DEPARTURE CONFIRMED
Guillermo Varela left the club to join Uruguayan side Penarol after a miserable four-year stint at United. Brought in as David Moyes first signing, Varela struggled for playing time and made just 4 appearances during his time here. The right-back returns to his former time and will sign a three-year deal there. He spent time at Real Madrid Castilla and Eintracht Frankfurt on loan but has made his departure permanent.
JOSE CONFIRMS IBRA NEWS
Jose Mourinho confirmed that the club and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are in talks over a new contract. Earlier this week, Gianluca DiMarzio claimed that the two parties were at the negotiating table going over details of a new contract for Ibrahimovic. Mourinho confirmed the same said: “We are discussing the possibility of him to stay with us. It was very clear from him that what he did last year was not enough for him. He wants more football at the highest level so we are having conversations and discussing the possibility of him staying for the second part of the season. He is injured, he needs time to recover, and is not ready to play tomorrow. It’s not something that’s urgent, it’s not desperate to have it done or not.”
UNITED CLOSE TO TRANSFER
United are close to snapping up an exciting Portuguese prospect with the deal reportedly 90% done. Bruno Amorim is all set to complete a move to United in the coming months. The communications director at his current club Oliveirense confirmed that a deal was close. The director said: “‘He (Amorim) had been promoted to the main squad but the scouting was already alert and decided to take him there. At this time the business is 90% done and he may have an excellent contract ahead. The contract will shortly be announced, but he is a future bet at United.”
MORE GOALS FROM MIDFIELD
Manchester United’s struggles in front of goal last season was no secret and some of the blame lies in the below-par contribution from midfielders. Jose Mourinho in his first presser of the season laid down what he expects from his players. Jose said: “What I had in other clubs was more players scoring goals, what we had was midfielders, wingers scoring, central defenders scoring goals at set pieces. We always had more goals with wingers, midfielders getting ten goals, central defenders getting five goals and last season that didn’t happen much.”
EVEN FOOTING
Jose Mourinho laid down the challenge to United’s title rivals and said that he expects a much more even title race with all 6 clubs being involved in the European competitions. Last season’s Champions Chelsea did not have to contend with midweek fixtures giving them more time to prepare and relax ahead of the next game. But that won’t be the case this term. Mourinho laid down the gauntlet and said: “This time we are all in the same basket and it will be the same for everybody. Some will have the luck to play Tuesday or Wednesday, then Saturday or Sunday, but in the end it is the same number of matches. There is no advantage for anyone.”