SPORTING

Manchester United have received a lot of criticism over the years for wasting money on players who aren't good enough. For the most period, the team has failed to regain the form they shown under Sir Alex Ferguson, and they are frequently vying for a spot in the top four rather than a league title. ' Marcus Rashford. ' Getty Images Sport After a strong first season in command, Erik ten Hag appeared to be the man to assist the team return to the Premier League's top flight. He spent a lot of money during the summer and has made significant investments in the present squad. However, after falling far short of expectations last season, the new-look leadership gave the Dutchman one final opportunity before giving him his P45 following a 2-1 loss to West Ham United. Ruben Amorim, 39, has subsequently established himself in the Old Trafford dugout, and with the January trading period approaching, he may try to make sweeping changes to accommodate his 3-4-3 system....

Ruben Amorim, Manchester United's manager, admitted that the win over Southampton made his post-match meetings with Sir Jim Ratcliffe easier. ' Sir Jim Ratcliffe ,' ' Ruben Amorim. ' Getty Images (2) Manchester United's challenging and uneven performances have continued under Amorim, who took charge at Old Trafford after Erik ten Hag left in October. However, the results have been clear but difficult to come by, with the Red Devils winning over Manchester City and Arsenal and drawing against Liverpool in the previous month. Nonetheless, the football industry's brutality has left Amorim's position in jeopardy, with rumors circulating that INEOS and co-owner Sir Ratcliffe are dissatisfied with Amorim's performance at Manchester United. The former Sporting coach has disclosed that he had the opportunity to speak with Ratcliffe following the dramatic win over Southampton, which came down to Amad Diallo's late 12-minute hat-trick after Man...

Arsenal are set to sign long-term target Martin Zubimendi, beating Liverpool and Manchester City to the Real Sociedad player's signature. According to The Daily Mail, Arsenal are in advanced discussions with Real Sociedad to sign star midfielder Martin Zubimendi, with the deal being 'nearly completed'. Arsenal had hoped to sign the Spaniard in January, but Real Sociedad is keen to keep him until the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. ' Martin Zubimendi. ' Getty Images Sport Jorginho and Thomas Partey, two of Arsenal's current central midfielders, will depart the club at the conclusion of the current season when their contracts expire. As a result, the English team went all out to sign Zubimendi. The Spain international has a €60 million release clause (£51 million/$61.5 million) that Arsenal is willing to activate. Liverpool and Manchester City were both interested in signing the Real Sociedad star. Despite receiving a refusal from Zubimendi in the su...

Chelsea have notified Bayern Munich that they want about £65 million for Christopher Nkunku. Nkunku might leave Chelsea this month, and the club is considering signing 19-year-old Bayern Munich attacker Mathys Tel to replace him. Bayern are interested in signing Nkunku, who is facing an unclear future at Stamford Bridge after being assigned a smaller role under Enzo Maresca. ' Christopher Nkunku. ' Chelsea FC via Getty Images Chelsea paid an initial amount of £52 million to sign Nkunku from RB Leipzig in 2023, and they think his worth has grown since then. The 27-year-old has 13 goals for Chelsea this season, but he has had few opportunities in recent weeks and has struggled to put pressure on Nicolas Jackson, despite his quiet period. Nkunku was poor when handed a rare start in a 2-0 loss at Ipswich in December, and he missed a penalty at 0-0 at Morecambe on Saturday. Maresca has made it obvious that he favors classic wingers in his system. There has been no planne...

Cristiano Ronaldo has become accustomed to the best things in life, as seen by his recent purchase of a new €75 million (£61 million) private plane. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has made it clear that he would continue to travel in elegance when he leaves the Middle East, where he presently plays for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr. The 39-year-old had owned a $24 million (£20 million) Gulfstream G200. ' Cristiano Ronaldo ', Gulftsream G650. Getty; X According to Turkish news agency Daily Sabah, Ronaldo has switched from that form of transportation to the Gulfstream G650. The plane has a high price tag and can supposedly reach speeds of up to 610mph. The jet in question can hold up to 19 passengers, allowing Ronaldo's partner Georgina Rodriguez and their children to accompany him on his journey. There are sleeping facilities on board for up to ten passengers. It also has Wi-Fi, a telephone, an electric oven, microwave, a multimedia system, and a refrigera...

Manchester United are on the cusp of making their first signing of the Ruben Amorim era, as INEOS' transfer strategy takes form. Diego Leon, a 17-year-old Paraguayan left back, has arrived in Manchester for his medical. According to Fabrizio Romano, the club would then publicly announce its first signing during Amorim's stint at Old Trafford. The teenage left-back will come from Paraguay's top league club Cerro Porteno. United have agreed to pay a £3.2 million ($4 million) transfer fee, with add-ons of up to £3.6 million ($4.5 million). Manchester United boss ' Ruben Amorim. ' Getty Images   After completing these procedures in Manchester, the adolescent will depart to Paraguay and will not return to England until July 2025 to join the first squad. Leon's arrival shapes INEOS' long-term transfer strategy, as the club prepares to restructure following the surprise departure of sports director Dan Ashworth, who joined from Newcastle just months ea...

Barcelona's staff have reportedly warned club president Joan Laporta not to buy AC Milan winger Rafael Leao. According to Sport, Laporta is keen on signing Milan winger Leao this summer. However, a club scouting report deemed the Portugal international does not have much of a "defensive work-rate" and there are doubts about his ability when facing "packed defences" - something Barcelona often have to deal with. ' Rafael Leao. ' Getty Images The report adds that Leao is likely to cost at least €90 million (£76m/$92m). At a time when Laporta's Barca have been desperately trying to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor for the second half of the season amid their ongoing financial issues, splashing that sort of cash on Leao may be regarded as reckless. The 25-year-old Leao, whose contract at Milan runs until 2028 after signing a five-year deal in 2023, has scored 64 goals and bagged 56 assists in 233 appearances for the Italian giants. Barca, wh...

Wayne Rooney is expected to return to Manchester United and become Rasmus Hojlund's striking coach. Teddy Sheringham, a former United striker, believes that returning to Old Trafford would be an ideal option for Rooney, who lost his job as manager of Plymouth Argyle on New Year's Eve. Sheringham believes the 39-year-old will be an ideal striking coach for the Red Devils, able to strengthen the club's existing forwards, including Denmark international Rasmus Hojlund. ' Rasmus Hojlund. ' Getty Images Sheringham asked by BoyleSports, which provides the most recent Premier League odds, if Wayne Rooney would make a good striking coach: "Without a question. I believe it is an increasingly crucial position. There are set-piece coaches, back four coaches, and striker coaches, and Wayne has been one of the best players in the nation. "Could he aid Rasmus Hojlund? Of course. He's a seasoned player who has played for his country 100 times and scored a...

Ruben Amorim has explained why he was "mad and upset" with his Manchester United side, despite their much improved performance at Liverpool. The Red Devils entered the tournament on a historically bad run of form, with four consecutive defeats stretching all the way to the end of 2024, with no goals in three of those games. There were fears that United could suffer another humiliating defeat at Anfield. ' Ruben Amorin. ' Getty Images However, Amorim's side had admirable battling spirit on Merseyside and might have claimed all three points from an exciting game that finished in a 2-2 tie. United's most recent triumph came against arch-rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, and their manager has been unable to explain why they have been so inconsistent. Amorim told Sky Sports after an impressive showing against Liverpool: "I get madder because of the other games. It's much more difficult to grasp certain things. This isn't about t...

Liverpool appear to have won everything over the last decade. While a sixth Champions League high point and a first Premier League title in 30 years were impressive enough, the fact that the Jurgen Klopp era achieved such unprecedented heights while operating with a net spend far lower than their rivals adds significantly to the Reds' recent success stories. ' Mo Salah. ' Getty Images Liverpool have frequently been praised for its economic plan, which has kept the club on stable financial footing. Whereas other top European club owners are concerned about past devil-may-care transfer strategies, the Reds are far from the Financial Fair Play restrictions that are creeping up with Chelsea and Manchester City. Despite this, their commitment to long-term players means their salary bill can be rather tight at times, with 12 players making at least £100,000 per week. Using Capology to acquire the remainder of the data, every Liverpool player's earnings were examin...

Manchester United have made contact to sign a midfielder worth more than £40 million for head coach Ruben Amorim, according to a recent report. Amorim made it clear in his recent news conference that he wants Manchester United to do some business in the January transfer window, and he and the hierarchy will keep an eye out for prospective transactions. However, what they can achieve this month appears to be dependent on whatever players depart the club in the following weeks. ' Ruben Amorin. ' Getty Images Forward Joshua Zirkzee may be a player that moves on so that the Red Devils can bring in an improvement. According to recent reports, Zirkzee is in discussions to quit United and join Italian heavyweights Juventus. The Serie A club is allegedly in negotiations with the forward's representation, but would prefer a loan transfer over the permanent exit that United are seeking. Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus may replace the Dutchman at Old Trafford. If Zirkzee leaves...

Barcelona has turned a corner under Hansi Flick, and they appear to be back to the level of form and domination that they have frequently demonstrated over the years. They've brought some really brilliant young players through the ranks throughout the years, but they've also spent exorbitant fees for some of the sport's greatest names. FC Barcelona 's ' Pedri. ' Getty Images Sport Flick ensures a good equilibrium of both parties. Lamine Yamal and Gavi came via the academy, and they have also welcomed proven superstars like Robert Lewandowski to Camp Nou. As they try to reclaim the La Liga championship, here's how much each senior squad member is taking him every week. Goalkeepers Given his uncontested status as Barcelona's number-one goalkeeper, it's no surprise that Marc-Andre ter Stegen earns considerably more than any other shot-stopper in the club right now, with a weekly salary of more than €120,000. When he's fit, there's li...

Alabama football's first quarter transformed the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl into something very different from what Kalen DeBoer had envisioned. Fifteen plays. Two total yards. Three turnovers in the middle of a downpour at Raymond James Stadium. A 16-point deficit is the largest first-quarter deficit the Crimson Tide has had in the last 12 years. Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Robbie Ouzts ( 45 ) celebrates with tight end CJ Dippre ( 81 ) after scoring a touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines in the second quarter during the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images Alabama just played themselves into "a hole," Alabama's coach said. "All of a sudden it takes on another game of its own because you are down 16-0," DeBoer remarked following Alabama's 19-13 defeat to Michigan. "You're just fighting and scrapping just trying to give yourself a chance like we did at the very end." In the first qua...

Plymouth have parted ways with head coach Wayne Rooney, with the club languishing at the bottom of the Championship. ' Wayne Rooney. ' Getty Images Sport Rooney and Plymouth have agreed to split ways after a dismal start to the Championship season. The Pilgrims have won only four of their 23 matches and are four points from safety. The Manchester United icon took over in the summer, but he will be searching for a new job in 2025 when his current management endeavor comes to an end. Plymouth have stated that assistant coach Mike Phelan and first-team coach Stephen Ireland will both be leaving. In a statement issued by the club, Rooney said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Board of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, particularly Simon Hallett and Neil Dewsnip, with whom I had a great relationship." Thank you also to all of the staff who made me feel welcome and who make the club so great, as well as the players and supporters for their effort...

For the first time in 63 years, the Red Devils suffered their fourth successive defeat in all competitions after a disastrous first half performance. Joshua Zirkzee and Casemiro disgraced themselves in Manchester United's genuinely shambolic defeat against Newcastle, bringing the team's current low point into closer perspective. The final score was only 2-0, but it was humiliating since the Red Devils had one of their worst first-half performances in the Premier League. ' Casemiro. ' Getty Images Sport Alexander Isak headed a high-flying Newcastle ahead in just the fourth minute following the hosts' poor defending, and Joelinton made it even easy to score the second. United looked very pathetic, and Ruben Amorim humiliated Zirkzee by removing him after only 33 minutes. Kobbie Mainoo changed things, and in the second half, United looked at least a little like themselves, and they should have pulled one back. But nothing can erase the team's disastrous...

Harry Maguire acknowledges Ruben Amorim's job is considerably more difficult since he is the "total opposite" of Erik ten Hag, but he believes the Manchester United manager can turn around the club's disappointing season. ' Ruben Amorim. ' Getty Images Sport Amorim has lost half of his ten games as head coach and heads into Monday's league encounter against Newcastle, which will be shown live on Sky Sports, having lost three in a row in all competitions. The Portuguese inherited a team developed by Ten Hag to play transitional, counter-attacking football, which is completely inappropriate for his style, which emphasizes possession and the use of a high line. Amorim also like to play with three at the back, but Maguire feels he has what it takes to overcome his slow start and propel the team, which is presently 14th in the league, up the table. "The thing is with the managers and the styles, it is not like they have come in and they have si...

Five-time winner of the Ballon d'Or Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he intends to buy a football club and become the owner after retiring. Many people have questioned Ronaldo's future as one of the finest footballers to ever play the game as he nears the end of his professional career. The Portuguese star has now confirmed that he does not intend to coach, but may consider becoming a club owner after retirement. ' Cristiano Ronaldo. ' Getty Images At the Globe Soccer Awards on Friday, Ronaldo said, "I'm not a coach. I'm never going to be a coach, president of the club. No. Perhaps the owner of the club. When asked if he intends to become a club owner, Ronaldo replied, "Probably." I'll see. It will be determined by the timing and availability of suitable opportunities. "Do I have any in mind? Not yet, but maybe in a few." At the moment, no one knows which club Ronaldo would want to acquire after retiring, as all of his...

Real Madrid player Endrick's 'brother-in-law' was purportedly killed in a 'targeted' Christmas Day shooting. According to The Sun, Mauricio Nunes Goncalves was shot many times at a street tavern in Samambaia, near the capital Brasilia. The 38-year-old is supposedly the spouse of Endrick's older sister, Lavinia Sudre, but is referred to as the 18-year-old's brother-in-law. Real Madrid 's Endrick. Getty Images Following the 'targeted' shooting, Sudre changed her Instagram profile photo to one with a black ribbon. She also shared a photo of the victim, naming him and writing, "You left beautiful memories in our hearts that we will never forget." According to reports, no arrests have been made so far. Goncalves' funeral was scheduled to take place on Boxing Day. Witnesses informed police that there was no prior altercation between the gunman and his victim, and that it was a 'cold-blooded execution'. Endrick, who lef...

Ruben Amorim criticized Bruno Fernandes after his expulsion in Manchester United's loss against Wolves. On Boxing Day, the Red Devils suffered their third successive loss in all competitions, falling 2-0 at Molineux. ' Ruben Amorim. ' Getty Images Fernandes received a second yellow card for a foul on Nelson Semedo, giving Wolves a man advantage for much the entire second half. Matheus Cunha then scored the first goal with a corner that sailed past Andre Onana and into the far corner. Despite making forward substitutions, United were unable to produce an equaliser, and Wolves gained the three points they needed to escape the Premier League relegation zone with a goal from Hwang Hee-chan in the 98th minute. Fernandes has received his third red card in 27 appearances this season, with his lack of discipline proving expensive. Reflecting on the setback, Amorim told Prime Video: "Of course, when you lose and we don't win, it's a step back. It was quite d...

Ruben Amorim, Manchester United's head coach, did not argue Andre Onana was fouled for Wolves playmaker Matheus Cunha's goal. United surrendered straight off a corner for the second week in a row as Cunha's inswinger looped over Onana, who claimed he was fouled while attempting to punch the ball. Amorim blanked Fernandes after he was sent off. Getty Images Sport Onana was caught between Wolves defenders Matt Doherty and Santiago Bueno as Cunha took his corner. Despite little contact from both opponents, the Video Assistant Referee upheld referee Tony Harrington's on-field judgment to award the goal. Altay Bayindir, United's backup goalkeeper, was overcome in similar circumstances by Tottenham winger Son Heung-min in last week's League Cup quarter-final defeat, and Amorim referred to that goal. "The same way that I saw Tottenham," he said when asked about Cunha's goal. "When you touch someone when they are jumping - the tiniest con...