Manchester United’s football director John Murtough and chief transfer negotiator Matt Hargreaves popped up in Spain on Monday, sparking rumours that Mason Greenwood’s future was on the agenda.
Greenwood has spent the season on loan at Getafe and has been strongly linked with a £40million permanent move to LaLiga in the summer.
Murtough and Hargreaves were first seen on a video filmed outside a Barcelona restaurant where they had lunch with Barca sporting director Deco and two high-powered representatives from the Base agency, Frank Trimboli and Federico Massai.
The United duo were then pictured in Madrid later in the evening following further meetings there.
United sources assure Confidential that the talks were simply routine to share intelligence and explore potential deals without any specific focus on Greenwood.
Manchester United’s exiled forward Mason Greenwood has been linked with a host of Spanish clubs after impressing during his loan spell away from Old Trafford with Getafe in LaLiga
The Red Devils’ football director John Murtough (right), pictured with manager Erik ten Hag, was seen in Barcelona and Madrid alongside transfer negotiator Matt Hargreaves this week
New part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said no final decision had been made on Greenwood’s future
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Barca are said to be concentrating on other deals at the moment, although Atletico Madrid are another Spanish club believed to be interested in signing Greenwood.
The 22-year-old has scored eight goals in 26 games for Getafe who would also like to sign him permanently, but his wages would be a major stumbling block.
It’s not impossible that United could bring back Greenwood after new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said no decision has been made over the player’s future, but the feeling is that a clean break may be in everyone’s best interests. Watch this space.
Harry answers England call
Harry Maguire is expected to be named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad announcement on Thursday despite missing United’s last three matches with a calf injury.
The 31-year-old is making good progress and has made himself available for his country in anticipation that he will feature in this weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool.
England play Brazil on March 23 and Belgium three days later in vital preparation games for Euro 2024.
Harry Maguire is expected to make this week’s England squad despite his calf injury
The defender is expected to play some part in England’s games against Brazil and Belgium
Southgate will want the experience of 62-capped Maguire around given the amount of defensive injuries elsewhere with Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Marc Guehi, Luke Shaw, Levi Colwill and Ben Chilwell all doubts.
While clubs including Liverpool have been involved in club v country disagreements, Erik ten Hag is relaxed about international call-ups.
That also extends to giving 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo his blessing to join up with England Under-21s even though the teenager has played 19 senior games for United since the end of November.
Now Nev’s a street seller
From Sky Sports pundit to part-owning League Two club Salford City and two luxury Manchester hotels, Gary Neville’s business interests span far and wide.
And the former United captain, who featured on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den series last week, can now add fanzine seller to his ever-growing list of business ventures.
Neville was spotted outside Old Trafford on Saturday morning selling the latest issue of the United We Stand (UWS) fanzine ahead of the match against Everton.
Not that the former England right-back did much to drive up sales, jokingly remarking that £3 for a copy ‘was a bit expensive for a fanzine’.
‘Not as expensive as your hotels,’ was the swift reply from UWS founder and editor Andy Mitten, who stood next to Neville on Sir Matt Busby Way.
Gary Neville showed his hustle by selling fanzine United We Stand outside Old Trafford
Chinese star steals the limelight
It is not often that Hollywood A-Lister Gary Oldman finds himself outshone in the celebrity stakes, but that was exactly how it went at Old Trafford on Saturday.
While the 65-year-old assumed his seat in the stands for the 2-0 win over Everton, much of the attention was being paid to Chinese singing sensation Lu Han, who was in attendance as a guest of the club.
One of the most popular celebrities in China, Confidential understands that Lu Han spent Friday at Carrington to attend training before he was given the chance to have a kickabout of his own on the indoor pitch as he filmed some content with the club.
Having visited United back in 2019 when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge, there has been plenty of change in personnel with Marcus Rashford one of the few who met Lu Han last time he was in town.
Given access all areas, Lu Han – who boasts more than 12 million Instagram followers – was also given the chance to spend some time with man of the match Alejandro Garnacho after the win.
Hojlund’s standing joke
It appears that Rasmus Hojlund’s interview with YouTube channel The United Stand has caused less of a stir inside the dressing room as it has outside the club.
There has been talk in recent days that some of Hojlund’s teammates took a dim view of his decision to be interviewed by TUS presenter Mark Goldbridge last month, feeling that the fan channel has been negative towards the club.
Marcus Rashford, for instance, went on social media in November to ask TUS to ‘please STOP spreading malicious rumours’ over his future.
Rasmus Hojlund’s interview to YouTube fan channel ‘The United Stand’ at the start of February has been the source of several jokes in the Manchester United dressing room this week
Mark Goldbridge – who runs the United Stand – hit back at the reports of unrest and suggested that ‘jealousy’ has played a part in the rumours
A report from ‘United We Stand’ suggested that United team-mates questioned Hojlund’s decision to give an interview to the channel that is ‘built on negativity’
However, Confidential understands the issue has been the source of jokes in the dressing-room rather than causing any serious tension.
Hojlund is said to understand why some of his teammates were unhappy and had no intention of upsetting them.
But the boyhood United supporter has been a long-time fan of TUS and wanted to honour his promise to do an interview after he signed for the club last summer.
Ederson on Utd radar
United had a scout at the 2-2 draw between Juventus and Atalanta in Turin on Sunday, and Brazilian midfielder Ederson is thought to have been of particular interest.
United are expected to be in the market for a defensive midfielder in the summer with Casemiro being strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, Christian Eriksen used sparingly this season and Sofyan Amrabat set to rejoin Fiorentina at the end of a disappointing loan spell at Old Trafford.
Atalanta’s Brazil defensive midfielder Ederson was watched by United scouts on Sunday
Casemiro could be on his way out of Old Trafford in the summer amid interest from Saudi
Ederson, 24, has made 72 appearances for Atalanta since moving to Europe from Brazil in 2022. United did business with the Serie A club last summer when they signed Rasmus Hojlund in a deal worth up to £72million.
As well as a midfielder, United will be looking for another striker for next season as well as a right-back and at least one central defender.
Teens join senior training
United’s bench has had a youthful look in recent games and a number of teenagers were promoted to train with the senior squad on Thursday.
As well as Habeeb Ogunneye – who has been a substitute for the last three games without getting on against Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Everton – Louie Jackson, Bendito Mantato, Harry Amass, Ethan Williams and Ethan Wheatley stepped up to first-team training.
Ethan Wheatley, Ethan Williams and Habeeb Ogunneye in training with the first team last week
Amass and Mantato are just 16-year-old while the other four youngsters are 18.
In addition to Ogunneye, United’s bench against Everton at the weekend also included goalkeeper Dermot Mee for the first time, Willy Kambwala, Toby Collyer and Amad Diallo.
Amad explains Insta clear-out
Plenty at United were left puzzled on Monday when Amad Diallo went nuclear on social media by removing all traces of Man United from his Instagram page.
Eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed that the 21-year-old Ivory Coast winger left just three photos, centred around his time on loan at Sunderland.
Things took a sharper turn when his Instagram account appeared to be deactivated hours later, raising alarm that the £37million winger, who has made just three appearances this season, was throwing his toys out of the pram.
Amad Diallo has clarified why he has deleted all Man United content from his social media
He deleted much of the content on Instagram, leaving a few pictures of his time at Sunderland
It was similar on X, where the message ‘tout cela finira’ – meaning this will all end – was present
Overlooked in favour of academy product Omari Forson in recent weeks, Amad has had to contend with spots on the bench.
But he wanted to shut down talk of any falling out over his social media blackout.
‘I deactivated my social media for a month just to focus on Ramadan,’ he posted on his Snapchat.
‘It’s a holy month for me and social media is a place where there are bad things to see during fasting. Stop the hatred, there’s nothing wrong with that I did.’
Eyes will be peeled to see if things go back to normal with his United content next month…
Andy’s staying power
Erik ten Hag won’t be the only leader in Manchester worrying about his job prospects in May.
The United boss has to convince new co-owners Ineos that he is the man to take the club forward after a difficult second season at Old Trafford.
But Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, is also up for re-election on May 2 as he seeks a third term in office.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham (pictured) is up for re-election on May 2
Burnham has been named on a taskforce chaired by Lord Coe, and also including Gary Neville, that will drive Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s dream of a brand new Old Trafford at the heart of a massive regeneration project.
After speaking to the media before Saturday’s win over Everton, and describing how the project could turn Manchester into the football capital of the world, Burnham admitted that he may not be in office by the time a final decision is made.
‘We’re working to around the middle of the year into the autumn,’ said Burnham before adding: ‘I’ve got an election to get through first, so maybe somebody else will be doing all this!’
Fans won’t go quietly
The excitement felt around the stadium and regeneration project isn’t being shared by one fans’ group.
South Stand United have launched a campaign against United’s handling of enforced seat relocations, with 850 fans set to be moved from the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand next season.
Former United stars Norman Whiteside and Gordon Hill are among those affected.
Gordon Hill made over 100 appearances for the Red Devils in a spell between 1975 and 1978
United say the changes are a result of hospitality seats in the stand being moved into consolidated blocks, while further disruption has been caused by the removal of hospitality seating from the Stretford End and installation of rail seating in the north-west corner of the ground.
However, South Stand United have accused the club of prioritising infrastructure over supporters and say it doesn’t sit well with the community values at the heart of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s vision for the future.
A spokesman said: ‘On one hand, the club is parading its future vision for Old Trafford, boasting international games and a modernised stadium. On the other, it’s alienating the very fanbase that fills those seats.
‘Our message is clear: without the fans, the future of Old Trafford, no matter how bright it is made out to be, stands on shaky ground.’
Ratcliffe sticks to the facts
Seasoned followers of United’s financial results are getting used to the absence of investor conference calls that used to be the highlight of these rather dry quarterly occasions.
Former United chief Ed Woodward held lengthy Q&As with Wall Street analysts to trumpet the club’s commercial achievements.
His successor Richard Arnold reduced the frequency of the calls and they stopped altogether when the club launched its strategic review in November 2022.
Manchester United’s wage bill – the Premier League’s largest – has increased again to £479m
The Glazers, who remain United’s majority owners, didn’t take a dividend out of the club
Tuesday’s results were the first since the completion of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.3billion investment in the club, and again there were no words in the bare-bones press release from any top United execs apart from a short quote by chief financial officer Cliff Baty.
Another sign, perhaps, of Sir Jim putting football before finance.
Club’s apology to fan
United have apologised to a supporter after threatening to withdraw his season ticket for failing to meet the club’s minimum usage policy, despite the fan being unable to attend matches to care for his wife.
Season-ticket holders must either attend or pass on their ticket through official channels for 14 of the 19 home Premier League games or risk losing their seat at Old Trafford.
The fan, who goes by Benchod Blanco on X, will not meet the threshold for renewal this season but appealed to the club on the basis that he had failed to do so because his partner had suffered a ‘serious accident’.
United rejected the appeal and their response was heavily criticised as the club bizarrely told him he should instead buy hospitality packages, which can cost thousands per game, instead of a season ticket.
Sources accept the situation could have been handled better and United have since confirmed the supporter will be able to keep his ticket. The club have also committed to helping him list his seat for resale when he cannot attend.
United apologised to a fan after threatening to withdraw his season ticket for failing to meet the club’s minimum usage policy, despite him being unable to attend games to care for his wife
‘I apologise for the way your appeal was handled,’ a United staff member told the fan in an email. ‘The reply you were sent did not acknowledge the very serious accident your wife experienced, or the associated challenges it has presented you and your family.
The response has been pulled together using information from various sources, and the hospitality element particularly was not suitable for this response. I apologise for any distress that this has caused.’
Old Trafford safe if not sound
Old Trafford has seen better days. United’s rivals mock that it’s falling down. Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to knock it down. But at least it’s one of the safer stadiums in the Premier League to visit, according to a new survey.
Using road accident data over the last five years, National Scrap Car has assessed the most dangerous grounds in the country – and Old Trafford comes in 18th place out of the 20 top-flight clubs with 64 accidents.
Maybe it’s no surprise that London dominates the top five with Chelsea in first place ahead of Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Brentford and Tottenham. Brighton ranks as the safest with Manchester City also ahead of United.
The full survey can be seen here.
TRA inundated for cup clash
Demand vastly outstripped supply in the ‘atmosphere section’ at Old Trafford ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool.
The Red Army (TRA) received 3,831 applications for its 3,000 available seats. The group said cup season ticket holders and youth season ticket holders had been prioritised in the ballot, with the remaining 2,807 seats randomly selected among the applicants.
Demands for tickets in the ‘atmosphere section’ on the Stretford End for the Liverpool FA Cup quarter-final this Sunday were vastly oversubscribed
TRA, which boasts approximately 6,000 members, occupies the right-side of the Stretford End and has been embroiled in a row with the club over its plans for expansion.
In November, Confidential reported that United cut TRA’s allocation for next season following their refusal to take season tickets in their section for the 2024-25 campaign.
United were willing to increase their allocation from 3,000 to 3,675 per match, but only if TRA agreed to 1,675 of those being season tickets, with a maximum of 2,000 fans moving on a match-by-match basis.