Cristiano Ronaldo’s reintegration into the Manchester UnitedFirst team will be determined after talks with Erik Ten Hag. Training with the squad will continue as normal, however, since Monday was a holiday following the draw. ChelseaLaurie Whitwell, Pol Ballus and others agree.
United played four games in ten days. Ten Hag confirmed that a 24-hour break was necessary after United secured a dramatic draw at Stamford Bridge. Ronaldo was absent due to his punishment for having left the grounds. Tottenham HotspurGame, who was in the gym early Wednesday morning, did a personal training program while he was away from his main group.
Ten Hag insists that Ronaldo is his option for the remainder of the season. However, he first wants to hear from the Portuguese about the situation and whether or not he can accept not being a starter every week.
Ronaldo will likely re-join the first-team if he is open to flexibility in his selections and shows contrition. Ten Hag would let him explore new clubs if he refuses to accept a reduced role.
It was difficult to find a summer suitor, but the only offer from Al Hilal, a Saudi Arabian club, proved successful. European clubs were informed Ronaldo would be willing to accept a pay cut to join United. However, no other European clubs were notified. Champions LeagueHe was offered for sale by both sides.
If Ronaldo stays at United, he will need to learn to be used from the bench (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images).
Sporting Lisbon, Napoli cites as the biggest stumblingblock. Borussia Dortmund — clubs contacted by agent Jorge Mendes — was the cost of recruiting Ronaldo. The final decision on whether this is to change will come from internal discussions.
In the summer, United wanted a fee (although talks never got that far) but now it is thought the club would allow a free transfer subject to Ronaldo’s contract being mutually terminated. That would remove the club’s highest earner from the wage bill and Ronaldo would have the licence to sort his next move, albeit inevitably on vastly reduced terms.
However, it is still a questionable whether the 37-year-old would give up the six remaining months of his United salary.
Another option is for United to reach an agreement with Ronaldo over his owed wages, negotiating a one off sum that is less than the total contracted commitment. However, this seems unlikely. United are tightening their belts financially after spending more than budget this summer and won’t pay Ronaldo to sign elsewhere.
Even with the current situation, January looks quiet for United. Unless a low-cost, emergency solution is possible, signing a replacement is not an option. Paying first to let Ronaldo go does not stack up from United’s perspective.
Joel Glazer is grill over Manchester United payouts
Manchester United owner Joel Glazer has remained publicly silent amid renewed focus on the family’s ownership of the club but the fan advisory board (FAB) directly pressed him on a variety of issues earlier this month, writes Laurie Whitwell.
Glazer was interviewed on the topic of dividends. Why was money paid from club funds to shareholders?Even though the team was in its worst season since the formation of the Premier League, United as a company made it a success. £115.5million ($130m) loss.
Dividends worth £33.6m were spread among those carrying stock, with the Glazers taking the lion’s share. At the same time, the club drew down a further £40m on available overdrafts, increasing the debt burden on United.
Glazer was reported to have listened attentively to the criticisms, as supporters pointed to the disconnect between the stated goals of sporting success (and shareholders getting money regardless of results) It is unclear if Glazer will change his practice.
Joel Glazer listened intently to United supporters (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images).
This was the third meeting that Glazer attended since United established a regular process for fans to communicate with them after the Super League collapse. Two other group calls lasted for four hours and were thought to have been similar in length. Glazer’s intention is to consider fan sentiment when making his decisions.
Stadium redevelopment, the Glazers’ long-term intentions amid public interest from Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and recruitment strategy were also discussed.
Richard Arnold, chief executive and John Murtough football director were also on the line. Collette Roche, chief operational officer, was also on the line.
The minutes of meetings are kept confidential and are published only twice a year. This confidentiality, according to the club, allows for more open discussion.
United still pays Phelan as a new role, but it is not yet agreed to.
All attempts to Middlesbrough to appoint Mike Phelan as part of Michael Carrick’s backroom team will not be blocked by Manchester United despite the 60-year-old still being employed at Old Trafford, writes Laurie Whitwell.
Phelan has not worked for United since last season, when he was supporting interim manager Ralf Rangnick. There has been a restriction covenant against Phelan taking on a new job in football. Phelan still receives his wages on a contract signed October 2021. However, a final severance agreement or a new position have not been reached.
Phelan won 15 major trophies in his 21-year career as a player and coach at United. There was talk of a position for him to be an ambassador. Phelan is busy coaching through Sensible Soccer, his punditry and speaking engagements.
Phelan, then United’s assistant manager, with Paul Pogba (Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)
Phelan has a contract with United through June 2024. Therefore, an agreement is needed on the remaining salary period. The club will typically transfer a lump amount immediately to players in exchange for a lower overall financial payment. But sometimes coaches or managers are paid on a monthly basis until they get new employment. Also, gardening leave can be used. Solskjaer received a £7.5million payout upon being sacked last November.
Carrick has been in productive talks about taking over the Riverside, and Phelan is an option to be his assistant. Phelan was Carrick’s coach for seven seasons at United, and they worked together for three more years under Solskjaer.
Astro, a Malaysian television station, employed Phelan as a pundit. Premier League games, for United’s matches against Tottenham and Chelsea.
Rene Meulensteen is also being considered for a Boro coach job. Carrick admires her. Meulensteen, however, is focused on Australia at the upcoming World CupAssistant manager to Graham Arnold.
Super League has a new CEO, but no new life.
A22 Sports Management, which was established to help the creation the European Super League, reported Dan Sheldon.
A22 is concerned with the structure, financial and operational aspects of potential competition.
Six Premier League clubs — Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham — signed up to the controversial breakaway plan in April 2021, only for it to collapse 48 hours later but they remain legally tied into a contract with the Super League.
Spanish clubs BarcelonaAnd Real MadridAlso, Serie A’s JuventusThey continue to work hard and are determined to create the ESL.
Although Reichart proclaimed the vision is “very much alive”, his appointment is not a sign that Premier League clubs are working behind the scenes to bring the project back to life.
Legal departments across football — particularly those involved in the ESL proposals — will be paying close attention to the European Court of Justice’s forthcoming ruling, in which Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus have alleged UEFA is monopolising international competitions.
If the ruling goes in the clubs’ favour, then it could prove to be a seismic moment in Reichart’s plans to breathe new life into the breakaway league.
It is unlikely to have any immediate significance for the Premier League clubs, however, as they have made firm commitments — which they are bound by — to England’s top flight and UEFA.
The Premier League’s owners’ charter asks clubs “not to engage in the creation of new competition formats outside of the Premier League’s rules”.
James already has plans for a post-playing career
Chelsea defender Reece JamesDavid Ornstein reports that David Ornstein has appointed a specialist agency for marketing to help him build a platform for the future.
James, 22 years old, already has his sights set on his future career as a right-back and is determined to do more for his community.
B-Engaged is a London-based agency that will help James learn and guide him on how to use his platform and voice for positive change. The emphasis is on younger generations.
James is working with a firm to use his social media platforms (Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
B-Engaged worked already with players like Kai HavertzHector Bellerin, Ella Toone. It signed Arsenal’s William SalibaThis week, more were announced.
James, with five million combined followers on social media platforms Twitter and Instagram, is now in a race against the clock to be fit for 2022 World Cup Qatar. He has been out of action for two months after suffering a knee injury.
On Friday, he announced that he would vlog his recovery after an injury on his YouTube channel.
Liebherr’s Southampton shareholding diluted
Katharina Liebherr is no longer a shareholder in Southampton at 20%, according to Dan Sheldon.
After Markus died in August 2010, from a heart attack, she inherited the club and continued full ownership until Gao Jisheng sold an 80 per cent stake in 2017.
Und wann? Sport Republic purchased the club in the first year. it did not include Liebherr’s 20 per cent.
However, following the group’s investment over the summer, when it injected millions of pounds into the club, her shares have been diluted.
The exact stake of Liebherr has not been disclosed. However, this means Liebherr is no longer in control of 20% of Southampton and her shareholdings have decreased.
Due to the increased capital put into Southampton by Sport Republic, her shares — even though they no longer total 20 per cent — remain at the same value.
The pitch Nathan TellaHis excellent form has been maintained. BurnleyThey made a comeback against SunderlandAfter joining the loan program from Southampton during the summer.
Southampton have an option to recall Tella from Burnley (Photo: Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images)
The 23-year-old has scored six goals in the Championship for Vincent Kompany’s side and his form has not gone unnoticed on the south coast.
The Premier League club added an option to recall Tella to the deal when they loaned him for a season. But, he is happy and well at Burnley so it is unlikely that they will exercise it.
Tella recently moved into a new apartment in Manchester and is enjoying working under Kompany’s management.
Little clarity over why United’s allocation was reduced at Chelsea
Manchester United’s away section erupted with wild celebrations at Casemiro’s 94th-minute equaliser on Saturday but there was no sign of trouble at Chelsea, raising further questions about why United’s allocation was Cut by 624 to make way for the 5.30pm kickoff.
The Metropolitan Police insisted the only way United could get a full section of 2,994 people was if the match kicked off at 4.45pm because it was ruled a “high-risk” fixture. The match’s timing fell within the UK blackout to televise live football on Saturday. So the compromise was a lower travelling crowd and a start at 45 minutes later.
A Met spokesperson subsequently said: “There is no rule in place but a kick-off time of later than 4.45pm is considered as part of the overall risk assessment of the match and is likely to increase the risk, particularly when at weekends or bank holidays.”
The Met declined to provide any evidence for the decision when asked what made Chelsea vs United “high risk” when previous fixtures of full away ends passed without issue.
“Many considerations go into why a game is classed as ‘high-risk’ such as the day, time, and other events taking place in London,” a spokesperson said. “Our first priority in policing football is the safety of fans and those who live and work in the local community. This can require significant resources and we have to balance this commitment against our many other policing responsibilities across London.”
One final question: How does an away allocation, 2,370, affect the risk rating? Why is the home crowd not affected? Answer: “Ticket allocation is not a decision taken directly by the police.”
Laurie Whitwell
Not yet determined the timing of Premier League Christmas fixtures
The Premier League has been criticised by the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) for failing to announce the timings of its December and January fixtures, reports Dan Sheldon.
While October 11 was tentatively confirmed, it is not yet known what the broadcast schedule will be over Christmas and New Year. Boxing Day will be nine weeks away. However, the Premier League will be taking a break for six weeks next week to broadcast the World Cup.
Steve Moulds, who sits on the FSA’s Broadcast Working Group, toldThe Athletic “We asked the Premier League to stick to the six-week deadline, and at the start of the season they did, but now they haven’t.
“We understand there are mitigating factors and multiple stakeholders involved in the decision-making process. But the Premier League made a commitment to communicate reasons they couldn’t make a six-week commitment if it occurred, which they haven’t followed up with.
“Given it is Christmas, why can’t they just announce the Boxing Day fixtures as they are all on Amazon (in the UK)? We haven’t had a response yet.
“There is scant regard to how this affects fans and what it means to people in terms of making plans and arranging transport.”
The Premier League maintains a dialogue with the FSA. They cited several factors to consider when scheduling fixtures.
This is why it is said that the provisional date are targets and not fixed in stone.
(Top photos from Getty Images
