Among the quartet of Manchester United players departing as free agents this June is Christian Eriksen, who’ll pull the curtains on his Old Trafford career after three years.
It remains to be seen where the 33-year-old will take his exploits next, having already enjoyed stints in the Premier League, Eredivisie and Serie A, but one thing’s for sure – it won’t be with United.
Fabrizio Romano has already confirmed the club’s stance on Eriksen’s contract and how his future now lies away from M16. Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof will also bid farewell upon the culmination of the campaign, while Harry Maguire had his one-year option activated, and Amad Diallo was awarded a new deal entirely.
“Christian Eriksen will soon start exploring options for his next chapter, as he’s set to leave Man United at the end of the season. His contract won’t be extended, and Eriksen will be a free agent in the summer,” said Romano on X/Twitter this morning.
Eriksen and Co. could kickstart a summer of outgoings at Old Trafford
Eriksen was one of of Erik ten Hag’s first acquisitions at United. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
For the United faithful, it comes as no surprise to see such senior players let go. Eriksen dropped significantly in the pecking order in his sophomore term due to the emergence of academy starlet Kobbie Mainoo. Now, with Manuel Ugarte also in the mix, his opportunities for minutes have reduced even further.
Across 2024/2025 in all competitions, the Danish veteran – hailed as ‘magnificent’ by ex-manager Erik ten Hag – has made 21 appearances, with 14 coming from the off. He’s featured in eight matches since Ruben Amorim took the reins last November and has been granted five starts under the new boss.
Along with Eriksen, you’d expect INEOS chiefs will be doing their utmost to offload his seasoned counterpart Casemiro, who remains the side’s highest earner on an unjustifiable £350,000 per week.
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Confirmed: Romano – ‘Magnificent’ Man Utd star is now planning to start ‘exploring his options’
Feb 18 2025, 19:00
Inside Carrington’s treatment room: Amad facing surgery and Mainoo, Yoro, Ugarte updates
Feb 18 2025, 18:07
Ruben Amorim is a man of the people, but his approach could spell doom at Man Utd
Feb 18 2025, 16:38
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Ruben Amorim has been dealt an unlucky hand on the injury front in recent weeks.
Indeed, the Manchester United boss is currently navigating the absences of a host of integral first-team stars, with Amad Diallo and Lisandro Martinez confirmed to be out for the season with an ankle complaint and anterior cruciate ligament issue, respectively.
Amad was undoubtedly on his way to being named the side’s Player of the Season had his prolific form continued. Crunch goals against Manchester City and Liverpool, as well as a late hat-trick against Southampton, had seen him quickly establish himself as Amorim’s most reliable forward – hence why his layoff came as a gutting blow for supporters.
Per Mail Sport’s United Confidential column, the Ivorian livewire may have to undergo surgery for the ankle ligaments he damaged in training last week. Martinez has already endured a successful operation to correct his ACL tear.
United ready to welcome a handful of returnees before March int’l break
Ugarte missed Sunday’s loss away to Tottenham Hotspur. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Elsewhere, Kobbie Mainoo is hoping to return from a calf strain around the start of March for the team’s last-16 Europa League action, while Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro, who were missing for last Sunday’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, are expected to be fit for the weekend’s early kick-off against Everton.
Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer’s injuries ‘are not thought to be serious’, so they, too, will presumably be back at Amorim’s disposal in the near future.
After United’s final trip to Goodson Park this Saturday, the Reds then face Ipswich Town on Wednesday, February 26, before hosting Fulham for a fifth-round FA Cup tie on Sunday, March 2. They are currently 15th-placed in the table – therefore on course to oversee their worst-ever Premier League finish on record.
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Confirmed: Romano – ‘Magnificent’ Man Utd star is now planning to start ‘exploring his options’
Feb 18 2025, 19:00
Inside Carrington’s treatment room: Amad facing surgery and Mainoo, Yoro, Ugarte updates
Feb 18 2025, 18:07
Ruben Amorim is a man of the people, but his approach could spell doom at Man Utd
Feb 18 2025, 16:38
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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is showing sympathy towards club employees who are losing their jobs, but his statements could prove counterproductive.
With INEOS taking charge of the day-to-day operations, the company has been gradually implementing a series of cut-spending measures. Unfortunately for many of the club’s employees, this meant being discharged from their roles. Around 250 persons have already been dismissed, and another terrifying round of downsizing is expected to occur.
Therefore, kudos to Amorim for at least acknowledging the responsibility laid on his shoulders, insisting this falls on him and his underperforming players.
“Our team for a long period of time is not performing. We are buying players, spending money. And then we don’t have that return. So, it’s on us, these problems,” admitted the 39-year-old in a recent press conference (via The Mirror).
“People are losing their jobs so we have to acknowledge that. The biggest problem is the football – we’re not in the Champions League, so revenues aren’t the same.
“Everybody here knows it’s really hard on people who are losing jobs. The fans are always supporting us, they are amazing and we’re increasing ticket prices. We know that is our fault in the football department. We are responsible for that.
“It’s really important to not ignore that. So the only way to help is to win games, to go to the Champions League. Then you don’t fire a lot of people. So, we need to step up.”
While this stance certainly resonates with the club’s supporters who have already lost their patience with these overpaid athletes, it might not be the wisest choice of words on the manager’s part.
Ruben Amorim should have avoided piling more pressure on crumbling Man Utd stars
(Getty Images)
Those who have watched the United players in action this season would agree most of them have been a nervous wreck, especially when playing at Old Trafford. Perhaps this explains why some of their best displays in recent months have ensued away from home, whether it’s at the Emirates or Anfield Road.
Perhaps Amorim was aiming to give his players a reality check, or maybe give them an added incentive (Let’s save some jobs, team!), but with this already-shaky, crumbling lot of players, this approach could easily backfire.
What these players need at the moment is to find their joy in playing once more and cast away the fears of failure, so entering the pitch while realising that hundreds could lose their jobs if they miss a chance or concede a goal is unlikely to achieve either of these objectives.
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Manchester United’s scouting staff watched on as a longstanding transfer target netted two goals for his side yesterday.
Indeed, Victor Osimhen was back on the scoresheet for Galatasaray after two goalless Super Lig matches, instantly making amends by notching a brace to retain the club’s six-point lead atop the table.
His tally for the season now stands at a notable 19 goals and five assists in 24 appearances across all competitions as he continues taking Turkey by storm following his late summer switch from Napoli on loan.
With no buy option included in Osimhen’s Galatasaray agreement, he will be returning to Italy upon the culmination of 2025/2026 to sit down with club chiefs and evaluate his next steps.
The latest on United’s Osimhen interest
Osimhen has enjoyed a stellar first half of the season in Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)
That’s where United – potentially – come in. TalkSPORT claims the Red Devils are looking to revive their interest in the prolific centre-forward this year, hence sending scouts to see how he’s faring in the flesh.
“Future in the Premier League? Of course, I would like to play [in] it one day. For now, I have other plans for my career. When the time comes, you will know everything,” said Osimhen in 2024.
A notorious fallout with Antonio Conte last August resulted in the striker being banished from the first-team and stripped of his shirt number, with Romelu Lukaku now the first-choice No.9 to provide for the Serie A leaders up front.
Given they’re not particularly struggling with his absence, Napoli will presumably look to cash in on Osimhen, whose contract runs until June 2026, when the window re-opens.
Meanwhile, United have seemingly conceded defeat that Rasmus Hojlund is not at the calibre required to lead the line in the Premier League at this stage of his career, so reinforcements will be sought (again) this summer.
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Confirmed: Romano – ‘Magnificent’ Man Utd star is now planning to start ‘exploring his options’
Feb 18 2025, 19:00
Inside Carrington’s treatment room: Amad facing surgery and Mainoo, Yoro, Ugarte updates
Feb 18 2025, 18:07
Ruben Amorim is a man of the people, but his approach could spell doom at Man Utd
Feb 18 2025, 16:38
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It’s safe to say no Manchester United player is covering themself in glory this campaign.
Prior to his setback, Amad Diallo was on course to be considered the side’s Player of the Season due to his emphatic performances when finally granted a starting role by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ruben Amorim.
Yet, the Ivorian livewire has sustained a gutting injury layoff, which is now expected to keep him sidelined until the summer. Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are the only out-and-out forwards left at Amorim’s disposal after Antony, Marcus Rashford and Ethan Wheatley were shipped out on loan in the winter window.
Amidst such a turbulent run of results, one Red has been singled out by Martin Keown for his lacklustre showings: Matthijs de Ligt.
The £43 million signing has struggled to adapt to the boss’ newly implemented 3-4-3 system – as has each centre-half. United’s backline has kept nine clean sheets in the 32 matches De Ligt has featured in, while the side has also conceded 51 goals in total across all competitions.
Keown lays into struggling De Ligt
De Ligt is now a mainstay at the back for Amorim. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
De Ligt became the first-ever defender to win the lucrative Golden Boy award in 2018. At the time, the then-19-year-old was one of the most coveted youngsters in world football – even more so after he captained Ajax to the Champions League semi-finals and a domestic double in 2018/2019.
His stocks have undoubtedly decreased since then, however – even despite representing European giants such as Juventus and Bayern Munich following his Amsterdam exit in 2019.
“I look at De Ligt [and] the amount of money they spent on him, by the way, is almost obscene for a centre-half,” argued Keown on talkSPORT.
“He’s playing like a robot. There are times he can clear the ball, and he puts it out for a corner. He just creates issues for the team.
“Ruben Amorim needs to empower him with confidence. I’m not seeing any of that with him.”
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Confirmed: Romano – ‘Magnificent’ Man Utd star is now planning to start ‘exploring his options’
Feb 18 2025, 19:00
Inside Carrington’s treatment room: Amad facing surgery and Mainoo, Yoro, Ugarte updates
Feb 18 2025, 18:07
Ruben Amorim is a man of the people, but his approach could spell doom at Man Utd
Feb 18 2025, 16:38
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Manchester United might be in a dire state at the moment, but things would have been considerably worse if it wasn’t for Bruno Fernandes.
The Red Devils currently find themselves in a miserable 15th place in the Premier League standings following their defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Tottenham on Sunday.
Rio Ferdinand even fears the club is facing the threat of relegation despite a 12-point cushion separating them from the drop zone, as he doesn’t see the team collecting too many positive results in the final 13 rounds of the campaign.
But while the club continues to sink to historic new lows under the guidance of Ruben Amorim, the Portuguese has been duly reminded that his position in the table would be been more agonizing if he didn’t have his compatriot Bruno Fernandes by his side.
Bruno Fernandes elemental for Man Utd
Although not everyone agrees on the 30-year-old leadership skills, his technical attributes are out of the question, and Statman Dave emphasises how elemental the club captain is in both phases of the game.
“There is precisely one player across Europe’s top five leagues who has created 50+ chances and has made 50+ tackles this season: Bruno Fernandes,” posted the pundit on his X account, before wondering, “Where on earth would #MUFC be without him?”
The former Udinese, Sampdoria and Sporting CP star has thus far contributed with nine goals and 12 assists in his 37 appearances across all competitions this season. While he’s originally an attacking midfielder, he’s been deployed as part of the double-pivot on most occasions in recent months, partially due to the lack of options in the middle of the park.
With Kobbie Mainoo ruled out of action for six weeks, and Casemiro and Christian Erisken’s continuous struggles, we can expect Amorim to field Bruno in this deeper role for the foreseeable future.
The post “Where on earth would they be without him” – Man Utd are only surviving thanks to this star appeared first on Stretty News.
Ruben Amorim is certain Joshua Zirkzee has finally found his niche as a support striker based on his most recent display.
The Red Devils suffered yet another loss this weekend, bested by Tottenham Hotspur who only needed a solitary strike from James Maddison to seal the three points and subsequently overtake their fellow strugglers in the Premier League standings.
But while the majority of the Reds were given some stick, some fans and observers spared Zirkzee, as they felt he was one of the few bright spots for United in an otherwise miserable display in North London.
The Dutchman is originally a striker and has been deployed as a centre-forward on most occasions. But this time, he was fielded on the right wing with a license to roam around the pitch following Amad Diallo’s season-ending injury.
After the contest, the Portuguese coach seemed pleased with his choice, as he believes the former Bologna man could be more suited to his new role.
“I think Josh is not a clear nine, he played more as a 10.” noted the 39-year-old in his post-match interview.
“He’s stronger physically, he’s working really hard and he played in a better position for him and he’s improving. He’s winning more duels, he’s even faster, and you feel it in the game.”
Joshua Zirkzee set to maintain Number 10 role
(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Amorim certainly has a point in his assessment, as this new free role perfectly suits the characteristics of the Manchester United summer signing. This is also quite a turnaround for a player who was unceremoniously cheered off the pitch by his own supporters a couple of months back.
Nevertheless, Zirkzee’s switch to a deeper role raises a new concern for the club, as the miss-firing Rasmus Hojlund has now become the one and only choice for the Number 9 role.
Hence, the Red Devils supporters will likely have to see more of the 22-year-old from now until the end of the season, unless Amorim decides to give the nod to one of the academy products, potentially the vastly-promising Chido Obi who earned a brief cameo on Sunday.
The post “You feel it” – Amorim believes he finally found perfect role for Man Utd star – But new issue arises appeared first on Stretty News.
Instances where Manchester United and Liverpool managers laud players of the opposing clubs are few and far between, but Arne Slot has found a way to bypass the rivalry when singling out one longstanding Red for praise.
The Liverpool boss is preparing for a crunch midweek clash against a European-chasing Aston Villa side tomorrow evening. Should they win, they’d go 10 points clear atop the table before Arsenal take on West Ham at the weekend.
Wednesday’s contest also poses another chance for Marcus Rashford to make his full debut for the Villans, having featured off the bench against both Tottenham Hotspur (FA Cup) and Ipswich Town in matchweek 25.
He impressed in both outings – initially enjoying a lively maiden cameo in the closing stages of Villa’s cup triumph before creating the equaliser against Ipswich; he fired a superb free-kick off of the crossbar, which was subsequently finished by the pouncing Ollie Watkins.
Slot heaps praise on Rashford ahead of Villa vs Liverpool clash
Rashford made his debut during Villa’s 2-1 win over Spurs on February 9. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Now, Rashford will be hoping to further showcase his abilities from the off, and while he’s no longer donning the red of his boyhood club, the desire to perform against former arch-rivals Liverpool will be as fiery as ever.
Slot is well aware of the attacking threat Rashford brings to the game, too. He said of the forward in his pre-match press conference: “Of course, I knew Marcus Rashford from following the Premier League, but the first time I faced him in real life was in the USA [pre-season] tour, and I was really impressed at how fast he is.
“He [Rashford] has a nice height, and he’s comfortable on the ball. I think he’s a very good player. I hope that, for him, he is going to that Villa but not [on Wednesday]! I will be completely surprised if a player of that quality doesn’t show that in the upcoming months.”
Arne Slot on Marcus Rashford: "I was really impressed by how fast he is, he has a nice height. I will be completely surprised if a player of that quality will not show this in the upcoming months. He's a very good player." pic.twitter.com/n3A7pVkYbU
— BeanymanSports (@BeanymanSports) February 18, 2025
Footage courtesy of Beanyman Sports.
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Confirmed: Romano – ‘Magnificent’ Man Utd star is now planning to start ‘exploring his options’
Feb 18 2025, 19:00
Inside Carrington’s treatment room: Amad facing surgery and Mainoo, Yoro, Ugarte updates
Feb 18 2025, 18:07
Ruben Amorim is a man of the people, but his approach could spell doom at Man Utd
Feb 18 2025, 16:38
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Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes the Red Devils are well and truly facing a relegation threat at the end of the season.
Ruben Amorim’s men continue to sink deeper in the Premier League table. In their most recent act, they fell short against fellow strugglers Tottenham Hotspur in North London. This result saw Spurs overtake United in the standings, leaving them in an incredulous 15th place.
The Reds currently have 29 points in the bag, with a 12-point cushion separating them from Ipswich Town, the club that currently resides in the 18th spot.
Nevertheless, Ferdinand insists this gap might not be enough to waive relegation fears. The legendary defender believes his former club will struggle to pick up the points in their remaining fixtures, as he only sees them earn a result against 19th-place Leicester City.
“Manchester United are absolutely struggling at the moment. Only Wolves and West Ham separate my club from the relegation places. Do you realise we’re that close?” observed the 46-year-old on his YouTube channel.
“Someone said we need 11 points just to stay up and I’m starting to think like that. I’ve got the fixture list here and I’m looking at the game and I’m being serious here. Go through it. The only place I potentially see us getting anything – and I’m not even saying a win – is Leicester. We’ve slapped up Leicester a couple of times already this season so we’ve got their number.
“Normally you look at the fixture list and you can see where the points are coming from. We just looked at the fixture list and I’m not seeing outright wins, I’m not looking at it thinking there’s three points here and there’s three points there. That’s the problem.”
Rio Ferdinand believes Man Utd are facing relegation threat
(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Nevertheless, it should be noted that while a 40-point tally is considered the magical number to avoid relegation, many have survived the drop with significantly less, including Nottingham Forest who only garnered 32 points last term.
In fact, the stats suggest that 35 points should be sufficient on most occasions, and this will likely be the case once again, at least based on the woeful campaigns of the likes of Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton, a similar tally could prove sufficient for the Red Devils, albeit shameful.
The post “We’re that close” – Rio Ferdinand makes bold Man Utd relegation claim but stats prove him wrong appeared first on Stretty News.
Manchester United would be able to sign Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen for £50 million thanks to a release clause inserted in his contract.
The Cherries arguably pulled off one of the best coups of last summer’s transfer market when they signed the talented young defender from Juventus for just £13 million.
After a relatively slow start to the campaign, the Dutch Spaniard slowly but surely emerged as a pillar at the back for the Champions League hopefuls. He even scored the opener against the Red Devils at Old Trafford in a fixture that his team went on to win by three unanswered goals.
The 19-year-old central defender has been putting up eye-opening displays for Andoni Iraola’s side, thus earning himself a host of suitors in the process, including Man United and Real Madrid who could be set to duel to replicate their Leny Yoro tug-of-war from last summer.
Many feel the teenager would be ideal for Ruben Amorim’s system as he’s capable of playing in a three-man backline. His imposing statute combined with his technical attributes render him a natural fit for one of the slots at the back.
Manchester United can pounce on £50m release clause to secure Dean Huijsen
(Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
But while he certainly won’t come cheap, Fabrizio Romano reveals that the Red Devils would be able to lure him thanks to a buy-out clause worth £50 million.
“Dean Huijsen’s contract at Bournemouth includes £50m release clause,” posted the famous transfer expert on his X account.
“The clause is 100% confirmed as revealed in January. It will be valid from the summer of 2025. The 19-year-old defender attracting top clubs interest after excellent performances at Bournemouth this season.”
Huijsen started his career at Malaga before being poached by Juventus in 2021. Last season, he spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Roma after being personally requested by Jose Mourinho who is an avid admirer of his. Unfortunately for the Special One, he was sacked shortly following the player’s arrival, but the latter still found space under Daniele De Rossi.
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Gary Neville believes only one current Manchester United star is good enough to make the cut in Tottenham Hotspur’s starting lineup.
A depleted United squad travelled to North London on the weekend and returned empty-handed after suffering defeat at the hands of Ange Postecoglou’s men thanks to James Maddison’s solitary strike. This defeat saw the Red Devils plummet to a horrifying 15th place in the table.
Nevertheless, Neville is hardly surprised by the outcome, as he believes Spurs have the superior squad. The legendary Man Utd captain thus delivered a brutal assessment, suggesting that Bruno Fernandes is the only current Red who is good enough to break into Tottenham’s first XI.
“You’d want to have Bruno in there, Maybe Amad, but to be honest with you, you’ve got [Dejan] Kulusevski or Amad, I’ll be honest with you, I think I’d be going with Kulusevski,” said Neville during his appearance on Sky Sports.
“Every single Tottenham player, probably barring one, if they were all available, is better than every single Manchester United player. And that’s not being emotional, it’s not ranting anymore, we’ve gone past that now.
“It’s just really sad that’s where Manchester United are currently at. But these players, is that the level that you thought those players were at, the Manchester United squad players were at, when they were signed?
“No. It’s what happens to them when they get here. And we’ve seen players the other way, when they’ve left, actually start to thrive again.”
Neville believes the circumstances on and off the pitch aren’t helping the players thrive at the moment.
“What’s happening in the club at this moment in time, there’s a lot of redundancies off the pitch, there is a lot of uncertainty on the pitch.
“They’ve had a manager sacked this season already, it’s not easy to perform in that environment. It’s been the same for 10 years and it’s still not changing at this moment in time.
“Hopefully in the next two or three years, Ruben Amorim is given the time to be able to build a successful team and squad. But every single Tottenham player gets into their first XI.”
Gary Neville lays ways to Man Utd squad, insists Spurs are utterly superior
Once again, the 50-year-old noted that several players are finding it hard to adapt to Amorim’s 3-4-3 system which requires ‘specialists’.
“It’s a peculiar system, 3-4-3. It’s a system where you’ve got to find two midfield players who are good enough to play with each other and cover a lot of ground.
“You’ve got to find three centre-backs – with two of the outside ones capable of playing out wide in the full-back areas, when the wing-backs go forward.
“So you’re asking for specialists throughout the team. It’s not like other systems which are a little bit more forgiving.”
Therefore, Neville believes the Portuguese manager will need at least two or three transfer sessions to build a squad capable of implementing his style of play.
“It’s going to be a minimum of two to three transfer windows because of the investment that’s been made and we know clubs on the edge of PSR.
“They’ve lost £300m in the last three years, so there’s a real struggle and a real fight to spend the money they need in the transfer market as well. There’s been a lot of waste in the last few years”.
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Manchester United might have to endure Casemiro for another 18 months as the midfield reveals his desire to stay at the club.
The Red Devils shell out a whopping £60 million to sign the Brazilian in the summer of 2022. At the time, he was considered among the best holding midfielders in the game, especially after winning every possible major during his illustrious stint at Real Madrid, including five Champions League trophies.
But following an encouraging start to his Old Trafford stint, the 32-year-old has been rapidly fading since 2023, and it is becoming increasingly obvious that his best days on the pitch are long behind him. Nowadays, Casemiro has been struggling to cope with the pacey nature of the Premier League as illustrated by his abysmal showings against Liverpool and Newcastle earlier this season.
But amidst a ravaging injury crisis, Ruben Amorim was forced to rely on the veteran midfielder once more, giving him the nod against Tottenham.
Man United in tough spot as Casemiro doesn’t want to leave
(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
The Brazil international offered little to tease a potential revival, as the Red Devils suffered yet another loss that left them in a shocking 15th place in the table. But despite the team’s incredulous status, the experienced midfielder insists he’s not planning to go anywhere, much to the dismay of most Man Utd supporters.
“I have a year-and-a-half left on my contract and I’d like to fulfil it here in Manchester. I’m comfortable here and so is my family. They’ve adapted, we speak English,” he told AS.
“I’m very grateful to the Old Trafford fans and to the club. I’m happy at club level. Happy in the dugout? Of course not. That’s another thing.”
This is certainly not what the club’s chiefs wanted to hear, as they remain eager to offload the Brazilian who’s considered the biggest liability on the wage bill. After all, Casemiro boasts the largest salary in the squad (£350,000 per week).
United already tried to find him a new club in January, but he couldn’t reach an agreement over personal terms with any of his reported suitors, which includes Roma and Fenerbahce.
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Manchester United have endless problems these days, and the leadership skills of Bruno Fernandes could be one of those.
The 30-year-old has been serving the club since 2020 and was named club captain in the summer of 2023 by Erik ten Hag as a successor for Harry Maguire who was enduring a career low at the time.
But while the fans and pundits mostly agree over the Portuguese’s technical skills, as he remains one of the most skilful players at the club, his suitability for the skipper’s role remains a topic of great debate.
Based on his on-field antics, Fernandes isn’t exactly the most charismatic personality or the most inspiring leader, and his demeanour during his side’s defeat at Tottenham will hardly win him any favours with the naysayers.
Manchester Evening News journalist Tyrone Marshall shared an episode he noticed between Bruno and his teammate Matthijs de Ligt which ensued straight Spurs’ winner.
Bruno Fernandes blamed Matthijs de Ligt for Spurs winner
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Lucas Bergvall’s low drive produced a save from Andre Onana, but the Man Utd goalkeeper couldn’t parry the ball away, at least not enough to prevent a damning rebound from James Maddison. So while most fingers were pointed towards the Cameroonian custodian, Fernandes headed straight towards De Ligt to give him an earful.
Perhaps some would feel the captain has a point since the Dutch defender was slow to react to the play, but many observers would agree that his antics are hardly encouraging for his teammates, especially at a time of bleak crisis.
Nevertheless, those hoping to see the armband changing hands in the near future will likely be disappointed, as a recent report named Fernandes as one of only two players who share a close bond with Ruben Amorim, with the other unsurprisingly being fellow Portuguese player Diogo Dalot.
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After suffering a 12th Premier League defeat of the campaign and subsequently finishing matchweek 25 in 15th place, fingers are being pointed at Ruben Amorim and his men.
Manchester United were dealt yet another substantial blow at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur when sustaining a 1-0 defeat in North London. As a result, Spurs claimed their first-ever Premier League double over the Red Devils, having also knocked them out of the Carabao Cup in December.
No player covered themself in glory throughout the contest – and they certainly had the chance to, as well, as Amorim’s only change of the night came on the cusp of injury time when he withdrew Casemiro in place of debutant Chido Obi, albeit much later than fans had hoped to see the young starlet.
Casemiro, in particular, struggled to match his opposing counterparts throughout his return to the fold; the absences of Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer meant the seasoned veteran was restored to the starting XI in the league for the first time since December 30.
The Brazilian lost possession 12 times, made two fouls and was dribbled past four times, as per Sofascore. He often looked in complete despair when trying to go stride-for-stride with Tottenham’s attacks.
Micah Richards feels sorry for struggling Casemiro
Casemiro has been utilised sparingly under Amorim, (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Yet, Micah Richards believes the blame shouldn’t all fall on Casemiro, as his teammates have a lot to answer for as well.
“A lot of people are quick to call Casemiro, but he needs help in there [United’s midfield],” said the ex-Manchester City defender on Match of The Day 2. “His legs are not what they were, but he’s still got quality on the ball.
“When you play three at the back, the whole point is [that] one of your centre-backs should engage. They don’t engage, then you had Spurs players in the pockets, and you had three centre-halves doing nothing. Three centre-halves marking one player.”
“To top it off, look at the distance between Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro,’ he added. “They just didn’t get it right. Did he [Amorim] ask Bruno to play to the right?
“You can get your structure in there, and if Fernandes is gonna jump, you need one of your centre-halves to jump as well. You’ve all got to work together. Instead, they were working as individuals.”
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Manchester United have reportedly made their first move in pursuit of longstanding forward target Victor Osimhen, who’s widely expected to leave Napoli permanently this summer.
The forward will return to Italy upon the culmination of the campaign after spending 2024/2025 on loan with Galatasaray, where his prolific form has seamlessly transitioned to his new surroundings and seen him net 17 goals in 23 matches – taking his career tally up to a remarkable 131 goals at 26 years old.
Osimhen’s notorious fallout with Antonio Conte last summer resulted in the player being stripped of his number and shipped out for the term, with ex-Red Romelu Lukaku fulfilling the Serie A leaders’ No.9 spot each week.
In December 2023, the Nigerian put pen to paper on a contract extension to keep him tied to the club until 2026, during which a release clause – worth an initial £100 million – was also included in the terms. The fee has since dropped to £65m, making it no surprise he’s garnering interest from top European sides, including United and Paris Sant-Germain.
The latest on United’s Osimhen pursuit
Osimhen has enjoyed a stellar first half of the season in Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)
Now, the Reds’ revived interest in Osimhen has been detailed by trusted Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu via Sports Digitate.
“Victor Osimhen is about to sign a deal with a world-famous management company,” said the reporter in a newly released YouTube video. “In fact, a Real Madrid player is mediating these talks. What does this mean? The possibility of signing with Galatasaray in June has decreased a lot.
“PSG and Manchester United made verbal offers to the player regarding salary and contract period. Because both clubs agreed to give Napoli the release clause, it is very difficult for Galatasaray to compete with these two clubs. He is most likely leaving at the end of the season.”
At present, it’s safe to say PSG poses as the more lucrative option for Osimhen; he’d be playing Champions League football and entering each French competition as the major favourite to claim silverware.
However, their host of attacking options means he’s likely to be utilised in a rotational role, whereas, at Old Trafford, he’ll slot in as the first-choice centre-forward to finally put a definitive end to the side’s goalscoring woes.
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Confirmed: Romano – ‘Magnificent’ Man Utd star is now planning to start ‘exploring his options’
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Enduring nothing short of relegation form since succeeding Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, Ruben Amorim has a mammoth task on his hands to try and oversee a respectable end to the season at Old Trafford.
Last night’s narrow defeat to Tottenham Hotspur saw the Reds drop down to 15th-placed in the table – eight points adrift of Brighton and Hove Albion, who currently occupy 10th.
As such, the prospect of sealing a late top-half finish is now slipping further out of Amorim’s grasp with every passing game, and with fixtures against an in-form Everton and title-chasing Arsenal on the horizon, you can only question how the rankings will look come the March international break.
When reacting to Sunday’s affairs in North London, Michael Owen cherry-picked three players for criticism after their shoddy attempts to keep Spurs at bay, with James Maddison breaking the deadlock inside just 15 minutes.
Amorim has three players getting away with murder at the back
Next up for Amorim is United’s final trip to Goodison Park to face Everton. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
“What frustrates me more than anything about the Manchester United team is that those centre-halves (Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui) do nothing during the game,” said the ex-Red on Premier League Productions, as cited by the Metro.
“They hardly pick up any players at all, yet when you ask them to do one job – stop the guy who’s shooting – they’re sleeping at that as well.
“We’ve seen so many clips in the first half when there’s nobody to pick up. There are three of them literally doing nothing. They won’t push in, they won’t go and mark anybody, they just sit there.”
“It’s the easiest position on the pitch in theory because they’re asked to do nothing,” Owen continued. “The manager plays so many defenders, and none of them are picking anyone up.
“The midfield for Manchester United has to be the hardest place to play in the Premier League, and the defence should be the easiest because they literally mark no one, ever. They sit there doing nothing, and everyone else is outnumbered all over the pitch.”
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Confirmed: Romano – ‘Magnificent’ Man Utd star is now planning to start ‘exploring his options’
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Ruben Amorim sustained his eighth Premier League loss as Manchester United’s head coach last night, with the side consequently dropping to 15th in the table.
To say it’s going from bad to worse for everyone involved at the club would be something of an understatement. United’s positioning in the league is lowering with every matchweek, while their injury list is increasing with each training session.
Prior to the game against Tottenham Hotspur, it was announced that Amad Diallo was expected to miss the remainder of the campaign due to a knee issue sustained at Carrington last week. Lisandro Martinez’s season is already confirmed to be over, while Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer all suffered setbacks that ruled them out of the clash.
As a result, Amorim named a bench with eight teenagers who were yet to make their senior debuts – though only prolific frontman Chido Obi was granted a brief cameo in injury time.
Amorim awaiting first David Moyes meeting this weekend
United have a six-day gap to prepare for Saturday’s clash vs the Toffees. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Next up for the Reds is a trip to Goodison Park to face former manager David Moyes, who’s completely revitalised a once-despairing Everton side following the departure of Sean Dyche.
Moyes has won four, drawn one and lost one since re-taking the reins on Merseyside, and, as such, the United faithful perhaps know better than to approach Saturday’s early kick-off with anything but cautiousness.
Former Red Michael Owen issued a concerning verdict after Sunday’s affairs in North London, hinting that Amorim may not be the right person to inspire the club’s much-needed comeback after all.
“It was a game lacking quality, with two average teams, but it’s a huge result for Spurs,” said Owen on Premier League Productions.
“It’s not getting any better for Manchester United, and they don’t look like a team at all. I like the manager, I like what he says and his demeanour, but I don’t like his team, and it’s hard to see it getting any better.”
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Confirmed: Romano – ‘Magnificent’ Man Utd star is now planning to start ‘exploring his options’
Feb 18 2025, 19:00
Inside Carrington’s treatment room: Amad facing surgery and Mainoo, Yoro, Ugarte updates
Feb 18 2025, 18:07
Ruben Amorim is a man of the people, but his approach could spell doom at Man Utd
Feb 18 2025, 16:38
The post Ballon d’Or winner makes damning sack verdict on Ruben Amorim, he can’t ‘see it getting better’ appeared first on Stretty News.
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp was impressed by Joshua Zirkzee despite Manchester United’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Amidst the lack of options, the Dutch striker was asked to play in a slightly deeper role, filling in for Amad Diallo who could be out for the remainder of the season with an injury, while Rasmus Hojlund was introduced as a centre-forward.
Although he wasted a glorious chance to equalise the score in the second half when he couldn’t direct his header towards goal, it was still a vibrant display from Zirkzee who did well in the build-up and managed to dribble past his marker on several occasions.
The Red Devils ended up suffering a 0-1 defeat in North London, but Redknapp identified the former Bayern Munich and Bologna man as the one player who brought a spark to the team.
“Zirkzee did alright today, he was a bit of a bright spark, but there weren’t too many others. A disappointing result and performance for them – a difficult watch if you’re a United fan.” said the 51-year-old during his appearance on Sky Sports.
Jamie Redknapp liked what he saw from Joshua Zirkzee
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
The Liverpool legend feels it’s going to take the Red Devils substantial time to return to the right path based on the current evidence due to the noticeable shortage in quality.
“If you’re having a bad run and there’s a team you want to come to town, it’s Manchester United. They’re a team that’s struggling, devoid of confidence, devoid of quality with loads of injuries.
“Casemiro was the only sort of defensive midfield player in there. They’re a team that’s really struggling now and there’s going to be a lot of pain with this team.
“They’re so short of top players. It’s going to take a lot of time and these performances are going to be coming thick and fast. They’re going to need time and patience, the problem is when you’re Manchester United, you don’t want to hear that. You want to be winning. You’re used to challenging.”
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