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The Dutchman showed he can improve the Red Devils' goal shortage with his own striking prowess as well as unlocking his team-mates' potential

Manchester United fans were enduring a stalemate on Friday as the their team's Premier League opener with Fulham entered its final two minutes. But just as the game looked set to end in a 0-0 draw, Joshua Zirkzee produced his pistol and fired his new club to victory.

The Red Devils had lacked sparkle at Old Trafford, and looked particularly toothless up front. Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount were thwarted from close-range by Bernd Leno while Casemiro took five shots, all of which missed the target.

Zirkzee, coming off the bench, showed his team-mates how it was done, prodding home Alejandro Garnacho's cross with a subtle finish in minimal space. Fulham players hit the floor and the Stretford End hit the roof.

Zirkzee, meanwhile, whipped out his pistol fingers in homage to Quentin Tarantino and Jamie Foxx. It is his trademark celebration, one he pulled out 11 times last season with Bologna in Serie A, helping propel them to finish fifth and qualify for the Champions League for the first time ever.

"I got it from the movie Django Unchained," Zirkzee told last season. "There is a point where Django learns how to shoot. That’s what I got it from.”

United fans might not have expected Zirkzee to be the solution to their striking woes, and certainly not so soon, but he has already pulled the trigger and hit the target. If he can keep it up, he will help United fix their biggest problem of all – a lack of firepower.

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  Off the mark

  Zirkzee needed just 26 minutes to score his first Premier League goal, which is a vast improvement on the last Dutch striker to play for United. Wout Weghorst ended his five-month loan spell at the club without scoring once in the league, despite having 797 minutes on the pitch across 17 games and 10 starts. Weghorst was preferred to Zirkzee by Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman during Euro 2024, which was a little concerning for United fans.

  But the 23-year-old shot down doubts about his striking prowess on his debut, making a start more reminiscent of United's best-ever Dutch striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is now Zirkzee's coach. Van Nistelrooy scored on his debut too, also against Fulham at Old Trafford. His two goals got him off to a flying start on his way to 23 goals in his first campaign, which he followed up with a Golden Boot-winning 25.

  Zirkzee is a very different type of striker to his compatriot and known more as a facilitator than a prolific striker. But strikers, regardless of their profile or other qualities, will first and foremost be judged on goals. So it was vital that he made a strong start.

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  Mental block

  The longer Weghorst went without scoring in the league, the more it appeared to weigh on his mind. Zirkzee's fellow striker Rasmus Hojlund also appeared to have a mental block after failing to score in his first few games in the Premier League. And it was telling that, after Zirkzee's goal had taken care of Fulham, Ten Hag referred to Hojlund's disallowed goal on his home debut against Brighton last year.

  Hojlund looked to have equalised against the Seagulls on his first start for United in mid-September, but a VAR review ruled the ball had previously gone out of play. Although the Dane struck in the Champions League that same week, his first Premier League goal did not arrive until more than three months later.

  "Remember last season Rasmus scored a first goal and we all waited for two minutes on the halfway line and then VAR decided it was over the line. He was so frustrated," Ten Hag recalled. "So we're very happy for him [Zirkzee], it will encourage him, give him belief. It's good for the fans, good for him, a very good start."

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  Low scoring, low finishes

  With Hojlund still injured and not due back until after the first international break, Zirkzee is shaping up as United's first-choice centre-forward for the trip to Brighton on Saturday and the game with Liverpool the following Sunday.

  And now he has the chance to do what Hojlund, Weghorst and even Cristiano Ronaldo failed to do and make United a team that score plenty of goals again. The Red Devils have not managed to score more than 60 times in the league for the last three seasons.

  Last season they notched 57, leaving them with a negative goal difference for the first time in 34 years. Their lack of firepower also led to them having their lowest league finish in 34 years and their worst since the Premier League began.

  Although their 58 goals conceded was far from ideal and double the amount Arsenal let in, it left United with the fourth-best defensive record in the league, above Aston Villa, Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle. All those sides finished above United as they were far more prolific: Villa scored 76, Tottenham 74, Chelsea 77 while Newcastle scored a stonking 85.

  Unlike their rivals, United could not compensate in attack for their shoddy defence and subsequently missed out on Champions League football. They cannot afford to do so again. They were more solid against Fulham than last season but still made mistakes at the back and would have been punished by a better team.

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  Repeating pattern

  Last season's blunt attack was not an exception though, it was merely a continuation of a problem brewing for three years, predating Ten Hag's arrival, and going even further back. United scored 58 goals in the 2022-23 season, a count which was salvaged by them conceding only 43 goals and keeping more clean sheets than anyone else.

  In the 2021-22 season, they scored 57, despite having Ronaldo, who scored 18 times. They conceded the same amount, ending with a goal difference of zero and their lowest amount of points in Premier League history.

  The previous season, 2020-21, they scored 73 times, finishing second as a result. In 2019-20 they netted 66 goals and came third. They scored 65 goals in 2018-19, while even in 2017-18, when they finished second under Jose Mourinho and amassed 81 points – their best total since Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge – they only scored 68. Mourinho's first campaign, meanwhile, yielded just 54 goals.

  But in 2015-16, Louis van Gaal oversaw a campaign of just 49 goals, just one goal more than Sunderland, who finished 17th. By way of comparison, United scored 86 times in 2012-13, Ferguson's final campaign and the last time they won the Premier League title.

  For United to get back to where they want to be, they need to score far more goals than they have been lately. And Zirkzee can help them do this in more ways than one.

Spain enjoyed a golden generation between 2008 and 2012, winning back-to-back European Championships and a World Cup. They had some of the best players in the world at that point, and some of those went on to win more than 100 caps for their country.

But who has won the most caps for Spain in their history? Football FanCast has taken a look at the top La Roja appearance-makers of all time, with a detailed view of the top 10.

All information correct as of 19th May 2025.

Here is a detailed look at Spain’s 10 most-capped players:

10

Fernando Torres

110 caps

Fernando Torres, one of Spain’s top goalscorers of all time, is one of two players to make 110 appearances for La Roja. The former striker caught the eye at U16, U17 and U19 level before making his senior debut at the age of 19.

El Nino, who famously scored the winner for Spain in the Euro 2008 final against Germany, would go on to represent Spain until 2014, scoring 38 goals along the way.

9

Cesc Fabregas

110 caps

Also ending his international career with 110 caps was central midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Known for his passing ability, the former Arsenal and FC Barcelona star turned out in three European Championships and three World Cups.

Fabregas was, at the time, the youngest player to make his debut for Spain at the age of 18 and would go on to play until 2016, retiring from football altogether at the age of 36 in 2023.

8

Xabi Alonso

114 caps

Another brilliant midfielder in Spain’s golden generation was Xabi Alonso, who made his debut for his country at the age of 21 in 2003.

Now making an impact as a manager, Alonso marked his 100th appearance by scoring twice against France at Euro 2012 and retired from international duty following the disappointing 2014 World Cup campaign.

7

David Silva

125 caps

Playmaker David Silva scored 35 goals and provided 32 assists in his 125 Spain caps, winning three major honours between 2008 and 2012.

Silva made his international debut in 2006 aged 20, and with the creative midfielder going from strength to strength in the coming years, was a regular in Spain’s most successful side.

6

Andoni Zubizarreta

126 caps

The oldest name in the top 10 list is former Barcelona goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta. After making his debut in 1985, Zubizarreta would go on to be a regular over the next 13 years.

He played in four consecutive World Cups and three European Championships, although he never made a major final on the international stage.

5

Andres Iniesta

131 caps

Andres Iniesta is considered by some as one of the greatest-ever midfielders. He racked up an impressive 131 caps for Spain, with his first coming in 2006.

The highlight of his career came when the FC Barcelona legend famously scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands. Iniesta retired from international duty until 2018.

4

Xavi

133 caps

Xavi Hernandez managed two more caps than Iniesta, his midfield partner for club and country. Also regarded by many as one of the best midfielders of all time, his international career lasted two more years than Iniesta.

Now a manager, Xavi made an appearance for Spain in every calendar year between 2000 and 2014, playing an important role in La Roja‘s golden generation.

3

Sergio Busquets

143 caps

Keeping the trend going of world-class Spain midfielders takes us to Sergio Busquets. A naturally more defensive-minded midfielder than Iniesta and Xavi, Busquets formed a midfield trio with the two at Barcelona and the national side.

He made his senior international debut in 2009 and would go on to help Spain win the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship, eventually calling it a day in 2022 after winning an impressive 143 caps.

2

Iker Casillas

167 caps

Iker Casillas is second on the list, ending his international career as Spain’s most successful goalkeeper. The Real Madrid icon was actually named Spain’s captain in 2008, so was the man to lift the three major honours won by La Roja in recent times.

He made his debut in 2000 and his final appearance came in 2016, just before Euro 2016. He was famously dropped to the bench by Vicente del Bosque in place of David de Gea and never turned out for his country again.

1

Sergio Ramos

180 caps

Sergio Ramos tops the list with a whopping 180 caps, and the iconic defender is also in the top 10 for Spain’s record goalscorers with 23 to his name.

He made his senior Spain debut at the age of 18 in 2005 and went on to become a regular as a right-back for the national side before moving into his favoured centre-back role. Ramos made 10 or more appearances in 10 separate years for La Roja and was key to the side that won two European Championships and one World Cup.

Harry Kane paid tribute to his "incredible" Bayern Munich team-mate Thomas Muller after he became the club's all-time record appearance holder.

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• Bayern Munich beat Freiburg 2-0
• Muller breaks Bayern appearance record
• Kane honours "incredible" team-mate

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Goals from Kane and Muller secured Bayern their second-straight Bundesliga win of the season in their first home match in front of their fans on Sunday. In doing so, Muller brought up his 710th appearance for the club – making him the outright record appearance holder. That prompted the England captain, who opened his goalscoring account for 2024-25 in the 2-0 victory over Freiburg, to share some kind words about the German veteran.

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• WHAT HARRY KANE SAID

  He wrote on Instagram: "Kicking off the first Bundesliga home game of the season with a win and a goal 🙌👌. Huge congrats to @esmuellert for breaking the @fcbayern appearance record. Incredible player and leader. 🤝."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Muller is a Bayern legend. He has had 17 seasons there, is a record 12-time Bundesliga winner, and has won a whopping 32 trophies with the club. Plus, he is still only 35, so there could yet be more success to come for the one-club man.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After the international break, which runs over the next fortnight, Kane and Muller will return to action for Bayern in the Bundesliga away to Holstein Kiel on September 14.

After Manchester United’s disastrous 3-3 draw against Coventry City at the weekend, the Red Devils welcome bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United to Old Trafford.

Going into the tie, Erik ten Hag’s side simply have to prove themselves and put on a show for their loyal fans, who deserve to witness a dominant, exciting performance.

However, as highlighted by their position in seventh and the FA Cup clash on Sunday, even the simplest of tasks can be made extremely difficult by the team.

That said, there’s one player who’s impressed every time they’ve been on the field this season, and he surely must be given a chance over Marcus Rashford.

Why Marcus Rashford drops out of the side

After scoring an incredible 30 goals across all competitions last campaign, the expectation this season was for Rashford to continue his progression under Ten Hag.

The number ten now hasn’t scored in five matches for United, which means his goal tally for the season remains at eight across all competitions, just highlighting how he’s underperformed.

Other than completing three of his four attempted dribbles and having the confidence to shoot five times, Rashford wasn’t his usual self against Coventry, failing to have an impact on the game, as shown by his one big chance missed and the fact that he lost possession 17 times.

Given the fact that tonight’s opponents are rock bottom of the table, have won just one game since December, and Rashford is currently a doubt due to injury, the best option will be to not take any risks.

The best replacement for Marcus Rashford

Amad Diallo is a player that the United faithful are desperate to watch from the off, after impressing with 14 goals last season on loan at Sunderland and during pre-season.

Unfortunately, the Ivorian’s development has hit a brick wall this campaign due to an injury that kept him out until December, but since then, his cameos off the bench have been rather impressive with that goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals notably sticking out.

If the wide positions haven’t been occupied by Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, then Antony has been the first-choice replacement, but he’s only registered one assist in 25 Premier League games.

Amad himself has only featured six times this season with an average of 34 minutes per match, but he’s certainly done enough to prove he should start, especially after his performance against Coventry off the bench, making an eye-catching three key passes and succeeding with 100% of his dribbles.

In just 30 minutes of action, the 21-year-old was more of a threat than most of the United attackers on the day, not only showcasing that he’s more than talented enough but also having the mentality to fight for the team, which has been visibly lacking.

A potential “superstar,” as dubbed by football creator Liam Canning, Amad is an extremely creative player, who seems to always make the right decision when in possession.

The fact that Amad made three key passes while also completing 19 of his 20 passes serves as evidence of that, and this level of creativity and ball retention will be needed against the inevitably stubborn Blades.

With Sheffield United’s gameplan being to sit in their own box, the former Atalanta winger's technical class and ability to play quick combinations in tight spaces will help unlock the defence.

The predicted defensive setup by the Blades will also mean that the majority of their attacks will occur via transitions, and Amad’s three tackles and six duels won against Liverpool in the FA Cup also highlight that he can make United much more secure defensively.

Amad’s inclusion in the starting lineup at right wing would mean a slight position change for Garnacho, with the Argentine potentially set to switch flanks to his preferred left-wing position.

Overall, Amad’s performances must be rewarded with a start – his first league one of the campaign – and if not, you have to question why he’s not being given an opportunity by Ten Hag.

Ratcliffe must ensure 4/10 Man Utd flop follows Ten Hag out the door

This trio of Manchester United players must leave this summer.

By
Tom Lever

Apr 23, 2024

At the start of the season, qualifying for the Champions League would have been viewed as a minimum requirement, but right now, Manchester United would take a spot in the Europa League.

Yesterday’s entertaining 4-2 victory over Sheffield United was a step in the right direction in terms of play style, although Erik ten Hag’s side faced 20th place in the league.

The Red Devils were dominant from the first whistle to the last, having 25 shots and obviously netting four times, but what will impress the boss the most is that they limited the opponent to 0.82 xG.

However, despite the overall performance being much better, there was one individual who struggled to impact the game.

Christian Eriksen’s 23/24 campaign

In the summer of 2022, Christian Eriksen joined Man United on a free transfer, almost instantly becoming an important player for the Dutch boss, starting 25 league games and being United’s joint top assister with eight.

However, since the rise of Kobbie Mainoo, Eriksen’s involvement in the starting lineup has decreased massively, to the point where he’s started just ten games this Premier League campaign.

The fact that the Dane missed ten games between November and December due to injury didn’t help the midfielder, but his lack of athleticism and defensive security, as shown by his 0.9 tackles per game in the league, has kept him out of the team.

Furthermore, unfortunately, it seems that Eriksen’s future as a Man United player will come to an end in the summer – according to reports – and after last night’s performance, he may never play for the club again.

Eriksen’s statistics against Sheffield United

Yesterday, Eriksen made his first start for the Red Devils since the start of January against Tottenham Hotspur, which just underlines that he’s not in Ten Hag’s plans.

Since that 2-2 draw against Spurs, the former Lilywhite has sat on the bench on ten separate occasions in the league, not even getting a single minute on the field.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Eriksen was extremely rusty against the Blades and struggled to have any impact whatsoever.

Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst rated the 32-year-old’s performance as a 5/10, alluding to the fact that he didn’t exactly do much when in possession.

It’s clear that the statistics also indicate that Eriksen was merely a “passenger,” as he’s previously been described by football creator Liam Canning.

The Denmark international saw plenty of the ball throughout his 64 minutes on the field, taking 66 touches and making 56 passes, which helped United maintain control.

However, he wasn’t exactly looking to create or unlock the visitor's backline, with his one key pass and 0.16 xA proving that he was extremely safe and arguably too cautious.

Yet, the biggest issue regarding Eriksen certainly isn’t his technical ability, but more so his lack of defensive capability, as mentioned earlier.

Against the Blades, the number 14 only competed in three duels, losing two of them, and he only made one tackle all game, proving that he’s a weakness in the middle of the park.

Eriksen was eventually subbed off for Scott McTominay, as Ten Hag looked for more intensity, energy, and presence, which paid off considering the hosts went on to win thanks to a Bruno Fernandes masterclass, where he scored twice and picked up an assist.

With Mason Mount also returning from injury very soon, it’s difficult to see Eriksen having much more of an impact for the rest of the season, and unfortunately, his game against the Blades signified that it’s time to let go of the magician.

Ten Hag’s 7/10 star may have just saved his Man Utd career

The Man United star had 141 touches and made 109 passes last night.

By
Tom Lever

Apr 25, 2024

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni believes Lionel Messi could be back playing within two weeks as he nears a full recovery from his ankle injury.

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• Messi missing since Copa America final
• Ankle injury keeping him on sidelines
• Could be back for October internationals

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Messi hobbled off during Argentina's Copa America final triumph against Colombia this summer and has been missing for his country and Inter Miami since. The football icon injured his ankle but could be back on the pitch soon, with international boss Scaloni admitting they are aiming for the forward to be back in two weeks.

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  WHAT SCALONI SAID

  Speaking ahead of Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Colombia on Tuesday, Scaloni said: "It's difficult for a team not to depend on Messi in terms of football because he's a unique player. But this team has a game idea beyond who plays. Everyone plays the same thing. That helps. When Leo isn't there we do the same thing without that final touch that he has.

  "We hope that Messi starts playing. When we have to give the next list we will communicate with everyone and he will not be the exception. This will be in approximately two weeks. Then we will see if he is fit."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  At 37, it is important not to rush Messi back to prevent any further fitness setbacks. The man from Rosario has been kicked and targetted for his whole career but as he continues in the twilight of his glittering career, it will be a lot easier for him to pick up knocks and niggles, especially in feisty South American derbies.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI AND ARGENTINA?

  Scaloni will be hoping to include Messi in his next squad list for the October internationals against Venezuela and Bolivia. For now, La Albiceleste will look to keep their spot at the top of the World Cup qualifying table when they face Colombia this week.

  It has been reported that Messi could make his long-awaited return to the pitch when Inter Miami face the Philadelphia Union in MLS on September 14.

The second season for Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager has been very disappointing, to say the least. It was a successful first term in charge for the Dutchman, who took his side to a Carabao Cup win, and a third-place finish in the Premier League.

However, this time around has been far more underwhelming for the Red Devils. They currently reside in sixth place in the Premier League, on 54 points, and are now mathematically out of the running for European football. Not only that, they crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage, and the 15 goals they conceded are the most by any Premier League side in the groups.

With such poor form, it has led to talk of manager Ten Hag getting sacked by United’s new owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who might well decide to move forward with a new face at the helm of the INEOS era.

Of course, this has led to plenty of speculation about who could get the job, should Ten Hag indeed get sacked at the end of the season. Several names have been banded around, including England manager Gareth Southgate, and Bayer manager Thomas Tuchel, who will be leaving the club in the summer.

However, one other name is floating around of late, who is currently managing in the Premier League and could well be the man to take over from Ten Hag.

Man Utd should look at appointing Premier League boss

The manager in question is Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, who has had a wonderful first full season at Villa Park. They are currently in fourth place, seven points clear of fifth place Tottenham, and have a Europa Conference League sem-final to look forward to.

The 52-year-old was appointed by Villa in October 2022, taking over from Steven Gerrard, who had a disastrous spell at the club. Last season, Emery dragged the club from relegation-threatened to Conference League qualification in a matter of months.

In April, Villa triggered a one-year contract extension clause in Emery’s contract, to keep the Spaniard at the club until 2027, with Bayern sniffing around and potentially looking at Emery as their next manager.

However, United might still need to approach Emery to take over at Old Trafford. Former United and Villa striker Dwight Yorke thinks that it would be a good appointment, saying in an interview this week that the Spaniard might “do even better than Erik ten Hag, Mikel Arteta or Jurgen Klopp”, should he get the United job.

Yorke further stated: "It won't surprise me to see Emery's name linked with the big clubs in the summer. He has a point to prove at the top clubs because of how his time ended at Arsenal."

How Emery could work at Man Utd

Yorke's quote certainly suggested that Emery's time at Arsenal left a lot to be desired. Since he left Arsenal, Arteta has taken the team to new heights, playing his exciting and high-pressing 4-3-3 system which now sees them challenging for a title.

Emery, though, is famed for his 4-2-2-2 system at Villa, and has helped them to the brink of Champions League qualification. That would be a remarkable accomplishment when you consider where the Midlands side were upon Emery's arrival.

It may not have gone well for him in north London but he has now proven himself as one of the best managers in the Premier League. Further boasting an impressive title haul that includes a Ligue 1 title and four Europa League trophies, he can certainly one-up Arteta when it comes to winning honours. Perhaps there might be some credence behind the idea that he'd take United further than Arsenal over the forthcoming years.

Champions League football would undeniably be a stellar achievement for Emery at Villa given they were a side threatened by relegation last season and it certainly feels like he needs to take the next step to fulfil his legacy as a legendary manager. Should United decide to sack Ten Hag this summer, Old Trafford could well be the place to go. After all, he has already proven he can steady a ship in deep decline. This could be the perfect project.

Having perfected the 4-2-2-2 system at Villa Park, he would perhaps look to implement that system at Old Trafford, too. United certainly have some players who would fit Emery's Villa system well, although they would undoubtedly need to strengthen in a couple of areas of the side, too.

Kobbie Mainoo would be excellent under Emery, with the 19-year-old midfielder having superb ability in the first phase, thus being crucial in the build-up pattern the Spaniard employs, which involves triangles between the centre-back, full-back and midfielder on each side.

Not only that, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount would excel in the central role, in which the players essentially start as wingers, before tucking inside at two number 10s in possession and helping progress the ball through the middle of the pitch.

Finally, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford could certainly work as the two centre-forwards in Emery’s system, who are tasked with drifting out wide to receive the ball and drive into the penalty box. This is something Rashford could do particularly well, as he plays his best football when receiving the ball out wide and driving into the penalty box.

One area United would need to strengthen is at centre-back, and they would have to target quick and agile players to fit into the high-line Emery employs at Villa. Statistically, Villa catch the most players offside per game in the Premier League, with 4.7 per game.

However, this also comes with the risk of opponents exploiting lots of space in behind if they beat the offside trap. The likes of Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof may well struggle to cope with the demands of this, so United should look to recruit at centre-back.

Certainly, Emery’s system is one of the best to watch in the Premier League this season. United’s lack of suitable centre-backs, plus depth needed in midfield, would mean they are not immediately ready should he take over at Old Trafford. With that being said, it could certainly be a shrewd appointment for the Red Devils.

Man Utd eyeing "big club manager" who could be their answer to Klopp

The “big-club manager” could be the man to steady lead Ratcliffe’s rebuild.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 29, 2024

Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has defended Jamal Musiala after Dietmar Hamann's 'solo entertainer' criticism.

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• Hamann calls Musiala a 'solo entertainer'
• Freund defends 'world-class' player
• Calls Hamann's criticism 'absurd'

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Hamann, a former midfielder for Bayern and Liverpool, is well-known for his outspoken opinions on the game and most recently, he disparaged Musiala drawing comparisons to Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz. The former Germany international stated: "Musiala is a solo entertainer" in an article for . "If I could swap Wirtz and Musiala from Bayern’s point of view, I would do it tomorrow". Freund has now risen to Musiala's defence as he labelled Hamann's criticism as 'absurd'.

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  WHAT FREUND SAID

  Speaking to the media, Freund said: "Why is he being criticised? I find it a bit absurd and far-fetched to think that someone has such an opinion. In other countries, such young players with such potential would be highly praised and you are grateful to have such players for your country.

  "We at FC Bayern are extremely happy to have such a player with us. Jamal Musiala is world-class. A truly exceptional player. Jamal is a player that spectators go to the stadium to watch because of how he plays football.

  "He decides games, but he is absolutely a team player. He is exceptional. He can become one of the best players in the world. Both FC Bayern and Germany can count themselves lucky to have him."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Musiala joined Bayern from Chelsea in 2019, and he has since established himself as a crucial player for both the club and the country. During the summer break, there was a lot of conjecture about his future involving teams like Manchester City and Real Madrid, among others. Bayern want to extend the midfielder's contract, which is scheduled to expire in 2026.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MUSIALA?

  The German international will return to Bayern's starting lineup for their first game since the international break as they take on newly promoted Holstein Kiel on Saturday, September 14.

Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher reached out to Ilkay Gundogan ahead of the midfielder's return to Manchester City last month.

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• Gundogan called Guardiola about transfer
• Oasis star reached out to veteran midfielder
• Laughed off claim he helped famous band reunite

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A year after Gundogan left City to join Barcelona in a free transfer, the Germany international contacted Pep Guardiola to enquire about making a shock return at the end of the summer transfer window. Reports of a possible transfer generated a great deal of excitement among the club's fans.

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  WHAT GUNDOGAN SAID

  Speaking to the , he said of his call to the coach: "When I was sure it would be amazing to come back, I spoke with Pep. I called him and asked him if he could imagine it. Not out of nothing. I had thought about it. it was something I personally wanted to do and I didn’t have much to lose, you know?

  "I was a bit nervous beforehand but it was a nice call. Obviously my relationship with Pep was always good. Even though I was in Barcelona last year we had a few phone calls between each other. We actually also met there once.

  "There is no reason to hide that we have a good connection but at the end you never know how people will react or what they think about certain situations. So when I mentioned it and I got a great response, I was relieved. It was something that maybe I didn’t quite expect in that moment. He said had it been up to him it would have been done tomorrow."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Among the excited City fans was music legend Gallagher, who sent a message to Gundogan on WhatsApp that read: "Come home, brother".

  Since Gundogan's return, Oasis have reunited and have announced they will go on tour next year. The veteran midfielder laughed off suggestions he had any role in their return, saying: "No I am quite sure that wasn’t me. Maybe that one will follow me around but there are worse stories to have so I am OK with it. Noel did send me a nice message actually, a really nice one when I left last year. And yeah, he also did when I came back so it was good. I haven’t got any tickets for the concerts yet, by the way, so please don’t ask me…"

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GUNDOGAN?

  Gundogan will aim to help City maintain their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign when they face main title rivals Arsenal on Sunday. City have 12 points from four matches, while the Gunners are two points behind.

Aston Villa are set to be the subject of plenty of attention this summer, as one of their rising stars picks his next destination.

Villa need strong finish

A shock 4-2 defeat at home to Olympiacos followed by a 1-0 loss to Brighton in which they created nothing has burst the feel-good feeling around Aston Villa, who will be hoping to end the season on a high.

Still fourth in the Premier League, Unai Emery's side are almost certain to be playing Champions League football next season after Tottenham's defeat to Liverpool, with a win in their final two games, or a Spurs loss in their last three, making this a mathematical certainty.

It would represent a massive success for the Villans, but they will be eyeing up European glory too, and will need to reverse the two goal deficit in the second leg in Athens on Thursday to reach the final of the UEFA Conference League, where they would face one of Club Brugge or last season's finalists Fiorentina.

Their excellent season has seen them increase their transfer power too, with the club reportedly on the verge of beating Serie A champions Inter Milan to the signing of soon-to-be free agent Mario Hermoso as Emery looks to bolster his ranks to ensure that this campaign isn't a one off.

Youngster set for Bundesliga loan

Teenage prodigy Kadan Young, who has been impressing in youth football this season, now looks set to leave the club as part of the summer transfer plans. The winger, who is still just 18-years-old, has been among the substitutes for the first team on several occasions, but is yet to make his Premier League debut.

Aston Villa "close" to securing deal for £137k-per-week ace this summer

Aston Villa are reportedly closing in on a summer signing.

By
Josh Barker

May 5, 2024

Now, he may have to wait another year, with Football Insider reporting that a season in ther Bundesliga is looking likely as he looks to forge his nascent career. They claim that the teen has "been told he will go out on loan in the 2024-25 campaign to continue his development", and that "multiple Bundesliga sides have registered their interest" in having him for the 2024-25 campaign.

The 18-year-old predominantly plays on the left hand side of attack, and penned his first professional deal at Villa in 2023. A move to Germany, where young stars such as Jadon Sancho, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and more recently Ian Maatsen have flourished, is seen as an excellent step in his development, while Villa still have high hopes for him when he returns to the club.

Which Bundesliga side he joins remains a mystery, but it seems clear that Young will be earning his stripes in Germany's top flight next season.