My love for Victor Osimhen has led to him being the subject of my next article for
@AJEnglish
. Enjoyed speaking to those around him and it has been a pleasure to look at him from up close.
Appreciate any feedback!
1988: Ranieri joins Cagliari in Serie C
1989: Guides them to Serie B
1990: Guides them to Serie A
1991: Saves them from relegation, leaves on the promise that he will be back.
2022: Returns
2023: Guides them to Serie A
2024: Leaves after saving them from relegation.
Icon.
If you read about Gabrielloni, you'll realise that he is someone who took up an economics degree as he had doubts about whether he would ever make it as a professional footballer. Gave the thesis of the degree in his Como shorts during lockdown.
He is now a Serie A player.
Alessandro Gabrielloni joined Como when they were in Serie D and he was a semi-pro. He has scored regularly in their rise to the Serie A and this was his reaction just before Como secured promotion.
We love this game 🙏❤️
FYI, Wayne Rooney became United's highest goalscorer ever after scoring a great free-kick v Stoke City but never celebrated that goal because United had only equalised.
Luke Shaw was once regarded as England's hope until he nearly lost his leg due to the ankle injury. His own manager made it public that he'd never make it, the media poked fun at him every single time. Many thought it was over for him at Utd. Look at him now.
What a story.
When his family had little, Manchester City offered him everything. But they were rejected because he only wanted United. Came back from a bad season, scored when the side really needed and is one of the best in his role on the left, despite all the abuse.
Never, ever question or doubt fans who support clubs from afar. They stay up till 4am to watch their clubs play and some skip their sleep. That's how deeply ingrained their support is.
They deserve this. So does Ole.
Andre Onana literally left the Cameroon NT camp in the World Cup because he wanted to play as a sweeper keeper and not as a lamp post GK from 1975. At Inter, he's playing as a centre-back when Inter build from the back.
Then there's HIM.
Luciano Spalletti's excellent quote yesterday:
“Systems no longer exist in football, it’s all about the spaces left by the opposition. You must be quick to spot them and know the right moment to strike, have the courage to start the move even when pressed."
Daniel James continues to run himself to the ground in every game. Call him names, call him average or whatever you can derive joy out of, but he's been quite a reliable signing for Man Utd.
Messi dropped in as a CDM so many times to circulate possession and he was in the advanced areas to pick the right final ball 5 seconds later. The guy is 35.
For those blaming Harry Maguire:
He was literally marking his own man after instructing Williams to mark Suso. He turned to see Williams as the ball had gone past him. Just because he was expensive doesn't mean he can mark every player on the pitch.
Eddie Howe and Graham Potter are two managers with very humble playing careers and came through from the very roots of management and took up very complex roles earlier. They're the best coaches England has to offer but we know who gets the attention?
Zidane Iqbal potentially being in the Man Utd squad today would be such a moment for South Asians that dream of playing at the highest level. Could happen days after Dilan Markanday.
De Gea makes an error, shakes his head, drinks some water from his bottle, throws it, repeats the same errors in every game and gets rewarded a new deal.
He never really cared about how he looked because he tried to cover every blade of grass in every game and picked up injuries. Played so many positions for the team, knew when his time at the highest level was up. And he's no man-child, so.
Man Utd can replace many players on that team but Nemanja Matic will be the toughest to replace.
The demand for players like him is high as they're unique players. Break lines, drop in as 3rd CB, play the ball out, win it back. A handful of players can do this at a high level.
Raphael Varane: "But the very highest level is like a washing machine, you play all the time and you never stop.
"We have overloaded schedules and play non-stop. Right now, I feel like I'm suffocating and that the player is gobbling up the man."
I wish more players said this.
If Man Utd get drawn with Derby in the FA Cup and Wayne Rooney arrives at Old Trafford as the Derby manager, I'll realise that I've finally grown old and childhood is the past.
The Fred-Mourinho relationship is the most intriguing subplot of the Spurs v Man Utd game.
Mourinho had 'mistreated' Fred in some ways. Had sent a 'damning' message to the Brazilian when he was sacked. But Fred has now become a box-to-box destroyer that Jose would love.
The Athletic understands Harry Maguire played on for two months with a hip injury sustained in January, taking pain-killing injections to cope at a time when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was under pressure.
Erik ten Hag is represented by the same person who represents Robin van Persie. The same person had brought Van Persie to Man United from Arsenal in 2012. Put two and two together.
It's come to a point where people are saying that Man Utd made a *mistake* in loaning Lingard out.
In no way was it a mistake, it was the perfect decision for everyone.
Interesting fact on Guardiola v Simone Inzaghi history:
4th November, 2001. Lazio v Brescia. Inzaghi played against Pep. Lazio won 5-0. After the game, Pep tested positive for the steriod nandrolone and received a four-month ban.
For around €40 million, a 23-year-old Donny van de Beek brings so many things to the plate for Man Utd.
He knows what a fluid system is like from Ajax. United demand a fluid front 4/5 who can constantly change positions on the pitch. Van de Beek is a master of that trade.
When Bruno Fernandes only touched the ref's shoulder, the mainstream English media wanted him to give up on the sport, get stripped off captaincy and head to the Himalayas and turn into a sanyasi and what not.
Mitro is clearly trying to get the refs attention and have a peaceful conversation, meanwhile he’s walking away like a smug coward.
Look how quickly he pulled out that red card, he was waiting, BEGGING for Mitrovic to touch him! 🥴
It is simply amazing how Bruno Fernandes performances like those are normalised. He did miss the pen, but what a performance. In a team that lacks natural creators wide and in midfield, the guy carries the whole burden on his back.
Here's a prediction: Dan James leaves, does well under Bielsa at LUFC, the revisionism in the media/amongst the fans starts that Man Utd shouldn't have sold him. In my opinion, he's still an important profile for United.
Matteo Darmian is one of the best examples of how Man Utd have been a graveyard for footballers since 2013 and no one will EVER change that opinion. The guy has been admirable, on and off the pitch.
If Manchester United land Boubakary Soumare after Bruno Fernandes without selling anyone, it will be the best window they have in a long while.
Fixes the issues perfectly.
Note: Atalanta's Head of Senior Recruitment is Lee Congerton, who United dealt with during their negotiations for Harry Maguire with Leicester. This was my fear.
Rasmus Hojlund’s agents held talks with Atalanta this week and were told that his fee would be €100m, far above the €47m that had been anticipated. Further discussions are expected ahead, but
#mufc
will not bid close to that amount. [
@lauriewhitwell
]
Basic tip for Man Utd to beat Milan:
Expose their left side. That's how teams take points off them constantly.
What a brilliant tie. Bailly against Ibrahimovic will be comical and epic.
That man spoke what he spoke because of his own priorities and egoistic wishes, not because he wanted the good of the club. United fans have known what he spoke about since 2013 and accounts as big as this need to stop recycling this because they too are hypocritical.
Nemanja Matic though. Second masterclass in a row at Turf Moor. The way he picked passing lanes for Fernandes, shifted the ball from side to side and back to front is everything I dream of in a defensive midfielder.
Cherish him while he lasts. Players like him are rare.
Yes, Rooney tried to leave. Twice. But it has nothing on dragging the club through mud in an interview with The S*n, leaving the stadium mid-game, kicking up a fuss in the dressing room. There are lines you can't cross, if you want to preserve your legacy.
Bergamo was one of the worst COVID-19 affected regions in Italy during lockdown and for many in the small city, this Atalanta team was a symbol of hope and joy. That team has given the city an identity which goes beyond football.
That will always mean more than the trophy.
In this ruthless, mad and manic world of football, that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer interview is special. Football, at the end of the day, is about memories, moments and the good stuff you'll look back on many years later.
Ronaldo's emergence truly came at United after Ruud van Nistelrooy was sold due to misbehavior. It will be a great storyline if one of Van Nistelrooy's boys in Cody Gakpo replaces misbehaving Ronaldo at United. WWE-fication of football right there.
Giroud won the Ligue 1 with Montpellier, became a cult hero at Arsenal, won 3 FA Cups, won the CL and EL with Chelsea and came to Milan when they had a number nine curse (same as Chelsea). Broke it, won the Serie A and is leaving with his head held high.
Hero.
🟡⚫️🇺🇸 Olivier Giroud signs contracts as new LAFC player, ready for MLS new chapter after verbal agreement reached in March!
Contract until December 2025 set to be sealed in the next hours.
Giroud will leave AC Milan as free agent.
Here we go, confirmed 🔐🇫🇷
Some Manchester United fans celebrating Martial's injury so that Solskjaer gets sacked after losing to Tottenham.
Nice one, chaps. You deserve David Moyes as your next manager. Disgraceful
One of the biggest what-ifs in recent Manchester United history is what if Harry Maguire never got injured against Aston Villa and played in *that* Europa League final. It could've been so different for him, the club and the manager at that point.
Andy Mitten: "Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking at a forward, right winger and centre-half, his scouts watching Sevilla’s 22-year-old defender Jules Kounde extensively."
Prince Kobbie Mainoo isn't real. This guy did that at 18. Silenced a whole stadium. Showed the composure of a fully grown man. Incredible. I would've stood up and applauded if it wasn't 3:45am. What a player.
I absolutely loath this piece by piece destruction of the character of a young footballer and it seems to be backed by the club here. These things shouldn't even matter but they're adding pointless context to the current situation to completely villainise Sancho.
Sources around
#mufc
describe Jadon Sancho as a complicated character. He can be loud and extroverted, but he can also be very reserved.
At an Adidas kit launch in Melbourne in 2022, he asked the event host to avoid asking him questions and focus instead on Bruno Fernandes,
Julian Nagelsmann: “If you have limited tactical knowledge, you can still be a successful coach. On the other hand, if you've great tactical qualities, but you're not good with man management, you'll never be successful."
Twitter should always remember this fact.
Arsenal are sort of my footballing dream. A young manager (ex-player) started with a broken side, used a plan B to win a cup, reformed the team's spine and coached them into a certain way and after a building phase, they're very advanced. And they're doing it with a young side.
Cunha is a versatile pressing machine who works his socks off and really good in tight spaces. Has shown willingness to play in different systems as well. I'd rate this signing a lot.
The best part about ETH's management of Sancho is that he never revealed the exact issue as it could've become something the media and fans could have used for different reasons. Kept it low key, never used hyperbole and made it easier for the player to return and make an impact.
Marcelo Bielsa was willing to take a wage cut at Leeds, if they had stayed in the Championship for another season.
Things like these sound very normal, but they're incredible in the current footballing scenario. There will never be another Marcelo Bielsa.
Delighted to confirm that I'll be taking over as the new Editor in Chief at Get Italian Football News.
Thank you to everyone for their support, we keep motoring on!
Just when you thought that Man United can't get worse at recruiting, they go after someone who hasn't done anything over the last three years, his entourage created a negative atmosphere for club and country regularly. But United have a football structure in place, they say.
🚨 EXCL: Man Utd United working on deal to sign Adrien Rabiot from Juventus.
#MUFC
must decide if they proceed irrespective of ongoing De Jong pursuit or await outcome of that before deciding. 27yo France midfielder has 1yr on
#Juve
contract
@TheAthleticUK
I have a child in mine that so badly wishes that this exit was not as bitter and toxic as it has been because that child was truly left awestruck by some things DDG did in goal. And I think those moments will definitely give us joy for years.
I just wanted to send this farewell message to all Manchester United supporters.
I would like to express my unwavering gratitude and appreciation for the love from the last 12 years. We’ve achieved a lot since my dear Sir Alex Ferguson brought me to this club. I took incredible
Weghorst pressing with all his vigour in the 95th minute of a game.
That man is never finished. A cheat code for unlimited stamina on a free roam game.