jose Mourinho is said to be in the market searching for a key midfielder.
With several names doing the rounds, the latest player to join the list is Bayern Munich’s Arturo Vidal, and United fans have not quite liked the idea of seeing him in the club.
The Chilean was a target for United a couple of years ago, but the former Juventus player snubbed them before making a move to the Bavarian giants.
WATCH: How Coutinho Reacted To ‘Salah, Mane’ Liverpool Song
According to reports, United are seeking the player, and want him to move to Old Trafford. They are also willing to pay a substantial amount in the region of £40m to Bayern, besides a lucrative salary to the player.
Jose could also persuade Alexis Sanchez in talking his national teammate to switch ranks.
RELATED NEWS:
Napoli Midfielder Jorginho Gives Huge Transfer Hint
However, this move has got some United fans upset, as they believe the player is past his prime.
Vidal, who is set to turn 31 soon, has had his best years at Juve and Bayern. Fans, therefore, are quite perplexed on whether the player will be at his best at United. The supporters clearly want younger faces, who could be at the club for many years to come.
Here are some of the fans’ reactions to this report on Twitter:
This short term thing he has going on needs to stop. Yeah Vidal is world class but we don’t need players who only have 3yrs max left of their careers https://t.co/C1qPyoGdoG
— ` (@PogbaFlick) March 28, 2018
Why do we always have to go for players who are past it. Should have gone for Vidal years ago. Should be looking at someone for the long term.
— Shibani (@shibani_mufc) March 28, 2018
Vidal would be a fantastic signing! Just fear at 31 it's another Schweinsteiger. A top player coming to us 4 years too late
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) March 29, 2018
Vidal? To United!? pic.twitter.com/UK68MWyNoF
— Carl Anka Is On Bedrest 
(@Ankaman616) March 28, 2018
The post Man United Fans Are Not Happy With Their Club’s Latest Transfer Target appeared first on BlameFootball.
Bordeaux winger Malcom has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich.
Bordeaux's coveted winger Malcom has told Sky "it would be a dream to play for Bayern Munich."
Malcom, 21, has scored eight goals and added six assists in 27 Ligue 1 appearances this season. He had been previously linked with Arsenal and Tottenham, but Sport Bild reported last month that the Brazilian winger had provisionally agreed a five-year deal with the Bundesliga champions.
Malcom spricht mit uns exklusiv über seine Zukunft! Das ganze Interview gibt's morgen ab 11 Uhr auf @SkySportNewsHD #Malcom #Bordeaux #FCBayern #Arsenal #Tottenham #BVB #skytransfer #skysport #ssnhd pic.twitter.com/SBkY7eIikn— Max Bielefeld (@Sky_MaxB) March 20, 2018
Responding to the speculation after his agent visited the Bavarian capital, Malcom said: "Bayern Munich is one...
Reuters / Stefan Wermuth
When a football fan hears of the term “controversial manager,” the name of Jose Mourinho automatically springs to mind. From winning almost every major title he has contested for to falling out with some of the biggest players in the world – the Portuguese tactician has done it all.
Apart from his antics on the pitch and in the dressing room, however, the man is also famous for being involved in some of the most heated encounters with his fellow rival gaffers, as evident from his latest scathing comments aimed at “worst manager in Premier League history” Frank De Boer.
Similar to this instance involving the Dutchman, Mourinho has time and again shot his foes down using nothing but words in his interviews and press conferences, and here are 5 of the best of them:
5. Claudio Ranieri, 2008
Reuters / Carl Recine
Claudio Ranieri, the man who led Leicester City to a fairytale Premier League title, was actually the one to begin this particular feud. The Italian tactician had slated Mourinho by stating: “Unlike Mourinho, I don’t need to win to be sure about what I am doing. I can take a defeat because last year we lost a few and we always managed to react.”
A few months later, in August 2008, the Portuguese tactician was on the verge of beginning his Inter Milan career with a league game against Sampdoria, and he did so in some style.
Mourinho was asked about the then Juventus manager’s comments during the pre-match press conference, to which he replied: “Ranieri was right, I do need to win things to be sure of what I am doing. That’s why I have won so many trophies in my career.
“By contrast he has the mentality that winning isn’t crucial, and at 70 years old he has won just a Super Cup and other small tournaments. He is too old to change his mentality.”
4. Carlo Ancelotti, 2009
REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
The incident occurred in 2009, but this time, after a match between Inter and Sampdoria in the Serie A. Following the game, Jose Mourinho walked straight down the touchline, for which he was accused of showing “a lack of respect” by Carlo Ancelotti.
Naturally, Jose had a comeback ready, and he blurted it out by taking a dig at the infamous defeat Ancelotti’s AC Milan side suffered at the hands of Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League final.
“Many coaches have won it more than once, but there is only one club that was leading 3-0 in the final and managed to lose it. Sir Alex Ferguson has also won it twice. He is 68 and we’ll see how many I have bagged in 23 years,” taunted Mourinho.
3. Pep Guardiola, 2011
REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino
During Jose Mourinho’s reign at the helm of Real Madrid, he battled with Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola just as fiercely as their teams did in several of those El Clasicos.
Following one such Clasico, wherein the Catalan giants beat the Galacticos 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu to reach the final of the Champions League, Mourinho launched a scathing attack at the Spanish tactician, and the help Barca seemed to have received from the match officials.
Jose’s rant was as follows: “One day, I would like Josep Guardiola to win this competition properly. If I tell UEFA what I really think and feel, my career would end now. Instead I will just ask a question to which I hope one day to get a response: Why?
“Why does a team as good as they are need something [extra] that is so obvious that everyone sees it? I don’t know if it is the UNICEF sponsorship or if it is because they are nice guys. I don’t understand.
“Josep Guardiola is a fantastic coach. But I have won two Champions Leagues and he has won [only] one Champions League – and that is one that would embarrass me.
“I would be ashamed to have won it with the scandal of Stamford Bridge. If he wins it this year, it will be with the scandal of the Bernabeu. Deep down, if they are good people, it cannot taste right for them. I hope one day Guardiola has the chance of winning a brilliant, clean championship with no scandal.”
4. Arsene Wenger, 2014
Reuters / Jason Cairnduff
Mourinho and Wenger have been at war since 2005, and their rivalry has included it all – from calling names like “voyeur” to shoving and pushing each other on the touchline. However, this remark made by Mourinho back in 2014 is arguably the most iconic of the lot.
In February 2014, Chelsea and Arsenal were battling for Premier League glory, with the Blues holding a narrow 1-point lead over their London rivals at the top of the table. This is when Wenger hit out at his rivals, by claiming that they were all playing down the Gunners’ title chances because they “fear to fail”.
In Mourinho’s subsequent press conference, he absolutely blasted the Frenchman, by bringing Arsenal’s dry spell in terms of trophies, which was on since their FA Cup win back in 2005, into full focus.
“If he is right and I am afraid of failure, it is because I didn’t fail many times. Eight years without silverware, that’s failure. He’s a specialist in failure. If I do that in Chelsea, eight years, I leave and don’t come back.”
5. Antonio Conte, 2018
Reuters / John Sibley
Jose Mourinho has been sparring with Antonio Conte ever since the Italian succeeded him at the Chelsea helm. Having already insulted the former Juventus boss by making fun of his hair transplant and literally labelling him as a “clown,” the Portuguese landed the knockout blow in January 2018.
After the prolonged exchange between the two, Mourinho decided to end the verbal feud altogether, but this final remark also consisted of a dig at Conte’s match-fixing suspension in the Serie A.
“What never happened to me – and will never happen – is to be suspended for match-fixing. That never happened to me and will never happen,” the master of mind games concluded.
The post 5 Times Jose Mourinho Verbally Destroyed A Rival Manager appeared first on BlameFootball.
Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Manchester United hosted Spanish side Sevilla in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 encounter at Old Trafford. The match ended 1-2 as Sevilla reached the last eight.
After a 0-0 first leg tie, Wissam Ben Yedder came on as a substitute to break United hearts with a stellar brace, before Romelu Lukaku got one back.
Here’s how Jose Mourinho’s men fared during the encounter against Sevilla:
David de Gea: 5
The first goal that was conceded had De Gea helpless. The second was saved but it still creeped in. Denied Yedder the hat-trick.
Antonio Valencia: 4
After a decent first half, was culpable for Sevilla’s goal after losing possession.
Eric Bailly: 4
Almost gave away a chance to Sevilla after a nothing pass in the first half, but made amends with a fabulous diving tackle to deny Correa going on goal. Did not mark the line for the second.
WATCH: What Alexis Sanchez Did In Champions League
Chris Smalling: 5
Looked composed and made some fine looking interceptions and blocks. Like Bailly, was poor for the second goal.
Ashley Young: 4
Despite doing an able job at left back, his crosses down the flank let him down badly. Was sloppy in the second half.
Nemanja Matic: 5
Had to cope with a lot of defensive duties as well. Looked composed and stable on the ball.
Marouane Fellaini: 4
Went for a shot from a close angle and had it saved easily. Did not use his height to purpose and was substituted ahead of the hour mark.
RELATED:
5 Things Jose Mourinho Is Doing Wrong At Manchester United
Marcus Rashford: 5
Was sloppy with passes and showed flashes of brilliance too with some great runs and a peach of a ball to almost find Lukaku. Made an assist from a corner.
Jesse Lingard: 6
Laid Lukaku for a clear open shot before again almost finding him with a cross. Looked lively on the pitch.
Alexis Sanchez: 3
Not convincing from the former Arsenal man. Lost the ball away on numerous occasions and made some wayward passes.
RELATED NEWS:
This Stat About Jose Mourinho And Rashford Will Shock Everyone!
Romelu Lukaku: 7
The only player that looked like creating something. Held the play well and was denied by some sturdy defending after his opening miss. Scored a brilliant goal from Rashford’s corner.
SUBSTITUTES:
Paul Pogba: 5
Had a shot that whisked past the post, but could not open up Sevilla’s backline.
Anthony Martial: 4
Did not have much say after coming on to the pitch.
Juan Mata: 6
Came as a substitute, and almost found Lukaku on goal, but Sevilla saw the threat off. Played a role for United’s goal.
The post Player Ratings: Manchester United 1-2 Sevilla appeared first on BlameFootball.
One of the Premier League's biggest games takes place at Old Trafford. Manchester United and Liverpool meet again with second place on the line; our bloggers look ahead to the rivalry's latest chapter. 50-50 Challenge »
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon says he has not even given a moment's thought to Wednesday night's Champions League fixture with
Gianluigi Buffon could play on at the highest level for another two years, according to the Juventus goalkeeper's agent Silvano
Jose Mourinho has his eyes set on revamping Man United’s midfield in the summer, and has apparently drawn up a shortlist of six potential targets who he thinks might fit the bill perfectly.
That is according to Daily Mail, who claim that Mourinho is eager to secure the signature of two new midfield players, as he attempts to build a team strong enough to launch a serious title charge next season.
The Portuguese has informed the board of this desires for the summer transfer window, and has already publicly announced in his press conferences that he would not be going in for another striker.
The report adds that United are targeting six players, and will hope to have deals for at least two of those six wrapped up.
WATCH: Man United Agree Three Deals
The list includes the likes of Nice’s Jean Michel Seri and Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic Savic, along with Jorginho, Toni Kroos, Victor Wanyama and Willian.
RELATED NEWS:
How David De Gea’s Future At United Depends On Miralem Pjanic
With Marouane Fellaini set to become a free agent at the end of the season after having failed to agree terms over a new deal, Mourinho is eyeing anyone whom he believes would be up for the job as a world-class replacement.
Michael Carrick is also set to bring his playing career to an end in the summer in favour of joining United’s coaching staff, while Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata are all approaching 30 years of age.
Therefore, it is imperative that the club sign new players to fill a potential void that could open up once Carrick and Fellaini leave.
The post Six Midfielders Mourinho Is Targeting Ahead Of Summer Transfer Window appeared first on BlameFootball.
