Tag Archives: Manchester United

Alexis Sanchez Reaches Agreement with French Side Marseille  

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Alexis Sanchez is switching leagues…

The 33-year-old Chilean soccer player has reportedly reached an agreement with French side Marseille after Internazionale  ended his contract by mutual agreement, the Serie A club said.

Alexis SanchezSanchez is joining the club on a free transfer.

Sanchez made 109 appearances and scored 20 goals in all competitions after joining Inter from Manchester United in 2019 but rarely appeared in the starting lineup last season.

“The club would like to wholeheartedly thank Alexis for these last three seasons, in which the Nerazzurri won three major honors, and we wish him all the best for his future career,” Inter said in a statement.

Former Barcelona and Arsenal forward Sanchez, who has 146 caps and 48 goals for Chile, won the 2020-2021 Scudetto, Inter‘s first league title in 11 years, and last season helped the club win the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup.

Manchester United Signs Lisandro Martinez from Eredivisie Champions Ajax

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Lisandro Martinez is putting on a (Man) United front…

Manchester United has agreed on a deal to sign the 24-year-old Argentine professional footballer from Eredivisie champions Ajax, the club announced.

Lisandro Martinez Martinez will sign a five-year contract at Old Trafford to reunite with former manager Erik ten Hag in a deal worth an initial €57.37 million, which could rise to €67.37m through variables. The move is subject to a medical.

A statement from United said: “Manchester United is delighted to announce the club has reached agreement with Ajax for the transfer of Argentine international defender Lisandro Martinez, subject to medical, to player terms being finalised, and to UK visa requirements.”

ESPN previously reported the 24-year-old was keen on a move to the Premier League with United his favored destination.

Sources told ESPN that a breakthrough had been made and that Martinez rejected interest from Arsenal.

Martinez can play in defense and in midfield, which are both areas of the squad that Ten Hag is keen to strengthen.

Martinez made 118 appearances for the Dutch champions after joining the club in 2019.

Liverpool Agrees on Transfer Deal for Benfica Forward Darwin Nunez 

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It’s official… Darwin Nunez is Liverpool bound.

Liverpool has agreed on a deal to sign the 22-year-old Uruguayan professional footballer and Benfica forward in a transfer worth up to €100 million, according to ESPN.

Darwin NunezIt was previously reported that both clubs were in advanced talks over a deal, and sources confirmed that Liverpool is set to break the team’s transfer record to sign the striker.

Nunez will sign a five-year contract at Anfield, according to sources, and he has left the Uruguay national team to travel to England to undergo a medical.

Sources have told ESPN that an agreement was reached on Saturday between the two clubs worth €75 million, plus €25 million in add-ons.

Liverpool have seen off competition from Manchester United and Arsenal to land the striker.

According to ESPN sources, Nunez is keen for regular Champions League football, which put Liverpool ahead in the race to sign him.

Nunez, who joined Benfica in September 2020, was the top scorer in Portugal’s top flight last season and added some stellar performances in the Champions League, ending the year with 34 goals in 41 appearances.

The striker began his career at Uruguayan side Penarol before moving to Spanish second-division side Almeria in 2019, where he scored 16 goals in 32 games. Almeria will receive 20% of the profit from Nunez’s transfer.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp praised Nunez after his team’s Champions League quarterfinal clash against Benfica in April, saying that Nunez is “really good and has a big career ahead of him.”

Liverpool FC In Talks to Sign Darwin Nunez from SL Benfica

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Darwin Nunez could be heading to England soon…

Liverpool F.C. is in talks with S.L. Benfica  over the signing of the 22-year-old Uruguayan professional footballer, according to ESPN.

Darwin NunezNunez is set to break Liverpool’s transfer record, with the deal expected to be worth around €80 million plus €20m in add-ons. The agreement between the clubs has yet to be completed, but talks are progressing well.

Benfica were initially only willing to negotiate Nunez’s departure for around €130m.

The Uruguay forward, who joined Benfica from Almeria in the summer of 2020 for €24m, is under contract through June 2025 and has a €150m release clause.

Almeria will receive 20% of any profit from Nunez’s transfer.

Nunez attracted the attention of top European clubs after an impressive 2021-22 season in which he scored 34 goals in 41 appearances for Benfica.

Nunez was the top scorer in Portugal’s top flight this past season with 26 goals.

Manchester United and Arsenal had also shown an interest in Nunez, while Premier League champions Manchester City considered signing him if they failed to acquire Erling Haaland.

City signed Haaland from Borussia Dortmund last month for an undisclosed fee.

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp had praised Nunez after his team’s Champions League quarterfinal encounter against Benfica, saying that Nunez is “really good and has a big career ahead of him.”

Nunez, who is on international duty with Uruguay, has remained tight-lipped about his future, but chose his strike at Liverpool on April 13 as the best goal of his career.

Ronald Araujo Agrees to New Contract with FC Barcelona Until 2026

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Ronald Araujo is a new Billion Dollar Man…

The 23-year-old Uruguayan professional footballer and FC Barcelona defender has agreed a new contract until 2026 with his release clause rising to €1 billion ($1.16bn), the club have announced.

Ronald Araujo Araujo’s previous deal was due to expire in 2023 and ESPN revealed last month that Manchester United and Liverpool were both keen on signing the Uruguay international.

The money on the table from the Premier League sides was higher than Barca‘s offer, but sources have told ESPN that the player’s priority was always to remain at Camp Nou.

Araujo has been on the same terms at Barca since 2018, when he first joined the club’s B team from Boston River in his homeland in a deal worth an initial €2 million.

That made him one of the lowest-paid players in the first team going into the current campaign, with his agents keen for his salary to rise according to his new status at the club.

Under coach Xavi Hernandez he has emerged as a key player this season, making 39 appearances in all competitions and scoring four goals, including one in the 4-0 Clasico win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu Stadium.

With Barca having to adhere to LaLiga‘s strict financial rules due to their financial problems, they have played hardball during negotiations with Araujo’s camp.

However, sources told ESPN earlier this month there had finally been a breakthrough in talks, with Barca upping their initial offer and Araujo willing to meet the club in the middle despite the offers from English clubs.

Ronald Araujo Nearing Long-Term Deal with FC Barcelona

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Ronald Araujo is thisclose to a new deal…

The 23-year-old Uruguayan professional soccer player and Barcelona defender is close to agreement on a new long-term contract with the Spanish club, according to his agent.

Ronald AraujoAraujo’s current deal is set to expire in 2023; and Manchester United and Liverpool were reportedly keen on signing the Uruguay international.

Barca’s previous offer to Araujo was worth around €5 million annually, with sources saying the money on offer from the Premier League sides was worth almost double.

But, Barca has now upped its proposal, with the player’s agent, Flavio Perchman, revealing an agreement is close after a meeting with sporting director Mateu Alemany.

“It’s close,” Perchman told reporters. “There is a desire on both sides [to finalize the renewal] and Ronald wants to stay at the club.”

Araujo has been on the same deal at Barca since 2018, when he first joined the “B team” from Boston River in his homeland in a deal worth an initial €2m.

That made him one of the lowest-paid players in the first team going into the current campaign, with his agents keen for his salary to rise along with his status at the club.

Under coach Xavi Hernandez he has emerged as a key player this season, making 34 appearances in all competitions and scoring four goals, including in the recent 4-0 Clasico win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

With Barca having to adhere to LaLiga‘s strict financial rules due to their financial problems, though, they’ve played hardball during negotiations with Araujo’s camp.

At the same time the team has been holding talks with Araujo, Barcelona has also been negotiating the signing of Andreas Christensen and even met with Antonio Rudiger‘s agent last week.

Christensen will join the club from Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer, but a move for Rudiger is less likely.

The public nature of those negotiations forced the club to up their offer to Araujo, who was willing to accept a lower deal to remain with the LaLiga side.

Araujo, Gerard Pique and Eric Garcia have been Barca’s first choice centerbacks under Xavi, with Christensen set to compete with them from the summer onwards.

Luis Diaz Agrees to Contract with Liverpool

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Luis Diaz is switching sides…

Liverpool has completed the signing of the 25-year-old Colombian professional footballer from Porto despite strong interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Luis Diaz

The deal is subject to Diaz agreeing a work permit.

Diaz was Jurgen Klopp‘s primary target for the summer transfer window, according to ESPN sources, but the club brought forward their plans to sign the winger when Spurs opened talks with Porto last week. Sources added that Diaz has signed a contract until 2027 at the club.

“I could not be happier that we’ve been able to get this deal done and bring Luis to Liverpool,” Klopp said.

“I have always been a believer in only signing players in January if you would want to sign them in the summer, and that’s very much the case with Luis.

“He is an outstanding player and someone we’ve been tracking for a very long time.

“This team deserved to add quality and when we played against Luis earlier this season, we saw what a danger he is, how fast he is and how his mentality was to help his team.

“We know Porto is an outstanding club who nurture players in the best possible way and provide a brilliant football education. They are a class club and, I have to say, have been tough negotiators.”

Liverpool faced a host of logistical issues in signing Diaz, who is in South America with the Colombia squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Argentina, but were able to complete the deal ahead of the by the 11:00 pm GMT (5:00 pm ET) transfer deadline on Monday.

Diaz requires a work permit to enter the United Kingdom and therefore will unlikely arrive in Liverpool until the end of next week at the earliest.

“We also have to say thank you to the Colombia FA for being so helpful in allowing us the time to complete this deal,” Klopp added. “They have a big game on Tuesday and I know as well as anyone how important preparation is for matches, so for them to allow us a few hours to finalise the transfer without impacting their training was greatly appreciated.

“I also must make clear my appreciation to our ownership and football operations team for how they have managed to act so decisively to get this done.

“Luis is a player we believe will make us better now and in the future. He is the player we really wanted and they’ve made it happen, so I am very happy.”

The winger has been in fine form for Porto this season, scoring 14 goals in 18 games in Portugal’s Primeira Liga, as well as scoring twice in this season’s Champions League group stage.

Diaz joined Porto from Colombian side Atletico Junior in 2019 and has made 125 appearances, scoring 41 goals and registering 20 assists.

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Edinson Cavani Reportedly Commits to Playing with Manchester United Through End of Season

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Edinson Cavani isn’t leaving just yet…

The 34-year-old Uruguayan professional footballer has told Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick that he’ll stay at Old Trafford through the end of the season.

Edinson Cavani Cavani, who is out of contract in the summer, has been linked with a January move to Barcelona or a return to South America, but Rangnick has said Cavani has promised to stay until the end of the campaign.

“I told him that if it was up to me I would want him to stay,” Rangnick said.

“I had a conversation with him [on Thursday]. He came into my office and we spoke for almost half an hour and he told me he will definitely stay and would want to stay until the end of the season.

“Not only because I told him that he should stay or has to stay, he did it on his own behalf and he told me that I can rely on him to stay until the end of the season and give his very best and be a role model for the young players.

“If he should play from the start, he’s available and he’s happy to play.

“Even if he’s not playing, he will be trying to be the best possible role model for the other players and for me this is good news.”

United and Rangnick begin their FA Cup campaign with a home tie against Aston Villa on Monday.

The club have not won a trophy since lifting the Europa League under Jose Mourinho, and Rangnick has promised to pick a strong side against Steven Gerrard‘s Villa.

Villa have already won at Old Trafford this season — a 1-0 victory in September — and since Gerrard’s appointment have climbed to 13th in the table despite losing their last two games to Chelsea and Brentford.

A home game against Middlebrough in the fourth round awaits the winner.

“I’ve always been a big fan, supporter and admirer of the FA Cup,” Rangnick said.

“For me it’s a very important competition. We will definitely try to play with our best possible team in that game and a strong team. We take the game as seriously as we can and hopefully get one round further ahead but in order to do that we have to be successful against Aston Villa.

Manchester United’s Interim Manager Wants Edinson Cavani to Stay

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Will Edinson Cavani leave Manchester United? Not if the team’s manager has his way…

Man United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has told the 34-year-old Uruguayan professional footballer that he doesn’t want him to leave the Premier League club in January.

Edinson Cavani Cavani has been linked with moves to Barcelona and several clubs in South America, but Rangnick is adamant the Uruguay international is going nowhere.

“We had quite a few conversations in the last couple of weeks, probably the player with whom I have spoken most,” Rangnick said. “I told him from the very first day that, for me, he is a highly important player.

“And, as I said, his professionalism, his work ethic is just amazing and I told him that I desperately want him to stay until the end of the season. He knows that. He also knows how highly I rate him and how highly I respect him. We spoke and he knows that I will definitely not let him go.

“For me, he is a highly important player for the rest of the season, still playing in three competitions, so we will definitely need Edi. I would rather have another Edi on top of that but for me it’s clear that Edi has to stay.”

Chris Armas In Talks to Join Coaching Staff at Manchester United

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Chris Armas could be headed across the pond…

The 49-year-old Puerto Rican former United States international midfielder and two-time Major League Soccer (MLS) head coach could be headed to Manchester United.

Chris ArmasArmas would reportedly become part of Ralf Rangnick‘s staff, according to ESPN.

A work permit would be needed for Armas, whose last job was head coach of Toronto FC. He previously led the New York Red Bulls to a Supporters’ Shield win in 2019.

Sources have told ESPN that Rangnick, who was appointed head of Red Bull‘s global football projects in 2019, is being allowed to appoint a “small number” of his own coaching staff to work alongside Mike Phelan and Kieran McKenna, both of whom were part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s backroom team.

Another of Solskjaer’s assistants, Michael Carrick, left the club after taking charge of the team for three games before Rangnick’s appointment as interim coach until the end of the season.

Rangnick was asked about the possibility of bringing in his own staff at his official unveiling ahead of the win over Crystal Palace and said any appointments may take time to arrange.

“I’m more than happy to work with the current coaching staff because I need their experience, I need their expertise regarding the current squad,” he said.

“I will obviously try to find one, two, maybe three people who can join us in one or two weeks, but due to the Brexit regulations it’s not too easy.

“Many of my former colleagues, no matter if it’s video analysts or assistant coaches, are in long-term contracts with big clubs, so they are not available right now, and we have to be a bit smart and clever and find the right people.

“I hope that we can get them in here in the next one or two weeks.”

Armas played in MLS for LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire, with whom he won a championship in 1998, and was capped 66 times by the USMNT. He ended his playing career in 2007.