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German newspaper Bild reports that Manchester City are preparing to make a £40.5m bid for Schalke teenager Leroy Sane.

If a deal goes through, it would make the 19-year-old attacking midfielder the most expensive German footballer in history.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/240/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2016/1/4/56fd8d54-31ff-4741-b4f4-f051d3f40d6a.jpg

JUAN MATA: WE'VE STARTED 2016 IN STYLE


Juan Mata's first blog post of 2016 reflects on Manchester United's winning start to the new year...


Hi everyone

I want to start the first post of the year by wishing you a happy 2016 and saying thanks to all for reading this blog every Monday, no matter what the score in the latest game is.

I have been posting week after week (with the exception of the summer holidays) for four years and I keep seeing this as a good habit, although there were weeks when I didn’t feel like writing, and I know that the wound of a bad result can’t be healed just with words.

At last I can write a post feeling that we’ve done our duty during the weekend. I was looking forward to it. Luckily, I feel that we have started 2016 with energy and that our negative streak (much longer than it should be) has been left behind.

Many of you have asked about how we felt as the games went by and the team didn’t win. I have to say that our only thought was to work well day after day, stay focused and try to revert this situation. In our last game of 2015, against Chelsea, I think everybody saw what I’m talking about. There was dynamism, courage and energy although we couldn’t win.

Finally, we did it on Saturday against Swansea. You could see how tough it was, but I think we deserved the three points. I hope this is going to be the start of a good run of results. It depends on us. They were a difficult opponent with good players who have made things tough for us in the last few seasons, but this time we were able to win so we start 2016 in the best possible way.

The Christmas period is gone now after three games in seven days and we have a full week ahead to prepare for the FA Cup game against Sheffield United. It’s a good time to take a break and remain calm after such a busy calendar.

I would like to send my warmest regards to those who show all your support during the toughest moments of the season. Thank you from my heart.

Once again, Happy New Year to all. Have a nice week.

Hugs, Juan




Read Juan's blog in full at kicca.com/juanmata8.

Yeah Mata is so huggable and all but he needs to fix his form asap.

When will United learn to let-go of an under-performing Manager at the appropriate time?!
Real Madrid won the Champions League Group, presently sitting third on the La Liga Log, yet Benitez is shown the Exit Door!
Either Woodward or LVG should go! I think Woodward is still learning..... He should learn faster from Perez and do the needful!!!

adeyemi2015:
When will United learn to let-go of an under-performing Manager at the appropriate time?!
Real Madrid won the Champions League Group, presently sitting third on the La Liga Log, yet Benitez is shown the Exit Door!
Either Woodward or LVG should go! I think Woodward is still learning..... He should learn faster from Perez and do the needful!!!

Sacking all willy nilly isnt always the answer and Real Madrid should not be applauded for doing it.

Man U should take a cue from madrid - Sack Van Gaal now, let Giggs use this 2nd half as a learning period in preparation for next season.

I just dy pity Zidane shaa.. Even if he wins the UCL back 2 back, he'll still get sacked so long as Perez is still at the helm of affairs.

chidexxy007:
I just dy pity Zidane shaa.. Even if he wins the UCL back 2 back, he'll still get sacked so long as Perez is still at the helm of affairs.

Azzin! Who in their right mind will want to go coach Madrid?? Even if u win d league and UCL in one day, u can easily get sacked the following day.

Annoying club with crappy set of fans and an even crappier owner!!

AdeLaNa1:
Azzin! Who in their right mind will want to go coach Madrid?? Even if u win d league and UCL in one day, u can easily get sacked the following day.

Annoying club with crappy set of fans and an even crappier owner!!

President not owner sir....☺

How can people still hold brief for depay but same people pray rooney gets injured, depay should be loaned to Dag and Red for the remainder of the season. To people who said giggs can't handle the team, is zizou not the new manager of madrid? Sack LVG and give giggs the job.

Hey hun, hope you're well. Just thinking about you

sinizia:
.

MrTA:
Sacking all willy nilly isnt always the answer and Real Madrid should not be applauded for doing it.

Seconded. Madrid's own is madness. Capello won them a league and boom!! He gets sacked afterwards. SMDH!!


But I pray we sack Gaal with immediate effect.

PietroRico:
Depay has been woeful, yea, but the media campaign is becoming ridiculous. Wtf is this

So because of the comments of a random guy he should have trekked, boarded a bus or sold his car?

Funny logic
Play well, u can drive your rolls Royce
Don't, then drop your luxuries.

Clowns

Abeg make them leave the boy alone jor

Let's be honest - the foolish boy no fit dey do all these if na fergie still dey in charge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU0qsPTFZH0
Perreira scored a direct Corner Kick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX_vEqXaclM

Man Utd U21 vs Tottenham U21 highlight
Pereira scored Brace!!!

Dadehmola:
Let's be honest - the foolish boy no fit dey do all these if na fergie still dey in charge.

If he was playing, which will still happen all this won't be a story

Beckhman managed his super stardom for awhile here before SAF reach breaking point.

Dadehmola:
Let's be honest - the foolish boy no fit dey do all these if na fergie still dey in charge.

He could have bought some space if he was playing well or even playing poorly but scoring goals.
Who bothers about Martial's car? If na Bugatti Veyron or Pagani Zonda R we don't know... & the reason is very simple!

MANCHESTER UNITED DON'T NEED A STAR NAME, THEY MUST STAY HUMBLE!

Fresh from a 2-1 win over Swansea and an encouraging 0-0 draw against Chelsea, it looks as if under-fire manager Louis van Gaal will live to fight on. However, if the Dutchman is to thrive rather than merely to survive, there needs to be a careful rethink of the club's transfer policy. It must move away from what Ed Woodward wants, and towards what Manchester United needs.

Woodward, as it has been noted in many quarters, is looking to buy a big-name player that will put the club back on the map as one of Europe's elites. Yet it is difficult to see who he is trying to please, given that even their biggest sponsors, Adidas, have declared themselves happy with their commercial relationship with United, if not with the style of football.

It is also important to look at the history of the so-called "marquee signing" at Old Trafford, because historically those haven't worked out so well. Indeed, it could be argued that when United purchase a player of immense prestige, it is far more likely to be a failure than a success.
For every Robin van Persie, there seem to be at least two cases like Radamel Falcao. Juan Sebastian Veron, signed from Lazio in 2001, was at the time of his arrival arguably as influential in Serie A as Zinedine Zidane, but given his talents his time at United was underwhelming. £59.7 million British record-buy Angel Di Maria, feted as one of the world's most devastating playmakers, was hailed for his pace but showed his greatest speed when accelerating towards the exit.

United seem to do best in the transfer market when they are buying players who need a final platform to ascend to the ranks of the truly elite. An approach that worked when they signed Dwight Yorke, Eric Cantona, Andy Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

It is certainly not as if all of these players came cheap -- with the exception of Cantona, each of them cost United eye-catching amounts of money. But, at the risk of using a word that has become much-mocked under Van Gaal, the "philosophy" was apparently to buy footballers who had both extraordinary hunger for success and their best years ahead of them.

If this doesn't sound like rocket science, then that's because it isn't: but it must continually be re-stated, because otherwise the club risks falling victim to its own ego. Only ego, after all, can explain the fruitless pursuits of players such as Gareth Bale, Neymar and Thomas Muller.

It must be noted, too, that some of the most effective signings by United's commercial peers in recent years have not been established or big-name players: namely, Thiago Alcantara at Bayern Munich, and Ivan Rakitic at Barcelona.

It is important for United to remember this, for two reasons. The first and most pragmatic one is that, given their current form, they will find it hard to attract the world's very top players -- a cluster who can currently be found at Bayern, Barcelona and Madrid.

The second reason is that, with excellent coaching, these world-class players can be produced. Philipp Lahm and David Alaba both rose through the ranks at Bayern, whilst Toni Kroos was acquired by Bayern from Hansa Rostock. Isco made his name at Malaga before proceeding to Real Madrid, whilst the success of Barcelona's youth system is legendary and has produced the likes of Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets.

Former Premier League and Netherlands star Bolo Zenden says Man United are happy with Van Gaal, but he needs to win games.
What United need, then, is a degree of introspection, and to return to what they do best: developing their own young talent, and giving relatively unsung players the stage that they deserve. This means, specifically, that they should spend less time chasing Neymar, and more time going after someone like Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette.

When looking for a playmaker to challenge Juan Mata, they can look to Alex Teixeira of Shakhtar Donetsk. They could even declare an interest in Wolfsburg's Julian Draxler who, though prone to inconsistency, is superb at his best.

Ironically, the way for United to return to the top of the European game again is to embrace humility -- by accepting that, on the pitch at least, they are a club on the rise and they must sign footballers who match that profile.

United's squad currently features a number of players who have substantial experience, and others who are perhaps two years or so from being reliably productive at Premier League and continental level. It is now time for the club to invest not in players who have scaled the game's summit, but those who are on the verge of doing so in the future.

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/manchester-united/360/blog/post/2780421/man-united-dont-need-a-star-name-in-transfer-window

Wayne Rooney has been named as the Vauxhall England Player of the Year for 2015, retaining the title for the second successive year.
Read more at http://www.thefa.com//news/england/2016/jan/vauxhall-england-poty-rooney-butland-040116#ObUkbfSTL4ef4k0f.99

Guardiola, 44, won 14 trophies in four incredible seasons as Barcelona’s manager from 2008-12 as the former Barca midfielder created one of the greatest teams in history.

Since 2013 he has taken that success to the Bundesliga and has led Bayern Munich to back-to-back German titles and added a German Cup along the way, yet success in the UEFA Champions League has evaded him at Bayern.

In terms of where he will be heading to in England, the three aforementioned giants are his most likely destination.

With Chelsea firing Jose Mourinho and currently having Guus Hiddink in charge on an interim basis, they’re on the hunt for a permanent appointment and are said to have already asked Guardiola to name his price.

Manchester City have long been linked with a move for the Catalan native who is closely linked with their directors, Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Sorriano, from the trio all spending time at Barcelona. Those directors and City’s Abu Dhabi owners see Guardiola as the key cog in helping City to elevate itself to becoming one of most famous clubs in the world.

As for Manchester United, their recent struggles have been well documented with Louis Van Gaal under increasing pressure at Old Trafford after $400 million was spent on new players but little progress has been made in terms of becoming contenders for the PL title and Champions League crown.

One thing is for sure, with Guardiola confirming he wants to head to England and already has offers on the table, an all-out battle between three of the PL’s big boys is about to play out for one of the greatest managers in the world.

http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2016/01/05/guardiola-confirms-hes-moving-to-the-premier-league/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

Pep Guardiola...the world's most sought-after boss...

SailorXY:
He could have bought some space if he was playing well or even playing poorly but scoring goals.
Who bothers about Martial's car? If na Bugatti Veyron or Pagani Zonda R we don't know... & the reason is very simple!

Sir Alex woulda bothered. ...

Daily Mail:
This means players such as young striker Danny Welbeck, 21, and defenders Phil Jones, 20, Chris Smalling, 22, and Rafael, 22, will be banned from driving anything not approved by Ferguson.The move is a classic case of Ferguson - the master man-manager - ensuring his young stars don't get too big for their boots.

Ferguson has always been hot on matters such as this.

Two years ago, for example, it emerged he told players in the club's youth squads they were not allowed to wear coloured football boots.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2194469/Manchester-United-ban-players-driving-Chevrolet-sports-cars.html

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Gerrahia mehn

Dadehmola:
We are saying the same thing, albeit from slightly different perspectives. ..

For me, Mane simply isnt good enough to start at Man utd. ..under normal circumstances.

I have never & would never like players whose major strengths are pace, power & brute force.

Mahrez would definitely be a better option - his tactical awareness is way better than Mane's & of course, his technique is there for all to see.

I think he's 23 of age, there's room for improvement in his game. Playing alongside technically superiors like Juan Mata and Anthony Martial can also do wonders for his football brain.

ChristineC:
I think he's 23 of age, there's room for improvement in his game. Playing alongside technically superiors like Juan Mata and Anthony Martial can also do wonders for his football brain.

Are you trolling your own team? Martial from ligue 1, technically superior? Where there is schweini, hererra who are from more technical leagues.. U are calling a player from a mickey mouse league. Lol

Dadehmola:
Sir Alex woulda bothered. ...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2194469/Manchester-United-ban-players-driving-Chevrolet-sports-cars.html

SAF was always going to let up @ some point, especially when he thinks a player is proving his worth while still maintaining that knuckle-down attitude to learn.

MrLouisVanGaal:
Are you trolling your own team? Martial from ligue 1, technically superior? Where there is schweini, hererra who are from more technical leagues.. U are calling a player from a mickey mouse league. Lol

I think the listed players are obviously forwards.

SailorXY:
I think the listed players are obviously forwards.

Still doesn't qualify martial as technically superior

So it's the league one plays in that makes one technical not individual attributes?

So what do you say about Paul Scholes, David Beckham who played in Agidigba EPL. And we have Negredo, Yaya Toure, Ballack from Laliga and Bundesliga.

Mourinho said to be ‘frustrated’ with Man United

Jose Mourinho has itchy feet.

The Portuguese coach has been at home and out of work for less than a month but according to a report from ESPN the former Chelsea boss is growing frustrated that he is yet to be installed as Manchester United manager.

Mourinho, 52, was said to be the overwhelming favorite to replace current United boss Louis Van Gaal in December during a stretch of eight games without a win for the Dutch coach.

It was also widely reported that LVG would be fired following United’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Dec. 28 but he remains in charge and Mourinho’s representatives have aired their displeasure as it is believed executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward wants Van Gaal to stay and turn things around.

Mourinho’s reps were said to be scouting around for other options as far back as October as things began to implode at Chelsea, with both Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan options, but the former Porto, Real Madrid and Inter boss is said to want a crack at the United job, something he has reportedly come close to on numerous occasions in the past.

Many among the United hierarchy are still hesitant to give Mourinho a chance to lead them and the report claims his representatives are now looking at other options as he aims to return to management as quickly as possible following his firing from Chelsea after the reigning champs’ abysmal start to the current season.

With United not impressing under van Gaal as his defensive tactics have seen them crash out of the UEFA Champions League at the group stage this season and slip to fifth in the PL table, many fans and pundits are calling for Mourinho to take over as the man who has delivered league titles in England, Spain, Portugal and Italy has a proven track record of success… even if his ability to remain at one club for longer than three years is questionable.

Looks like that window of opportunity may have passed.

http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2016/01/05/mourinho-said-to-be-frustrated-with-man-united/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

MrLouisVanGaal:
Are you trolling your own team? Martial from ligue 1, technically superior? Where there is schweini, hererra who are from more technical leagues.. U are calling a player from a mickey mouse league. Lol

The quote you mentioned said "playing alongside technically superiors like.." meaning more technical than Saido Mane: simple English.
Who is more technical than Mata and Martial among forwards of Manchester United?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in Ligue 1 = Jamie Vardy is technically superior.
Angel di Maria is in Ligue 1 = James Milner has to be more technical..
Now who the hell is trolling?