WUNDERKIND ON TRIAL
Manchester United have welcomed Brazilian wunderkind Gabriel Martinelli to the youth fold on a trial basis. The 16-year-old has been training in Manchester for some time and his presence with the team was confirmed by the club yesterday. He was given a 30-minute cameo against Lincoln City on Wednesday.
ACADEMY WINS BIG
The Manchester United under-18s ran out comfortable 2-0 winners over Lincoln City on Wednesday. Goals from new boy Millen Baars and Brandon Williams helped United to the victory. Bars scored a screamer in the 89th minute. United nicked him ahead of interest from the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal this summer.
NO RADJA THIS SUMMER
Radja Nainggolan put an end to all speculation linking him with a move to Old Trafford by signing a new long term contract at AS Roma. The new four-year deal will keep him at the Italian club until 2021. The move by Nainggolan narrows down United’s options in the transfer market for a new defensive midfielder. Nemanja Matic remains a possible transfer while Spurs’ reluctance to sell Eric Dier means Mourinho will have to look at Monaco’s Fabinho.
HAND IN GLOVE
Sergio Romero revealed that he could not be happier with David De Gea’s decision to stay at Old Trafford. Romero, who only just signed a new four-year deal, said:
“It’s better for the club that there is this competition there between me and David. And the truth is that there exists a great friendship between us, we work hard in order help each other out. It’s very important that we work in this way so we can get the most out of each other. If he puts pressure on me, I put pressure on him and it’s the same with young Joel Pereira who is working with us. So yes, it’s good for me if he stays at United. He is a friend and we will keep working hard to help each other out in training. If he does well then I do well, so in that way, the level of performance will always be high.”
WORLD CLASS PAUL
Manchester United Jose Mourinho placed Paul Pogba in the same bracket of players as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. Mourinho said: “’Messi and Neymar, there is only one Messi and one Neymar. Suarez, Iniesta, Pique, Ronaldo, Bale, Modric, Toni Kroos, there is only one, so they can only be playing for one club – we can’t have them, they belong to the clubs. One of my players, Paul Pogba, showed the level and he belongs to that level.”