Ruben Amorim has addressed Manchester United's line-up leaks after his team selection was revealed well ahead of the Manchester derby.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
| Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 |
Having missed out on signing a new right winger in the summer transfer window, Newcastle United are now reportedly willing to match the valuation of a player who would be an instant upgrade on Miguel Almiron.
Newcastle transfer news
The Magpies endured a nightmare summer, there's no escaping that, after failing to sign Marc Guehi and any other centre-back alternative aside from a free deal for Lloyd Kelly at the start of the window, who is also likely to be used on the left. What's more, those at St James' Park also failed to sign an upgrade on Miguel Almiron, who was linked with a move away himself, throughout the summer.
Newcastle failed with £21m bid for "great" Guehi alternative from UCL club
The Magpies ended the window without signing a central defender…
ByTom Cunningham Sep 5, 2024
Sporting director Paul Mitchell recently spoke about his first summer in charge, telling The Telegraph's Luke Edwards: "There are things we got wrong in our strategy, for sure. If we could have signed a player that we actively felt could make a really good squad better, would we? Of course we would have done.”
"Eddie was very clear and it’s not up to me after seven weeks to say, ‘We’ll do this and that’, because I’m in a supporting role. Were there options? Of course there were, as that’s the responsibility of the department and Newcastle."
Now tasked with making up for lost time in 2025 – be that in the January window or next summer – the Magpies have reportedly set their sights on an exciting target. According to reports in Spain via Football365, Newcastle are now willing to match Barcelona's €60m (£52m) price tag to sign Raphinha in 2025.
Newcastle were reportedly in advanced talks to sign the Brazilian in the summer window, but ultimately failed to tempt Barcelona into a deal to sell their winger. Now, amid Raphinha's impressive start to the campaign, the Magpies are seemingly prepared to splash out on his signature, making the January window instantly interesting to watch.
"Amazing" Raphinha would end Howe's Almiron problem
Alongside Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, Eddie Howe lacks the same firepower on the right-hand side that Raphinha would instantly provide to replace Almiron. The former Leeds United star has enjoyed an electric start to the campaign in Spain, scoring a hat-trick against Real Valladolid last time out in a stunning 7-0 victory for Barcelona.
His stunning start follows Ben Mattinson's praise for the winger last month, in which the analyst dubbed Raphinha "amazing" at right-wing and "genuinely quality off the left too".
Following Almiron's disappointing season last time out – scoring just five goals and assisting a further three – Newcastle must find an upgrade as soon as possible if they are to compete for a place inside the Premier League's top four once again.
Howe could yet form a deadly front three of Gordon, Isak and Raphinha to fire Newcastle back on track in 2025.
Jake Libby retains fine touch for Worcestershire on a day to celebrate second chances
George Dobell07-May-2021It was a day for second chances at Edgbaston.It’s a generalisation but if, as a cricketer, you have found yourself released by Leicestershire in recent years, it’s probably a sign that it’s time to go and do something else.That’s not meant to sound harsh. But, over the last decade or so, the club has become something of a final stop for players of a certain age – think Charlie Shreck, Michael Carberry, Mark Pettini, Neil Dexter, Mark Cosgrove, Paul Horton, Matthew Hoggard, Chris Wright et al – and, while there are a few examples of players proving there can be life beyond being released by the club (Darren Stevens and Ned Eckersley spring to mind) they are the sea turtles making it back to the beach on which they were born.Michael Burgess is the latest to buck the trend. His century here was his first in first-class cricket for three years and suggested that he could yet enjoy a successful career at this level.Related
Alastair Cook may rue lean Trent Bridge harvest as Steven Mullaney makes hay
Dan Douthwaite, Callum Taylor frustrate Lancashire with doughty display for Glamorgan
Gary Ballance, Joe Root raise Yorkshire's hopes against Kent
Warwickshire is actually Burgess’ fourth first-class county. After developing at Surrey – albeit without making a first-team appearance – he was signed by Leicestershire and made 98 in his first first-class innings for the club against the touring Sri Lankans in 2016.But, when he was released a few months later without playing another innings for the club, he admits he experienced some dark times. He took a job in teaching for three months and tried to come to terms with life beyond cricket.”I thought my career was done at that point,” he says now. “It was a tough time. But I got a job at the Royal Hospital School in Ipswich and, in between teaching a bit of PE, football and cricket, I trained and netted with [former Essex allrounder] Graham Napier, who also teaches there.”Then he had some fortune. Having been given a trial at Sussex, he saw Ben Brown suffer a concussion in a pre-season warm-up game and was drafted into the side. He did pretty nicely, too, but with Brown also likely to reclaim the gloves eventually, was forced to battle it out as a specialist batter. When it became apparent that Warwickshire were looking for a replacement for Tim Ambrose, he jumped at the chance to claim a role as keeper. Warwickshire promised him an extended run in the side and do not even have another keeper on the staff at present.All of which sounds good and well. But, going into this match, he was averaging 12.66 this season and doubts were starting to mount. Dan Lincoln, a 25-year-old who has played a few games for Middlesex, has been brought into the second XI on trial. Burgess really needed this innings.Very nicely he played, too. While his strength is square and through the covers on the off side – an area in which he evokes memories of Mike Gatting – here he also demonstrated a sound defence, left well and was far better off his legs than he has been previously. He was one of only two men in the Warwickshire side to make more than 32 and helped his side to a third batting bonus point before being the last man out. Worcestershire were limited to two bowling bonus points.”Yes, potentially, I really do need to make this [time at Warwickshire] work,” Burgess admitted afterwards. “I’m trying not to think like that, but of course those thoughts come into your head.”I love cricket. I want to play cricket for a long, long time. I’ve had experience of a life outside cricket and I realise how lucky we are to come to Edgbaston and call it a workplace.”It’s been a tough month. This is a bit of a relief. I’ve put in some hard graft to get here so today was really sweet.”Jake Libby’s story is slightly different. But by the time he left Nottinghamshire, at the end of 2019, he averaged 26.82 in first-class cricket for the club and looked as if he might not make it at this level.But Worcestershire’s coach, Kevin Sharp, had long been an admirer. He had seen him make 170 for the Notts second XI in 2017 and knew this was a player who had more to offer. He jumped at the chance to sign him.It has proved an astute move. Libby, a compact, patient opener with a back-foot punch so gorgeous it might have been played by Sachin, is now averaging 70.21 for Worcestershire in first-class cricket and requires 17 more in the second innings to record his 1,000th first-class run for the club in just his 10th match. Only five men have scored more than his 485 runs this season.Warwickshire may be a little frustrated, though. Not only did they see Tim Bresnan, at slip, put down a relatively simple chance offered by Daryl Mitchell on one off a perfect Liam Norwell outswinger, but Libby was somewhat fortunate to see one fly just over short leg when a short ball cramped him for room.Later Jake Haynes, very much a young man at the start of his career, suggested he was the latest in an impressive line of home-grown Worcestershire players who could enjoy a long career. Son of former all-rounder Gavin, Haynes demonstrated a calm temperament and some elegant strokes in recording the highest score of his first-class career to date. He dealt with a fiery spell from Olly Stone as well as anyone.Given his injury record, there was some concern when Stone left the pitch in late afternoon in conversation with the physio. The club say he was suffering from nothing more than a mild stomach ache, however, and insist he will be fine for the rest of the game. During that spell he dismissed Libby, smartly held at short leg, after going round the wicket and cramping him for room, while Brett D’Oliveira was fortunate to see a bouncer fended off from his throat fly off the handle of the bat over the slip cordon for four. It was further evidence that Stone has the pace, hostility, control and skill for Test cricket.After his well-documented injury issues, Stone, too, may feel he is enjoying a second chance in the game. On this evidence, he, Burgess and Libby are all seizing that opportunity.
اعترف أحد لاعبي فريق ليفربول بدور النجم السنغالي ساديو ماني في إقناعه بالانتقال إلى النادي الإنجليزي، حسب تصريحاته الصحفية اليوم.
ورحل ساديو ماني عن صفوف ليفربول في عام 2022 حيث انتقل إلى بايرن ميونخ، ولكنه لم يستمر طويلًا قبل انتقاله إلى النصر السعودي.
وصرّح ريان جرافنبرخ بدور ساديو ماني في إقناعه بمغادرة بايرن ميونخ والانتقال إلى ليفربول في 2023.
وقضى جرافنبرخ موسمًا واحدًا مع ساديو ماني في صفوف بايرن ميونخ قبل رحيل كلاهما عن بطل الدوري الألماني.
وقال جرافنبرخ، في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ميرور” الإنجليزية: “ساديو رجل لطيف حقًا، عندما كنت في ميونخ سألته عن ليفربول، إذا كانت خطوة جيدة بالنسبة لي، وكيف كان النادي وكل شيء”.
وأضاف: “قال الكثير من الأشياء الجيدة، في رأسي دارت كلمات مثل (يجب أن أرحل، يجب أن أرحل!)”.
وواصل: “لقد تحدثت في ذلك الوقت مع كلوب وأخبرني أن فرصي ستأتي بالتأكيد، سأحصل على دقائق اللعب وفرصي، ولكن عليً أن أظهر له ما إذا كنت مستعدًا لذلك، كان هذا دائمًا في ذهني، كان تركيزي الوحيد هو يجب أن أظهر نفسي مرة أخرى”.
وأردف: “لقد ولدت ونشأت في أمستردام، لذلك كنت أعرف كل شيء في بلادي، كنت أعرف الجميع ثم ذهبت إلى بلد مختلف ومدينة مختلفة، حيث لم أكن أعرف أي شخص أو أي شيء”.
اقرأ أيضًا | شيرر يختار التشكيل المثالي للجولة 24 من الدوري الإنجليزي.. موقف محمد صلاح
واسترسل: “لقد كان الأمر صعبًا ولكن كان من الجيد أيضًا الخروج من منطقة الراحة الخاصة بي، أياكس نادٍ كبير ولكن أعتقد أنه إذا كنت تريد الوصول إلى القمة، فعليك الذهاب إلى إنجلترا أو إسبانيا أو ألمانيا للوصول إلى إمكاناتك الكاملة”.
وأوضح: “لم ألعب كثيرًا في بايرن ميونخ، أتيت من أياكس حيث لعبت كل شئ، كنت في القمة وانتقلت إلى نادِ كبير (بايرن) ورأيت لاعبين آخرين جيدين وكبار حقًا، تريد أيضًا اللعب هناك لكنني لم ألعب كثيرًا، كان الأمر صعبًا بعض الشيء، لكن كان لدي والداي حيث أجريت الكثير من المحادثات معهما، وحافظا على هدوئي”.
وأكد: “تعلمت أن أكون في حالة استعداد دائمًا، يكون الأمر صعبًا عندما يحين وقت مشاركتك عندما تعاني من قلة اللعب، كان عليً إظهار قدراتي من جديد”.
واعترف: “لم ألعب كثيرًا ولم أكن أرغب في قضاء عام آخر مثل هذ،. كنت أعلم أنني يجب أن أظهر قدراتي، في بعض الأحيان يتعين عليك التكيف مع نادي جديد، وبلد جديد، وكل شيء جديد”.
واختتم: “الآن أشعر بالراحة، أريد الفوز بالألقاب مع ليفربول، الدوري الإنجليزي بالتأكيد! أعتقد أن هذا هو الشيء الذي يتعين علينا تحقيقه هذا الموسم”.
Hoping to seal their summer by ticking one last target off their list, West Ham United are reportedly at an advanced stage to sign an attacking reinforcement and are now happy to meet his valuation.
West Ham transfer news
The Hammers have arguably had one of the best transfer windows in the Premier League, signing the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Crysencio Summerville, Jean-Clair Todibo and several others. And Julen Lopetegui has already started to reward the owners for that investment, picking up his first three points as a West Ham manager in their 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
Even after a successful summer so far, however, the London club may not be done there on the incomings front, having been linked to the likes of Raheem Sterling and Carlos Soler.
Reports even suggest that their deal to sign Soler from Paris Saint-Germain is a priority for sporting director Tim Steidten, with negotiations ongoing to seal the Spaniard's signature. In a move to add more creativity to Lopetegui's midfield, Steidten has also reportedly turned his attention to signing a solution to the Hammers' long-term striker problem.
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport via Sport Witness, West Ham are now at an advanced stage in their deal to sign Tammy Abraham and are even happy to meet his valuation of €20m-€25m (£17m-£21m) in the coming days.
West Ham star who won 88% duels was the real hero over Soucek
West Ham star proved his worth with an excellent performance.
ByConnor Holden Aug 25, 2024
This follows earlier reports that West Ham were close to meeting that price tag, with the fresh update indicating that any gap has now been bridged ahead of the forward's potential arrival. A Chelsea academy graduate, Abraham looks increasingly likely to be on his way back to the Premier League, where he could haunt his former club by starring for a London rival in England's top flight this season.
Is Abraham better than Fullkrug?
It would have been easy to assume that West Ham were done with signing strikers after welcoming Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund earlier this summer, but he was never a long-term option at 31 years old. That's where Abraham could come in and instantly usurp the German this month, with his Premier League know-how a vital advantage in what would be an intense battle for the starting spot.
Appearances
89
Goals
26
Assists
5
Managing a goal contribution just over every two games during his previous Premier League spell, Abraham would be arriving a more experienced forward this time around at 26 years old. Looking to rediscover his best form after an injury-ridden year or so at Roma, the London Stadium should be an ideal environment to do just that.
Former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is someone who will certainly be keeping an eye on the England international, having praised Abraham during his time in charge. Lampard told Chelsea's official website: "I’m delighted with Tammy. He has a really great attitude in training, a desire to score goals and his all-round game was really good as well. Myself and the staff are working closely with him on little bits of his game where I think he can be even better and he’s been very receptive to that."
Brighton and Hove Albion's Chairman Tony Bloom has revealed just why Roberto de Zerbi was surprisingly let go from his post at the end of last season, stemming from a fundamental disagreement between the Italian and the club that was present from day one.
De Zerbi in demand
Ahead of Brighton's clash with Manchester United on the final day of the 2023-24 Premier League season, the Seagulls announced that Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi would be leaving the club.
"We have mutually agreed to end Roberto’s contract at a time that suits both parties allowing us the earliest opportunity to plan for next season, and Roberto plenty of time to consider his next move and his future", Bloom explained.
It came as a major shock, with De Zerbi having been hailed by fellow managers and the media for his stint at the AMEX Stadium, and having been linked with a move to Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona and AC Milan, only for his release clause on the south coast to prove prohibitive.
Roberto De Zerbi's Premier League stint
Games managed
70
Wins
26
Win %
37%
Points per game
1.39
Goals scored per game
1.66
He helped guide Brighton to their first ever taste of European football, but a tough season saw them slip to 11th as injuries and defensive woes crippled the Seagulls in the wake of the exits of Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister the previous summer.
Now at Marseille, the top level interest which promised to transpire never did, and now Bloom has revealed just why his sudden exit had to happen.
Fundamental disagreement over transfer strategy
That comes thanks to a major disagreement over the transfer strategy that Brighton utilise, which often revolves around selling their best assets for a massive profit and replacing them with young, largely unknown talents based on data-driven recruitment, as they did when replacing Caicedo with youngster Carlos Baleba.
The transfer and scouting department have the major and final say on proceedings, something that De Zerbi was clearly not keen to buy into, judging by comments made by Bloom about his departure.
"Roberto had thoughts on certain players, but that is not the way we as a club work. The club will decide on the players potentially to bring into the club, in conjunction with the head coach", Bloom explained to The Athletic.
"It’s not a situation, the way we work, that the head coach says, ‘I like this player and that player’, and that’s what we do (in terms of signings). If a head coach has some ideas, that comes in as part of the process, but a head coach really liking a player has got to fit many characteristics, it has got to fit with the data analysis we do.
All 20 Premier League clubs' record signings
From Manchester City to Ipswich Town, here’s a look at each Premier League club’s most expensive signing.
ByBrogan Clasper Sep 4, 2024
"When Roberto came in (After Graham Potter's departure in September 2022), we explained the process and the philosophy. If there is non-alignment between the head coach and the club, things are never going to work out long-term."
Clearly successful as a strategy to date, even the ability of De Zerbi in the dugout was not enough to convince Brighton to change their policies, and they will be hoping that in Fabian Hurzeler they have found a man who is just as tactically adept while also being happy to work with the players he is given.
Liverpool are interested in Samuele Ricci, and may rival Manchester City for the Torino star's signature in January, per a new report.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Ricci eyed by both clubsBoth had been interested in Martin ZubimendiZubimendi sustained serious injuryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to, both City and Liverpool are interested in signing Ricci in January. The pair had each been linked with Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi but he was recently ruled out with a back injury, perhaps encouraging each club to source potential alternatives.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
City need a replacement for the injured Rodri, while there is also said to be interest from both AC Milan and Inter. Liverpool are now said to have joined the chase, with Torino demanding more than €30 million (£25m/$31.5m), although that fee is unlikely to put off Arne Slot's side.
DID YOU KNOW?
Ricci can play as a six or as an eight in midfield, and has clocked 95 appearances for Torino since arriving from Empoli in 2022. He has also won six caps for Italy, and he recently played 90 minutes in their 3-1 Nations League win over France.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
AFPWHAT NEXT?
Ricci has a contract until 2026 and with so many clubs sniffing around, it feels very likely that he will be moving on swiftly. It remains to be seen if he ends up at Anfield or the Etihad, however, given that there is also interest in Italy.
Leeds United fans would have accepted the odd departure here or there this summer, knowing that it was a likely outcome that their squad could be picked off bit by bit after not winning promotion to the Premier League.
Yet, with Georginio Rutter now expected to head for the exit door for £40m to move to Brighton and Hove Albion, Daniel Farke's men are set to lose Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and their sensational Frenchman all in the space of the same catastrophic transfer window.
This might well have been an easier reality to stomach from the point of view of the Championship promotion challengers if they all moved on gradually over time, but the sudden nature of all of their top talents leaving the building will be a hard one to take if you're an ardent Leeds fan.
The 2023 signing featured during Leeds' dismal League Cup defeat to Middlesbrough on Wednesday evening but that is likely to be the last we see of him at Elland Road.
Just hours after the game had finished, reports emerged that Brighton had activated Rutter's £40m release clause, an exit fee that was due to expire at midnight on Thursday.
Since then, Farke has all but confirmed the attacker will be on his way out, with the player saying his goodbyes to the club.
Despite this setback, the Whites have bounced back from bigger departures in the past and will strive to do the same here, with Raphinha's exit to Barcelona in 2022 another soul-sapping loss of personnel at the time.
The entertaining South American attacker would swap Rennes for Leeds before the 2020/21 season, becoming a statement capture after Marcelo Bielsa's Whites had finally returned to the promised land of the Premier League.
He would be an instant success wearing Leeds white, with six goals and nine assists registered during his debut campaign, before taking it up a notch during his second, and final season with 11 goals fired in from 35 games, even as his side tried to keep their heads above water at the foot of the league.
That would signal the end of Raphinha's fleeting, but meaningful, love affair with the West Yorkshire titans, with a bumper move to Barcelona sealed that summer.
The Whites finally suffered relegation without their Brazilian "magician" – as he was labelled by former Leeds teammate Daniel James – when the pair played alongside each other at Elland Road.
Leeds didn't let their star man exit without getting a pretty penny out of the Catalonian giants first, however, with £55m sent the way of his former employers, making him the most expensive sale in the club's history.
Archie Gray's sale of £30m to Tottenham Hotspur this summer feels miniscule in comparison, whilst those at Leeds will be cursing the decision-making of those formerly trusted with overseeing proceedings that allowed a £40m release clause to be placed above Rutter's head, that now sees him set to move away to the Seagulls.
Leeds will hope that they end up winning in terms of the major move, as £40m is still a sizeable amount of money to work with when it comes to luring new incomings through the door.
Moreover, Raphinha has struggled to settle in Spain since exiting Elland Road, so it could be said that the Championship outfit cashed in at the best possible time in that regard, instead of allowing his value to potentially deteriorate if he wasn't let go in his prime.
Therefore, the same could be true for Rutter, who might well be a flash-in-the-pan signing by Brighton, considering his past woes in the division with the Whites.
|
Raphinha's record at Barcelona |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Games played |
Goals scored |
Assists |
|
23/24 |
37 |
10 |
13 |
|
22/23 |
50 |
10 |
12 |
|
Sourced by Transfermarkt |
|||
Finding himself in and out of the Barca first team ranks owing to recurring injury issues last season in LaLiga, Raphinha could now welcome a return back to England according to reports, with Transfermarkt speculating that his valuation for a club to snap him up would still be in the region of £42m.
That's £2m more than what Leeds are managing to get out of Rutter, despite the former TSG 1899 Hoffenheim attacker setting the second alight last campaign with six goals and 15 assists collected from 45 contests.
Leeds will just hope Rutter doesn't go on to become an established top performer moving on up a league, resulting in his value going up and up, way above the £40m that has resulted in the 22-year-old star departing Elland Road prematurely.
Not just Rutter: 4/10 star should never play for Leeds again after Boro
Leeds United fans wouldn’t be too sad to see the back of this dud away from Georginio Rutter’s expected exit.
1
By
Kelan Sarson
Aug 15, 2024
أعلن الألماني ماتياس يايسله المدير الفني لفريق الأهلي عن تشكيل لاعبيه لمباراة النصر في إطار منافسات الدوري السعودي “روشن”.
يستضيف ملعب الجوهرة المشعة مواجهة قوية تجمع بين الأهلي والنصر، مساء اليوم، في كلاسيكو الدوري السعودي، وذلك ضمن منافسات الجولة العشرين.
ماركا: فينيسيوس بين الإغراء السعودي وريال مدريد.. هل يتكرر سيناريو رونالدو؟
ويسعى الأهلي إلى انتزاع ثلاث نقاط ثمينة تعزز من فرصه في التقدم نحو المربع الذهبي، حيث يحتل المركز الخامس برصيد 38 نقطة، بعد تحقيقه 12 انتصارًا وتعادلين، مقابل خمس هزائم.
في المقابل، يدخل النصر اللقاء وعينه على تحقيق الفوز لمواصلة ملاحقة الهلال والاتحاد في سباق الصدارة، حيث يحتل المركز الثالث برصيد 41 نقطة، بعدما حقق 12 انتصارًا وتعادل في خمس مباريات، مقابل هزيمتين فقط، ويبتعد بفارق ست نقاط عن الهلال صاحب المركز الثاني والاتحاد المتصدر.
وكانت مباراة الدور الأول بين الفريقين في الدوري السعودي قد انتهت بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدف لمثله، حيث سجل فرانك كيسيه للأهلي، بينما جاء هدف النصر عن طريق نيران صديقة. تشكيل الأهلي اليوم أمام النصر في الدوري السعودي
حراسة المرمى: إدوارد ميندي.
خط الدفاع: على مجرشي- ميريح ديميرال- روجر إيبانيز- عبدالله العمار.
خط الوسط: زياد الجهني- فرانك كيسيه- جابري فيجا.
خط الهجوم: رياض محرز- إيفان توني- جالينو.
Manchester United have had a far-from-ideal start to the 2024/25 campaign. It was a big summer transfer window at Old Trafford, where the Red Devils spent around £205.9m as per Sky Sports. However, their start to the new season certainly does not reflect the big bucks splashed by Erik ten Hag’s side.
The new campaign actually got off to a winning start for the Dutchman and his side, as they overcame Fulham at Old Trafford. United beat the Cottagers 1-0, with a goal from debutant Joshua Zirkzee sealing all three points in the Premier League’s opening game.
However, things quickly went downhill from there, and the 13-time Premier League champions suffered two defeats in a row. The first of those came at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion, who beat United 2-1 on the South Coast after a late winning goal from Joao Pedro.
Their most recent loss came against big rivals Liverpool. The Anfield side toyed with the Red Devils, eventually securing a 3-0 victory with two goals coming from Luis Diaz and one at the hands of Mohamed Salah. That was a particularly poor performance from United, but there was one player in particular who struggled, a man whose value in the past few months has rapidly declined.
Casemiro’s value in 2024
The player in question here is United’s Brazilian midfielder, Casemiro. The 32-year-old has been a shadow of his former self in 2024 and is far from the destroyer in midfield who helped Real Madrid win five Champions League titles between 2014 and 2022.
Indeed, that has led to plenty of criticism from the wider media, with former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher one of those to criticise the former Brazil captain. Carragher famously said United’s number 18 must “leave the football before the football leaves you” after United lost 4-0 away to Crystal Palace last season.
His performance against Liverpool last Sunday was perhaps the icing on the cake on what is a sad decline by someone who was once one of the best midfielders in Europe.
Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst gave Casemiro a rating of 1/10 following his showing against the Reds, claiming it was “one of the worst” first halves of football by a United player at Old Trafford. He was hauled off at half-time.
His numbers from the game certainly reflect this. As per Sofascore, the 32-year-old completed just 70% of his passes, won only two from five ground duels, was dribbled past twice and made two errors leading to a goal. It was a poor performance.
Casemiro stats vs. Liverpool
Stat
Number
Pass accuracy
70%
Possession lost
14
Ground duels won
2/5
Dribbled past
2
Errors leading to goal
2
Stats from Sofascore
With that in mind, it is perhaps unsurprising that the former Madrid midfielder’s value has dropped so much. According to Transfermarkt, he is now valued at just £16.8m, a far cry from the high of £67.5m he was valued at in 2020 whilst still a Los Blancos player.
Despite his steep decline, the Brazilian is still a player who Ten Hag has trusted throughout his tenure at Old Trafford. The 32-year-old has pulled on that famous red shirt 87 times, scored 12 goals and registered nine assists along the way.
Market Movers
Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?
There is no doubt that the fast decline of United’s number 18 has impacted the team, and it is certainly sad to see such a legend of the modern game look a shadow of his former self. He has now slipped far down the list of highest-valued players at Old Trafford, and there has been something of a changing of the guard.
The next generation of Red Devils stars have now begun to overtake Casemiro, including Alejandro Garnacho.
Alejandro Garnacho’s value in 2024
It has been something of an astronomic rise to the top for 20-year-old Argentina international Garnacho. The winger has become a crucial player under Ten Hag and has since become a full international with the 2022 World Cup winners. The dynamic winger was part of Lionel Scaloni’s squad that won the 2024 Copa America.
In total, he has played 90 times for the Red Devils so far, an impressive number of appearances at such a young age. He has scored 19 goals and has 11 assists to his name, with the 2023/24 campaign in particular proving to be successful for the youngster, his best yet in terms of goals and assists.
Garnacho stats during 2023/24 season
Competition
Games
Goals
Assists
Premier League
36
7
4
Champions League
6
1
0
FA Cup
6
1
1
Carabao Cup
2
1
0
Total
50
10
5
Stats from Transfermarkt
The youngster has already scored some crucial goals for United so far, despite being so early in his Old Trafford career. The wing wizard scored United’s opener in both the FA Cup Final and the Community Shield, both against Manchester City.
The cumulation of the United number 17’s impressive performances in Red so far has led to a prestigious nomination for the Kopa Trophy. Garnacho is in with a shot at winning the award for Europe’s best young player, along with fellow United academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo, and the likes of Lamine Yamal.
Given the impressive start Garnacho has made to his Red Devils career, it is no surprise he is so highly valued now. The 20-year-old is worth more than double that of Casemiro, with his current value as per Transfermarkt standing at £37.9m.
Not only does that show just how good the youngster has been for Ten Hag’s side, but it also represents superb profit margins for United. They paid an incredibly low fee to acquire his services from Atletico Madrid back in 2020, just £420k, as per the Manchester Evening News.
Described as a “wonderboy” by football scout Antonio Mango, the 19-year-old certainly seems to be a superb investment for United so far. He has already shot up in value thanks to his impressive performances, and could even receive an award as a result.
It has certainly been a brilliant piece of business from the Red Devils, and Garnacho continues to repay their faith.
Man Utd "phenomenon" sold by Solskjær is now outscoring Hojlund & Zirkzee
The brilliant striker was incredible last season.
3 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 6, 2024