TAPUWA Kapini will go down in history as one of Zimbabwe’s most eccentric and colourful goalkeepers of his generation, but the former Highlanders shot-stopper wants to be remembered for something […]
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REUTERS/Andrew Innerarity
Andreas Pereira has admitted that he is ready to play for his favourite club, Brazilian outfit Santos, for ‘free’ if he gets a chance.
Pereira has managed to earn Mourinho’s trust this season. The 22-year-old was one of the best performers for the Red Devils during their pre-season tour in the United States, and retained his spot in the starting XI for the first three games.
But the Manchester United gaffer had to switch tactics this weekend, and Pereira was dropped from the away game against Burnley.
While his United career flourishes, Pereira has named the club he wishes to retire at. Despite being born in Belgium, his heart lies in Brazil, and he wants to play for Santos before he hangs up his boots.
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In a recent interview with Globo Esporte, Pereira revealed: “I’m a Santista. My whole family is Santista and I grew up being a Santista. If it’s to play, I’d rather play at Santos, end my career there. I think it’s a dream.
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“There’s a lot of players who say I’m crazy, but I’d play for free at Santos if I have to. It’s a dream. Who knows right after Manchester, winning a couple of titles here.”
The youngster is set to make his international debut for Brazil during this international break.
Pereira also revealed how his fellow United teammate Romelu Lukaku tried to convince him to join the Belgium national side, as he had already represented the Red Devils at youth level.
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But the Manchester United youth academy graduate wasn’t ready to make this switch, as his heart was set out to represent the Seleção.
“He tried to convince me. He spoke to me: ‘You have to play for Belgium’. He came to talk to me, he’s always talking to me,” Pereira admitted.
“I told him ‘it’s difficult, Lukaku, can’t do it, it’s not the same. Playing for Belgium is something else. Playing for Seleção… It’s Brazil, I feel at home.’ ‘If that’s the way it is, you have to follow your heart’. And then he respected my decision.”
The post Andreas Pereira: “I’d Play For This Club For Free” appeared first on BlameFootball.
ESPN FC's Julien Laurens and Gab Marcotti explain why Mario Balotelli's hopes of returning to Serie A this summer were dashed.
MILAN -- Italy coach Roberto Mancini bemoaned the dearth of Italian players in Serie A as he focuses on youth in his attempt to get the Azzurri back to the top of international football.
The national team is at a low point after missing the World Cup for the first time in nearly six decades.
According to statistics cited by Italian national news agency Ansa, only 30 percent of footballers who ply their trade in Serie A are eligible to play for the national team -- compared to 60 percent 12 years...
REUTERS/Phil Noble
Manchester United tasted some much-needed victory at Turf Moor as they beat Burnley 2-0.
However, the final scoreline didn’t reflect the mood of the match entirely, as the game that ought to have been settled in favour of the Red Devils after a first-half brace from Romelu Lukaku seemed on the verge of chaos in the second half.
After Paul Pogba missed a simple penalty won by substitute Marcus Rashford, the young Manchester United forward got into a brawl with Phil Bardsley which resulted in him being sent off.
In his defense, Rashford was responding to a late kick from the Burnley man, which the referee missed, while his headbutt wasn’t.
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As a result, red was evident for the Englishman, although Bardsley too deserved the suspension. Now, Jose Mourinho has had his say on the matter.
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Speaking after the game, Mourinho predictably declared: “I don’t know what happened. I would say it was naive. It was a kid and a very experienced man. Bardsley’s been in the game for 20 years and Marcus is a naive boy.”
The gaffer can be allowed for being critical of the youngster, particularly in view of how badly the Red Devils required the win following their worst start to a Premier League campaign in 26 years.
However, one must also consider that Rashford, who is already starved of game-time, must have been really frustrated by the tackle on him and doubly disappointed by the referee’s decision.
Emotions got the better of me, I shouldn’t of reacted like that. Sorry to everyone at the club and all the fans #MUFC pic.twitter.com/6UWnxd4yYo
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) September 2, 2018
At the end of the day, he ought to have known better, and having been awarded the first red card of his career will hopefully serve as a message for the rest of his tenure.
About their general performance, which was quite tense for the last 20 minutes, when the side had to play with ten men, Mourinho had this to say: “They played very well as a team, and there were very good individual performances and we should score many more goals. The result shouldn’t have been open until the last minute.”
The post Mourinho’s Reaction On Marcus Rashford Red Card Incident appeared first on BlameFootball.
Reuters / Jason Cairnduff
Ten years ago, Manchester City was taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment, with Sheikh Mansour calling the shots and effectively altering the future of the lesser known Mancunian side.
A decade later, three resounding Premier League titles have been captured, and the Cityzens are one of the most feared teams in the world, largely owing to their sizable investments in the transfer markets by virtue of their big-money owners.
However, this wasn’t always the case; let us have a look at the final City side before the fateful move:
Joe Hart
REUTERS/Giorgio Perottino
The English shot-stopper remained a part of the City roster for quite a while, before he was deemed below par for their needs, despite having led them to the hallowed titles. He now plays for Burnley, having left the champions earlier this summer.
Vedran Corluka
The Croatian centre-back, who also functioned as a right-back for City, now plays for Lokomotiv Moscow as their captain. One of the first players to leave after the takeover, he had a brief stint at Tottenham as well.
Micah Richards
Another defender who had a successful spell at City and held on till the memorable 2011/12 season, he has now been signed by Championship side Aston Villa. During the title-winning campaign, Richards warded off injuries and notched the most assists by any defender in the league.
Richard Dunne
A rare City legend and club captain who was replaced by the likes of Toure and Lescott. Unfortunately, he was one of the players that received a severe release after the takeover, as the Irishman apparently wasn’t big enough of a player for the new brand. He is currently retired and serves as a football pundit.
Michael Ball
Another retired player who functioned as a left-back. The Englishman had a severe injury in 2009, and he left City and spent a few years as a free agent before returning to play for Leicester and then finally hanging his boots.
Stephen Ireland
A product of Man City’s youth academy, Ireland currently plays for Stoke City, part of a loan deal from parent club Aston Villa. He was a regular till Mancini took over the Sky Blues and sold him in 2010.
Didi Hamann
A player whose professional playing days are over, despite ongoing stints with amateur sides. The German’s end came after City released him after the 2008/09 season.
Michael Johnson
Another retired player, the midfielder was once prized to be a brilliant player of the great game. Unfortunately, an abdominal injury caused his exit.
Vincent Kompany
REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
A rare, familiar name in the present context, the Belgian defender has gone on to become the backbone of City’s recent success. Still the captain of the Mancunian giants at 32 years of age, one does wonder about his future.
Shaun Wrights-Philips
Two seasons after the takeover saw the English winger heavily feature for City, but the likes of David Silva and Yaya Toure quickly lapped up his starting spot. Now inactive, his last stints were with QPR, New York Red Bulls, and Phoenix Rising FC.
Jo
The Brazilian was signed shortly before the takeover for a fee of £19 million. This was then viewed as a huge amount, which is ironic considering the massive purchases the club has made since and the sheer records they’ve broken. The striker currently functions for Japanese club Nagoya Grampus.
Substitutes:
Reuters / Carl Recine
City’s bench featured the likes of Kasper Schmeichel, the son of United’s legendary goalkeeper, and who is currently more renowned for his shot-stopping antics with Leicester City.
Javier Garrido now plays for Norwich City, while Tal Ben Haim and Gelson Fernandes ply their trades for Standard Liege and Freiburg respectively.
Elano is now with Gremio, while the controversial career of City’s youth academy product Ched Evans has now seen the striker with Fleetwood Town.
Lastly, the memorable name of Daniel Sturridge once dotted City’s roster, but the English forward now plays for Liverpool.
The post Man City’s Team Before Sheikh Mansour’s Takeover: Where Are They Now? appeared first on BlameFootball.
