Cristiano Ronaldo’s moment
Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo was the reason Sir Alex Ferguson cooled his infamous hairdryer treatment, according to Nemanja Vidic.
Speaking to former teammate Gary Neville on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet, Vidic highlighted his own relationship with Ferguson, as well as mentioning how he used to shout at all of his players… until he met Ronaldo.
With the manager [Ferguson], I never had a close relationship.
If he asked me something I would tell him, but I never had that [relationship]. Rio [Ferdinand] or [Darren] Fletch would talk more.
What he realised – it’s not that he didn’t shout at me because he was scared of anyone, but he realised that with certain players, it would not help if he’s shouting.
I think he changed that after he shouted at Cristiano Ronaldo.
I don’t think Ronaldo took it well – maybe good for the English and British players, but he was careful with the foreign players.
Nemanja Vidic
Mata’s new career path
Manchester United hero Juan Mata has launched a new “unique art exhibition” involving 11 football players and 11 contemporary artists.
Mata says he used to frequently visit art galleries in England when he wasn’t training or playing.
Now the 37-year-old aims to prove art and football are similar, working with artists to show how both ventures are used as forms of communication and as ways to bring people together.
Household names including United legend Eric Cantona and Red Devils and Lionesses midfielder Ella Toone are on board for the project called ‘Football City, Art United’.
Each player has their own individual piece in the exhibition, and the Chelsea hero feels each person working with him on the project had or still has an artistic way of expressing themselves on the pitch.
One player that was an artist on the pitch, it has to be Eric Cantona. So I’m very glad he accepted, he loved it and he’s very much involved in everything we do.
Shinji [Kagawa], who is a good friend and has a very unique piece with an artist in Japan, where he’s from.
Juan MataBBC
Cunha believe it?
Manchester United signing Matheus Cunha revealed he has one of Marcus Rashford’s shirts at home.
Cunha made that statement just days after taking Rashford’s No10 shirt at Man Utd.
I always think about this shirt – the one I think about is Wayne Rooney, I grew up watching him play.
Many players, [Ruud] Van Nistelrooy, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic.
I swapped shirts with Marcus Rashford also, I have his shirt in my home
Marcus Rashford
Bryan Mbeumo ‘frustrated’
Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo’s transfer saga continues to drag on.
According to the Evening Standard, Mbeumo is reportedly “frustrated” that he is yet to join United.
Man Utd have seen two bids rejected by the Bees for the forward, with the Red Devils yet to make a third offer.
It’s now been five weeks since the Cameroon international told his club he wants to move to Manchester.
Man Utd eye DCL – EXCLUSIVE
Manchester United are making a shock move to sign free agent Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is available after leaving Everton at the end of his contract last month.
United boss Ruben Amorim wants to snap up Calvert-Lewin as the club juggle their finances and try to build a new forward line.
Insiders have revealed the club reached out to the striker about the possibility of a surprise move from Merseyside to Manchester.
Man Utd have already landed Matheus Cunha for £62.5million from Wolves and also bid the same figure for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo.
But Amorim is also looking to offload attackers, Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony all in the firing line.
If the Red Devils balance the books successfully then it could create a gap in the Portuguese tactician’s squad for a new man who can lead the line but would also be happy to be a back-up forward.
United set for Elanga windfall
Man United will bank a tidy figure from Anthony Elanga’s Newcastle move.
The Nottingham Forest winger looks set to join Toon in a deal worth £60million.
United are entitled to around 15 per cent after selling Elanga to Forest for £15m in 2023.
And it means they are set to pocket around £7m from his north-east switch.
