BRUSSELS: Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne said yesterday returning to Manchester City this month with his new club Napoli would be an awkward experience.
De Bruyne, 34, left City at the end of last season after his contract was not renewed and joined Napoli, who will travel to the Etihad Stadium for their Champions League group opener on September 18.
“I’ve only played two Serie A games so far. It’s different under coach (Antonio) Conte compared to the years with Pep Guardiola,” De Bruyne told reporters ahead of the World Cup Group J qualifier against Kazakhstan in Brussels.
“My first impression was that football in Italy is more tactical and the game moves a little slower. But it’s still football.
“I played in a different system at Manchester City,” he said, answering more questions about his club career than World Cup matches.
“We’re playing City in Manchester with Napoli soon. It’s going to be awkward. City is my club and that’s not going to change,” De Bruyne said.
LONDON: Liverpool have agreed to sign Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for a British record fee of around £130 million, according to media reports today.
Reports from The Athletic and The Telegraph state that Isak will undergo a medical today before completing a six-year contract with the English Premier League champions.
Isak, 25, scored 23 league goals last season — behind only Liverpool star Mohamed Salah — and helped Newcastle qualify for the Champions League.
However, speculation about this transfer continued throughout the summer when Isak trained separately from the Newcastle first-team squad after expressing his desire to move to Anfield.
Last Saturday, Newcastle brought in German international striker Nick Woltemade for a club record fee of up to 69 million pounds, a move seen as paving the way for Isak’s move to Liverpool.
LONDON: Manchester United are still searching for their first Premier League win of the season after only drawing 1-1 against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
United took the lead in the 58th minute when Leny Yoro’s header was blocked by Rodrigo Muniz before the ball raced into the home team’s goal.
However, the advantage did not last long when substitute Emile Smith Rowe scored the equalizer in the 73rd minute, just seconds after being introduced.
The first half saw several chances squandered, including Bruno Fernandes’ penalty kick that went high over the bar after VAR confirmed Calvin Bassey’s tackle on Mason Mount.
Matheus Cunha also came close to opening the scoring when his shot was parried by Bernd Leno before another attempt hit the post.
The draw adds pressure to Ruben Amorim’s side who have yet to collect all three points from their first two games of the season, while Fulham maintain their unbeaten record.
MANCHESTER: Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney have issued a stern warning to their former club after their defeat in the opening Premier League match at Old Trafford.
United lost 1-0 to Arsenal due to a big mistake by goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, who was the choice of his manager, Ruben Amorim, over Andre Onana.
Bayindir failed to keep out Declan Rice’s corner before Riccardo Calafiori headed in from close range.
Amorim tried to defend Bayindir by claiming that his goalkeeper was fouled during a corner kick situation, but Neville and Rooney were clearly not satisfied and urged United to act immediately before the transfer window closed.
Neville named two high-profile goalkeepers – Emiliano Martinez and Gianluigi Donnarumma – as the best options to strengthen United’s goalkeeping.
Martinez, a World Cup winner with Argentina and Aston Villa’s first-choice goalkeeper, has been linked with a £40 million move.
Donnarumma, meanwhile, was sidelined at PSG by Luis Enrique and is reportedly interested in moving to the Premier League.
Speaking on the Sky Sports podcast, Neville said: “There is a big issue that cannot be ignored. United need to find a goalkeeper.
“Since the Schmeichel and Van der Sar era, United have become like a circus with many goalkeepers coming and going. It needs to be resolved either with a permanent purchase or a loan.
“Martinez and Donnarumma are not only the best in Europe, but they have big personalities and strong characters.
“Donnarumma was Italy’s hero in the European Championship final, and Martinez was a world champion. They’re used to playing under immense pressure. United need that.
“I repeat, this position requires personality, stability and confidence. Otherwise, United will continue to leak and lose points.”
Rooney, via his own podcast, also stressed the need to bring in Donnarumma.
“He’s only 26, one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I remember when we had Roy Carroll and Tim Howard, the defense didn’t trust them. Van der Sar came in and everything calmed down.
“Onana is a great goalkeeper, but last season he didn’t give us full confidence. Donnarumma is one of the best in the world, it would be crazy if United didn’t try to get him,” said Rooney.
The goalkeeper issue is expected to continue to be a hot topic ahead of United’s visit to Fulham this weekend.
The club is also considering bringing back David de Gea, 34, who is currently with Fiorentina and has a low-value release clause in his contract.
BARCELONA, Spain: Marcus Rashford said his new club Barcelona “feels like home” after the Spanish champions completed the striker’s loan move from Manchester United early on Tuesday, with an option to make it permanent at a later date.
“Barcelona and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the loan of Marcus Rashford until 30 June 2026,” the La Liga champions announced in a statement.
“The agreement also includes an option to buy the England striker.”
Barcelona will pay around 75 percent of Rashford’s weekly wage of £325,000 for the duration of his stay at the club, according to Spanish media reports.
The 27-year-old England international is no longer a first-choice player under United coach Ruben Amorim and will spend the final months of the 2024-25 season on loan at Aston Villa.
“I think it was an easy choice for me, it’s a club based on family values, something I’ve been familiar with for a long time. It feels like home, so I think I’ve made the right decision,” Rashford told reporters.
“I’m really excited to get started and can’t wait to play the first match… it’s a special moment for me.”
Rashford, who made his United debut in 2015, has been a fringe player at Old Trafford with Amorim openly doubting his commitment and determination.
Despite being left out at his boyhood club, Rashford made it clear he did not want to criticise Manchester United.
“The situation with United is that the club is going through a phase of change and has been for a long time. I have nothing bad to say about Manchester United,” Rashford explained.
“I think the club played an important role, not only in my career but also in my life. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to play for them. Football is like life, not everything goes the way you expect.
“This is the next step for me, a new chapter in my life. I am now fully focused on this, to improve myself and help the team win the championship.”
Rashford will wear the number 14 jersey at Barcelona, a number previously worn by Thierry Henry and several other famous players.
“Wearing this jersey is an honour and I’m ready to give it my all,” said Rashford.
“This club was built on the spirit of winning and I’m here to contribute to that history.”