Latest news with #Manchester United
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Marcus Rashford closing in on move to Barcelona
Marcus Rashford is on the verge of a dream move to Barcelona with agreement close over a loan deal for the Manchester United forward. The 27-year-old has made it clear that the Catalan club is his preferred destination after being told he can leave Old Trafford. Now the England forward appears to be moving up the list of targets at Camp Nou as others fall away. According to sources both clubs are on the same page over a loan deal to the La Liga champions, with an official agreement seen as a formality, raising Rashford's hopes of going from United outcast to playing up front for one of the most glamorous clubs in European football. Barca have also looked at Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams and Liverpool's Luis Díaz in their search for a wide-forward this summer. Williams, 23, has just signed a 10-year deal to stay with his Basque club, while Bayern Munich are leading the race for Díaz. Rashford represents a much more cost-effective deal for the Catalan giants, who have targetted him for a loan deal including add-ons such as an option to buy at the end of next season. Football Association documents showed that Spanish agent Arturo Canales worked for Villa as an intermediary when Rashford moved to that club in January. Canales has strong ties at Barcelona with current and former players in his stable. 'Spain is nice, it is not too far from home' Rashford's position at Old Trafford has been made clear as he has spent pre-season training away from the first-team as he looks for a new club. Alejandro Garnacho, Tyrell Malacia, Antony and Jadon Sancho are in the same position and none were included in the squad to face Leeds United in Sweden for a pre-season friendly this weekend. Rashford has also been stripped of the No10 shirt which he has worn since 2018, with new signing Matheus Cunha given his number. It is understood that other clubs have also shown interest in Rashford this summer, given his successful loan at Aston Villa last season when he played in the Champions League and helped secure European football for Unai Emery's team. But his dream has been to play for Barcelona, which he outlined in a recent interview broadcast with Spanish influencer Javi 'xBuyer' Ruiz. He was warm-weather training in Malaga and has spoke of how much he would like to play with Barca's 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal. He also discussed his boyhood idol being ex-Arsenal and Barcelona forward Thierry Henry. Dwaine Maynard, Rashford's brother and agent, has previously held meetings with Barcelona representatives but no deal has progressed. Rashford, when pointedly asked if he would like to play with Yamal, said: 'Yes, for sure. Everyone wants to play with the best. Hopefully... we'll see.' He added: 'Spain is nice, it is not too far from I'm training over a long period of time, my family can come over as the flight is only three hours. It's a nice location and good weather.' Rashford 'doesn't deserve' Barcelona move Last week, Rashford's situation was likened to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's at Arsenal when he tried to force through a move to Barca and got his way after being released. 'If you assess where Marcus Rashford is at as a professional footballer, you strive as a youngster to get to the very top and play for clubs like Manchester United, and when you're there, you appreciate it,' Teddy Sheringham told Sky Bet. 'You don't throw it away and say you want to leave. 'I find the whole episode very soul-destroying, compared to the way I was back in the day and how I strove to get the privilege to play for such a huge football club. 'To hear someone talking the way he is talking, saying he wants out – I didn't like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doing that at Arsenal, I thought it was soul-destroying, and I hope Rashford doesn't get the move that he's hankering for. 'From my perspective, if you go from Manchester United to Barcelona, that's a step up that he hasn't deserved.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pictures: Man United trio show their true colours in classy tribute to Liverpool star Diogo Jota and brother Andre Silva
Pictures: Man United trio show their true colours in classy tribute to Liverpool star Diogo Jota and brother Andre Silva Manchester United trio of Ruben Amorim, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot laid flowers on behalf of the club at the Anfield memorial for Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. Tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva Earlier this month, Jota and his brother were tragically killed in a devastating car crash in Spain. Advertisement Since news of the accident emerged, the footballing world has been shaken to its core, sparking an outpouring of emotion that has transcended rivalries and united everyone. During Liverpool's pre-season friendly against Preston North End on Sunday, players, staff and supporters of both teams paid tribute to Jota and his brother. Preston skipper Ben Whitman laid a wreath in front of the Liverpool fans. The two sides then took the pitch donning black armbands before a poignant minute of silence. Both Fernandes and Dalot were in attendance for the funerals of Jota and Silva on July 5. United granted the pair extended time away from pre-season training to help them come to terms with the loss of their compatriots. Advertisement The two United stars, together with Jota, were part of the Portugal team that recently lifted the Nations League trophy after overcoming Spain on penalties in the final. Amorim, Fernandes and Dalot pay tribute to Jota and his brother on behalf of United Fernandes and Dalot were accompanied by head coach Amorim to lay a wreath on behalf of United at the Anfield memorial. The three arrived at Anfield on Monday, dressed in all black. Alongside the wreath, they had a card that read, 'Rest in peace Diogo and Andre, with deepest condolences from everyone at Manchester United.' In the aftermath of the tragedy, Fernandes wrote on social media, 'Friend, colleague and companion in a thousand battles.' Advertisement 'It is difficult to understand how it is possible for someone to leave so soon. May you and your brother find the peace you need to look after those you lost so soon and suddenly.' 'My condolences to your entire family.' Dalot's message read 'Devastating… speechless… much strength to the family.' Follow us on Bluesky: @
The Independent
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Man United face goalkeeper dilemma after Andre Onana suffers injury in training
Andre Onana could miss the start of Manchester United 's pre-season programme after suffering a hamstring injury in training. United are continuing to assess the goalkeeper but the initial signs are that he has responded well to treatment. The plan remains for Onana to travel to the United States with the rest of Ruben Amorim's squad ahead of the Premier League Summer Series against West Ham, Everton and Bournemouth. Though it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to play in those matches. United's first pre-season game is against Leeds in Stockholm on 19 July, while they also host Fiorentina at Old Trafford on 9 August. They begin their top-flight season against Arsenal on 17 August and Onana has only missed four of United's 76 league games since his £42m move from Internazionale in 2023. Amorim's other senior goalkeepers are Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton, who signed a new, one-year contract in June. It remains to be seen if United will enter the market for a new goalkeeper, despite Onana's disappointing form since joining the club from Inter Milan. The 29-year-old has three more years on his contract, with the club possessing the option to extend the deal for a further 12 months. United remain keen on Bryan Mbeumo, but have so far fell short of Brentford's valuation of the forward, with Amorim desperate to bolster his squad after a nightmare debut campaign.
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Athletic Club's Yeray Lopez blames alopecia medicine for failed drugs test
Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Lopez says he has been provisionally suspended from football after he 'unintentionally took a hair loss prevention medicine containing a banned substance'. The 30-year-old failed a doping test after Bilbao's 3-0 loss to Manchester United at the San Mames in the Europa League semi-finals on 1 May. He said he had been taking medicine as part of treatment against hair loss in the years since overcoming testicular cancer, which he had been diagnosed with in 2016. In a social media post, he added that he 'could not believe' the result, 'given that I have never consumed prohibited substances in my life'. 'After studying the case, we have established that I tested positive because I unintentionally took a hair loss prevention medicine containing a banned substance,' Alvarez said. 'The disciplinary procedure is currently under investigation and subject to confidentiality, so I am provisionally suspended and am not authorised to make any further public statements. ' very much regret this situation but, with the support of the club, I am working on my defence in the belief that I will be able to return to the field of play as soon as possible.' Alvarez, who joined the club in 2014 and has made 257 appearances since, was a key part of the Bilbao side that finished fourth in La Liga last season and qualified for the 2025/26 Champions League. The club released its own statement in response to the news, saying that it is 'not authorised to make any additional statements about this issue'. 'Athletic Club wants to express its full support for Yeray Alvarez at this time and its complete confidence in the bodies charged with resolving the case'. "Once the proceedings are concluded, Yeray Alvarez and Athletic Club will offer all the pertinent and necessary explanations,' added the statement.
New York Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Athletic Club's Yeray Alvarez blames alopecia medicine for positive doping test result
Athletic Club defender Yeray Alvarez has said that he has been provisionally suspended after 'unintentionally' taking a banned substance to treat hair loss. Yeray said that he was informed that he had tested positive in a UEFA doping test following a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final in May. Advertisement The 30-year-old also said that he has been undergoing treatment for alopecia since recovering from testicular cancer, which he was first diagnosed with in 2016, with one form of medication containing a prohibited substance. He described the news of the positive test as a 'very hard blow.' 'I could not believe it, given that I have never in my life consumed prohibited substances,' Yeray said in a post on Instagram. 'Since I overcame my illness, I have been undergoing treatment against alopecia for years and, after studying the case, we have established that the positive test was the result of my unintentionally taking a preventive medication against hair loss that contained a banned substance. 'The disciplinary proceeding is currently under investigation and subject to confidentiality, so I am provisionally suspended and am not authorised to make any further public statements. 'I would like to say to all of you that I am very sorry for this situation but, with the support of the club, I am working on my defence in the belief that I will be able to return to the field as soon as possible. Once the process is completed, I will give all the necessary explanations.' Athletic expressed their support for Yeray in a statement and described the incident as 'human error.' UEFA does not comment on any alleged cases of doping until a final disciplinary decision has been made. Yeray has spent his entire career with Athletic. After coming through the club's academy and featuring for the reserve side, he made his first team debut in September 2016. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in December of that year and returned to action just over a month-and-a-half later, though in June 2017 it was announced that an abnormality had been discovered and he required further treatment. He returned to competition in February of the following year. Yeray has made 257 appearances for Athletic, scoring five goals and helping his side win the Supercopa de Espana in 2021 and the Copa del Rey in 2024. (Visionhaus/Getty Images)
