1.05pm Man Utd news LIVE: Bruno Fernandes a ‘warrior’, Sancho transfer LATEST, Rabiot a target, Berbatov tips Kane move – The Sun
OLD TRAFFORD chiefs are gearing up for a busy summer.
With the Premier League pencilled to return on June 12, Man Utd are also looking forward to the transfer window where their No1 targets are reportedly Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish.
Follow all the latest updates from Old Trafford below…
RAK EM UP
Manchester United and Tottenham are set to battle it out for Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic, according to reports.
The Catalan giants are prepared to cash in on the Croatian veteran this summer to raise funds of their own.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Premier League pair believe they can lure Rakitic to England.
The coronavirus pandemic will leave Barca cash-strapped this summer meaning they will be forced to sell a number of stars to bring in players of their own.
Both United and Tottenham are in the market for a new midfielder and know they won't need to break the bank to sign Rakitic.
PAT ON THE BACK
Patrice Evra has revealed his utter joy at winning the Premier League for the first time.
As part of the 2006/07 title winning side, the Frenchman has recalled on the United podcast how he celebrated with a less enthusiastic Mikael Silvestre.
He said: “‘I was like a kid! I remember I was in Mikael Silvestre’s house and we were watching the game, I think it was Chelsea playing and if they lost, we were champions.
“I start jumping around, and Mikael was looking at me thinking, ‘What is he doing?’ because he’d already won three leagues and I was screaming and he told me to calm down. I think your first one is so amazing.
“I’ll be honest, when you start winning the third one, the fourth and the fifth, you celebrate but not the same way. You celebrate because of the cameras and stuff, but it’s not the same. Ferguson taught us all to be like a robot.
“I don’t think I was a human being playing for Manchester United. When we won games, when I was doing something good, I wasn’t pleased. For me, it was something normal.”
BRU-THER IN ARMS
Bruno Fernandes believes the word that best describes him is “warrior”.
Several reports have noted how the Manchester United star is a vocal dressing room figure.
And he told a club Q&A that he considers every opponent his biggest “enemy” while on the pitch.
Fernandes answered: “Warrior, because for me every game is a battle. You need to go out to the game and just understand you need to beat your opponent.
“With all of the respect, because you need to have respect for your opponent, but you need to beat them. If you don't beat them, they will beat you.
“It doesn't matter who is on the other team. If it is a friend, because I have friends playing in the Premier League, I don't care. At that moment, I will be the biggest enemy they can have.”
GETTING ARSEY
Jens Lehmann has revealed Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson’s fury after a tense 0-0 draw between Arsenal and Manchester United in 2003.
A missed Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty in the final seconds led to a famous confrontation between the title rivals.
Football365 quote the German as telling beIN Sports: “I remember after that game I wasn’t looking into the eyes of my teammates I was looking into the eyes of Arsene.
“He was having Alex Ferguson at a short distance [clenching his fists]. He grabbed him and each of them were very angry with each other and almost started to fight with each other. It wasn’t about me or the players it was more about the manager.
“I came in late and I remember that there were two crowds of people confront each other and I spilt some of my water onto them, accidentally of course. It was funny to watch, I wasn’t involved.
“You always expect me to be involved but I wasn’t in this situation. We were talking [the following Monday] but we were waiting for fines to be handed out and of course to United.”
BELL OF THE BALL
Former Manchester United striker has stated he has no regrets about his time at Old Trafford.
Although the Frenchman didn’t cut the mustard in the Premier League, he is content that he did not let football dominate his life.
Now creative director of lower-tier Paris side Red Star, Bellion stated in a wide-ranging interview with The i: “I don't regret it because it made me who I am right now – that passion I had for many things.
“Many football players only think about football. They don't go to the museum. They don't care about this, they don't care about that. It's like being a robot of football.
“And, honestly, if you tell me to do that for one, two or three years, until you get the Ballon d’Or, but you will have to sacrifice your free time, I would not trade it. I love freedom too much. I love culture too much. I don't regret the kind of person I am.
“Sometimes I maybe have regrets about making a mistake in football, but life is an adventure and who I am now, at 37, is the result of what I was before.
“Everybody in football has their own character. A lot of people thought I was either a weirdo, or too kind, or I was this, or I was that, but I'm not going to change just for the glory of football.”
NIEST LEVEL
Bruno Fernandes wants to become Manchester United’s very own Andres Iniesta.
A tally of three goals and four assists in just nine games has impressed Old Trafford since the playmaker’s January arrival.
And the Barcelona icon is Fernandes’ favourite man to watch and certainly one to learn from.
He told the club website: “The one I liked to watch and follow was Iniesta, because Iniesta is a mix between a No8 and a No10. It is a way I can do better, between No8 and No10.
“It is the guy who always likes to have the ball, who always likes to take the risks, and I think Iniesta was one of the best in the world.
“For me, it was impressive how Iniesta finished his career without the Ballon d'Or. With everything he won, it is difficult for me to understand.”
GO-LING NOWHERE
Erling Haaland is content with life at Borussia Dortmund for the coming transfer market.
A move to Manchester United was always going to be a longshot with Borussia Dortmund colleague Jadon Sancho the club's priority in the coronavirus-affected window.
But at the very least fans can be happy that Real Madrid also look unlikely to swoop for a man Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a big fan of.
Haaland is quoted by the Mirror as saying: “I have just arrived. I am very happy here. I want to achieve many things.
“I am only concentrating on that. The stadium here gives me goosebumps, and I feel well here.”
WHERE THERE'S A WIL
Paris Saint-Germain have joined Manchester United in the race to land Leicester star Wilfred Ndidi, according to reports.
The Foxes star is hot property this summer following another excellent season marshalling Brendan Rodgers' midfield.
Ndidi, 23, made 23 league appearances to help guide Leicester into third spot before coronavirus disrupted the campaign.
His dominant displays sparked speculation that United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was ready to make his move at the end of the season.
They were backed by Red Devils legend Rio Ferdinand who urged the boss to land the Nigerian and add steel to the squad.
But according to ESPN, their task has been made even more difficult with French champions PSG interested.
ROJO YOU DON’T
Manchester United will take action on Marcos Rojo after he broke lockdown rules by smoking and playing cards with friends.
The Old Trafford club will remind Rojo, 30, who is on loan at Estudiantes, of his responsibilities.
The Argentina defender was filmed socialising with friends in his native country by his brother Franco despite social distancing guidelines.
Footage was posted to and removed from social media – but not before others were able to grab it
President Alberto Fernandez recently extended lockdown in Argentina until May 10.
SANCH-NO
Jadon Sancho should REJECT a move to Manchester United, according to their former captain Paul Ince.
Ince told Paddy Power said: “Sometimes as a player, it’s about looking at a team’s manager and coaching staff and whether they’d take you to that next level. That’s a decision Sancho will need to make.
“We know that Pep [Guardiola] is experienced in that area, we know he can improve a player. But can Ole Gunnar Solskajer? We don’t know that, whatsoever.
“He’s clearly trying to develop a young team, so that will help, but in terms of actually the man to man management and development of someone like Sancho, he’s a total unknown.
“To use myself as an example, when I went to Inter Milan, I became a far better player under Roy Hodgson.
“What I’m saying is, Sancho needs to consider all of those factors, culture, environment, team and ultimately the manager.”
MORNING, UTD FANS
Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford have sent reassuring messages to United fans via the club website as they battle to keep their fitness up in lockdown.
Unsettled French World Cup winner Pogba, still being linked with a return to Juventus, said “We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice.
“I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this [pandemic] will stop.”
And as England striker Rashford continues his rehab he insisted he has never lost focus.
He said: “It has been a tough period for me, the last few months, obviously being injured.
“But in the last few weeks I have been able to step on it a bit more, so I have just been getting my head down and working.”
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney has claimed former youth-team sensation Ravel Morrison was far better than his contemporaries like Pogba.
PREM TESTS START
Premier League players are already taking coronavirus tests.
About 40,000 testing kits – costing about £4million – are to be bought by the League in a bid to get games resumed.
But one major club has already started sending out kits to their players’ homes to test themselves.
All Premier League clubs are set to resume training by next Monday on an individual basis although some have already opened their doors to players.
It is hoped that full squad training will start on May 25 but football authorities are waiting for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s approval to ease some lockdown measures on Thursday.
The only way that the 92 remaining Prem games can take place is to complete mass testing.
But it is still possible for some clubs and organisations to source test kits from abroad even though there is a debate over the reliability of some.
NO PLAY, NO PAY?
Premier League players who opt out of football’s return may have to sacrifice their wages.
A number of stars have expressed concerns about plans to resume the coronavirus-interrupted season next month.
Top-flight clubs will assure players they will only be asked to return to training when it is completely safe to do so.
But those who remain unconvinced face being told to take unpaid leave.
One Premier League executive told SunSport: “This is a really sensitive issue and something we are absolutely determined to avoid if at all possible.
“We know there are players who are understandably anxious and there is no question of forcing them to play against their wishes.
“We hope we can give all our staff the assurances they need to willingly return to work in the next few weeks. But we will need to know which players will not be available for selection and it is likely they will be asked to forego their salaries during their absence.”
RASH CHALLENGE
Marcus Rashford says he's using his time in lockdown to speed up his recovery from injury.
The Man United forward has been out of action since January this year following a back problem he suffered during an FA Cup third round clash against Wolves.
Rashford, who's scored 14 times in 22 league appearances this season, says rehab has been a “tough period” for him.
The Old Trafford star told United's official web site: “I have sort of had my head down. It has been a tough period for me, the last few months, obviously being injured.
“'But in the last few weeks I have been able to step on it a bit more, so I have just been getting my head down and working.”
POG'S GOALS
Paul Pogba reckons the Covid-19 pandemic hasn't altered the goals he's set himself ahead of his return from injury.
The French midfielder has been receiving treatment for a foot problem which led him to make just eight appearances for United so far this season.
Pogba told United's club website: “We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice.
“It is a period and we don't know until when it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this [pandemic] will stop.”
RON 'CAN GO FOR PELE'
Gary Neville also reckons Cristiano Ronaldo can go for Pele's record of 1000 goals.
His former United team-mate said: “I have no doubts he wants to play til his late 30s and early 40s.
“I genuinely believe he wants to beat Pele's record, I think he wants to beat Pele's numbers, I think that's where he's at inn his mind.
“He wants to be the greatest of all time, that's his sole drive, if he does become the greatest of all time the teams he plays in will win trophies and be successful.”
DRIVE OF RON
Gary Neville has revealed how Cristiano Ronaldo was obsessed with individual awards, because that helped the team.
Neville said: “His drive was out of this world to become the best in the world.
“He's one of very few players to announce that individual trophies were important to him.
“He was absolutely driven that 'no I want to be the best player in the world' and it's important that I'm the best player in the world because in turn it'll help my team.
“It was a different angle in terms of looking at it and he just wanted to be the very best in the world and it's so important to him, what he's done over many years is absolutely exceptional.
“It's so special, his achievements are amazing and he's worked hard for it.”
NEV VS RAVEL
Wayne Rooney has compared Ravel Morrison to Gary Neville in his Sunday Times column, where he lists reasons why players make the grade at senior level after being promising youngsters.
He said: “I remember watching Ravel Morrison thinking he had everything required for a player in his position.
“He was brilliant. He was confident. He nutmegged Nemanja Vidic three times in the space of a minute in one training game.
“But he struggled with lifestyle and his environment which was sad for him – because I saw Paul Pogba come through, Jesse Lingard, all these players and Ravel was better than any of them by a country mile.
“Gary's not a great footballer player but he worked in every minute of every training Session and made the most of everything he had.
“He had a fantastic career through hard work.”
UNITED ROUND-UP
Premier League chiefs are targeting a return to action on June 12 – and clubs are slowly getting their players back into individual training.
Man Utd are set to do the same, but there's also plenty of transfer speculation swirling at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have reportedly sent scouts to watch Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot “several times” already this season.
And it will only intensify speculation that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is preparing a summer raid for the Frenchman, who left PSG on a free to join the Italian side.
According to Tutto Mercato, United scouts have been in attendance during Juve's Champions League games.
The 25-year-old has started three of them, coming off the bench in another.
While Juventus transfer chief Fabio Paratici doesn't reckon Paul Pogba will leave Man Utd this summer – but only because of his huge wage demands.
Pogba is thought to earn £290,000-a-week at Old Trafford, a figure Paratici believes few sides can match.
He told Sky Sports Italia: “Paul Pogba is a fantastic player, we know him as a champion.
“But something will change after the coronavirus crisis, because logically the salary demands someone at his level would have had before are now more difficult to get hold of.
“Or, at least, he’ll have fewer clubs prepared to pay that money.”
And in a boost for United fans hoping the England captain will make his way up the M6, Dimitar Berbatov has called for Harry Kane to follow his example and swap Spurs for Manchester.
Berbatov told 5 Live's Football Daily: “When they came of course I knew I would be making people disappointed – especially Tottenham fans – but I was following my own path.
“I knew if I missed that chance another one might never come. This is how it is in football.
“The same situation is happening with Harry Kane at the moment, exactly the same.”
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