Harry Maguire becomes most expensive defender with move to Man United

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United made Harry Maguire the world’s most expensive defender on Monday, signing him from Leicester for around $100 million.

United said the 26-year-old center back signed a six-year contract with an option for a further season.


A person with knowledge of the deal said Friday that United had struck a deal with Leicester to pay 80 million pounds ($97 million) for Maguire. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the financial details are not being disclosed.

“He is a great reader of the game and has a strong presence on the pitch,” United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said, “with the ability to remain calm under pressure, coupled with his composure on the ball and a huge presence in both boxes, I can see he will fit well into this group both on and off the pitch.”

The fee eclipses the deals for Matthijs de Ligt to leave Ajax for Juventus last month for 75 million euros (then $85 million), and for Virgil van Dijk to join Liverpool from Southampton for up to 75 million pounds in January 2018.

United is trying to return to the Champions League after finishing sixth in the Premier League last season. United, which opens the campaign on Sunday against Chelsea, hasn’t won the league since Alex Ferguson’s last season in charge in 2013.


Jose Mourinho won the Europa League and League Cup in 2017 but left last year after a drop in form, leading to Solskjaer’s hiring.


“I think we’ve got to start winning trophies again and that’s something the gaffer (manager) wants to bring to the club,” Maguire said, “and his winning mentality as well, which will help all the boys.

“It’s something that I’m sure him and his staff will all try to bring to the club and we’re all looking forward to it.”

Leicester will be receiving 80 million pounds two years after paying around a fifth of that fee to sign Maguire from Hull.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Mourinho taunts crowd as Man United beats Juventus

TURIN, Italy — After listening to taunts from the Juventus crowd for 90 minutes, Jose Mourinho couldn’t help but pay them back in kind.

Mourinho had to be escorted off the pitch Wednesday after celebrating Manchester United’s 2-1 comeback win over the Italian side in the Champions League by cupping his hand to his ear to the crowd after the final whistle. The gesture sparked a small altercation with Juventus players that overshadowed one of the most important results of the season for United, which has struggled domestically but now has a great chance of reaching the knockout stage in Europe.

“I came here to do my job and I was insulted for 90 minutes,” Mourinho said. “I wouldn’t do that gesture again but I don’t think I offended anyone and at the time it seemed like the appropriate response to those who had insulted all my family, apart from my Inter one too.”


Mourinho is unpopular among Juventus fans after managing bitter rival Inter Milan for three years. After United’s 1-0 loss to Juventus at home two weeks ago, he responded to the goading of the Italian fans by holding up three fingers toward them, denoting the treble of titles — Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup — he won with Inter in the 2009-10 season.

This time he had another win to celebrate, after watching his team fight back from Cristiano Ronaldo’s spectacular opening goal. Juan Mata leveled with a free kick four minutes from time and Alex Sandro netted an own goal in the final minute as United blew their Champions League group wide open.

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci angrily approached Mourinho as he cupped his ear at the Bianconeri fans and the United coach was escorted off the pitch by a UEFA official and some members of his staff.

It was Juventus’ first defeat in any competition this season.

“When I work for a club like Manchester United I need to forget my past as in those 90 minutes I represent Manchester United,” Mourinho said. “But the others (Juventus fans) didn’t forget.

“And it is a great joy for me because we won against a super team, and not because they are the enemy of Inter.”

Juventus, which was the only team in the Champions League still with a perfect record, remained top of Group H but is only two points ahead of United. Valencia, which earlier beat Young Boys 3-1, is two points further back.

“We shouldn’t have given away those free kicks, we’re giving away a lot of those at the moment, it was the only way United was going to score,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said. “But the team did well, we are still at the top of the group and we have two matches which will allow us to finish first. It’s OK to lose against United, but seeing how the match went it leaves us with a bit of a bitter taste.”


Allegri was asked if he would have reacted similarly to Mourinho.

“No, I leave the pitch immediately to avoid reacting,” he said. “I only get angry, rightly, with my team when they go to sleep every now and then.”

United played better than it did when the two sides met in Manchester but Juventus had a number of opportunities and had already hit the woodwork twice before Ronaldo struck in the 65th minute.

Bonucci floated a ball over the top of the defense and Ronaldo watched it over his shoulder before volleying into the top right corner.

The Portuguese superstar immediately ran to the corner flag, lifted up his shirt and pointed at his impressive stomach muscles.

Ronaldo is the all-time record scorer in the Champions League with 121 goals, but this was his first in the competition for Juventus — although he missed one match through suspension after his red card against Valencia.

Allegri raised his eyebrows and gave a smile of appreciation at the goal.

Juventus seemed certain to be heading for all three points, with United struggling to carve out clear-cut scoring opportunities, but Mata hit a free kick into the top left corner in the 86th minute and that seemed to inspire Jose Mourinho’s side.

Minutes later, Marouane Fellaini flicked on a free kick and the ball ricocheted around near the far post before going in off Juventus defender Alex Sandro.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Manchester United beat Barcelona in friendly

Manchester United kept up the positive momentum of their pre-season tour with a 3-1 victory over Barcelona in the International Champions Cup on Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) in Santa Clara, California.

Wayne Rooney put the English club on top early by heading home a goal in the 10th minute before Jesse Lingard and Adnan Januzaj each added second-half goals.

Manchester United, who beat Champions League winners Barcelona in the title game of 2009 and 2011, have enjoyed a successful U.S. tour with victories over Club America of Mexico and Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes.

Barcelona, playing without standouts Lionel Messi and Neymar, along with Claudio Bravo, Javier Mascherano and Dani Alves, made it an exciting match but failed to cash in on a few prime scoring chances.

Luis Suarez twice hit the post on first-half shots for Barcelona and had another goal overturned by an offside call in the second half.

Manchester United seized a 2-0 lead in the second half when Lingard scored in the 65th minute.

Barcelona struck back in the 89th minute with a goal by Rafinha, but United answered with their third moments later, courtesy of Jacuzzi.

Barcelona were coming off a win against MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy on Tuesday and have one more match in the United States before they return to Europe. - Reuters

Moyes concedes Liverpool are favorites in 'biggest game'

LONDON - Manchester United manager David Moyes conceded that Liverpool probably start as favorites to win what he described as "the biggest club game in England" when they meet at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Liverpool is second in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in hand, but 11 points clear of United, who are sixth with no realistic chance of retaining their title.

Former Liverpool striker Ian Rush said earlier on Friday that Liverpool go into the match as the clear favorites and Moyes did not disagree.

"Their league position suggests they are ahead of us and they possibly do come here as favorites. Liverpool are having a very good season and we will have to do everything we possibly can to beat them."

Liverpool, which has won its last four league matches, has not finished above United since 2002 and although the team looks like doing so this season, Moyes told reporters at his pre-match news conference that United still had plenty to play for.

"It would be a big boost for us to win on Sunday," he said. "I think everyone knows the importance of Manchester United v Liverpool games.

"I think it is the biggest game in the country. There is great history between the two clubs going back years and I think this is the biggest club game in the Premier League."

Liverpool (18) and United (20) have won 38 league titles between them.

United, who finished champions five times and runners-up three times in Alex Ferguson's last eight seasons in charge at Old Trafford, have not finished outside the top three since 1991, but they will almost certainly do so this season.

Moyes, who has had a difficult introduction since succeeding Ferguson at the start of the season, said there was plenty of positives to take from their recent form, having kept clean sheets in their last three league matches.

"We are not in as strong a position as we'd like, but we are normally very good coming into the final furlong and we have big games coming up this month. Our motivation is to make sure we keep progressing," he said

Only defeat

Their only defeat in the last six weeks was a 2-0 reverse at Olympiakos in a Champions League last 16 first leg last month.

Moyes added: "With the exception of Olympiakos we have been progressing and improving. I see signs of it in training, the players are looking well and sharp and I am looking forward to it."

Striker Robin van Persie appeared on Thursday to allay fears that he was looking to move away from Manchester United by saying he wanted to stay beyond the end of his current contract and that he had learnt a lot from Moyes' training sessions.

"It's nice of Robin. Robin is happy here and we are very pleased about that," a naturally delighted Moyes said.

"He has a couple of years left on his contract and I am sure that's something the board will look at. I have always said we have two outstanding forwards in Wayne Rooney and Robin.

"Both of them are capable of winning games on their own and both are pivotal international players for Holland and England and are the sort of players any side in Europe or the world would want in their team.

"I am delighted to have them here and that both of them want to be Manchester United players is even better."

Winger Nani has returned to the United squad ahead of Sunday's match at Old Trafford, while Rafael, Javier Hernandez and Jonny Evans all have a chance of being involved, Moyes said. - Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com