Man United round-up: daily Old Trafford digest... Casemiro, Klopp, Antony, #EmptyOldTrafford campaign...
Manchester United prepare for Monday’s Old Trafford clash vs Liverpool as a series of names are constantly linked with the Premier League club.
After a far from perfect start to the season for Erik ten Hag, Manchester United have a golden opportunity to redeem themselves to the Old Trafford faithful as Liverpool are the visitors on Monday night. The match, however will be played amid a backdrop of protest and growing unrest relating to the Glazer family with the Americans controlling the majority of the shareholding at the Premier League club.
Klopp on Old Trafford unrest
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said that his side should be awarded the three points if Monday’s game against Manchester United at Old Trafford is called off due to home fans protesting against their owners. The high-profile fixture had to be rescheduled in May 2021 after United fans invaded the pitch before kick-off in protest against the Glazer family. Similar demonstrations are reportedly planned for Monday. ‘I really hope it will not happen but if it does happen, I think we should get the points,’ Klopp told reporters before the game. ‘We have nothing to do with the situation and if the supporters want the game not happening, then we cannot just rearrange the game again and fit it in somewhere in an incredibly busy season.’
The American Glazer family have been under fire from fans following United’s dismal start to the season. They have lost their opening two games and failed to secure transfer targets. The Glazers are reportedly open to selling a minority stake in the Manchester United, with British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe expressing an interest in acquiring the club.
No Casemiro United debut...yet
The Red Devils confirmed last Friday that a deal had been struck for the 30-year-old Brazilian, who has been crucial to Real Madrid’s success in recent seasons, winning the Champions League five times.
It has been widely reported that United are paying £60million (€70.6m) for Casemiro.
The central midfielder however will not be making his debut at Old Trafford next Monday as the Red Devils face Liverpool due to late registration.
Premier League clubs in the top flight have to finalise transfers by midday on the previous working day if they want to field their new signing during that upcoming gameweek and with the move being rubber stamped late on Friday night, the Brazilian and United missed the stipulated deadline.
Casemiro has also yet to undergo his complete medical with United and secure the relevant paperwork/ work permit in order to play in England.
Next acquisition...Antony?
Antony (Matheus dos Santos) has thanked Ajax for making him a more complete footballer but suggested his future may lie away from the Eredivisie giants amid links with Manchester United. The Brazil international is said to be the next name on United’s list of targets after the Red Devils confirmed on Friday a deal is in place to sign Casemiro from Real Madrid.
The 22-year-old has impressed in his previous two full seasons with Ajax, but he is reported to have sat out training this week in order to push through a move to Old Trafford. Speaking in an interview with Dutch outlet De Telegraaf published on Saturday, Antony did little to play down talk a transfer ahead of the 1 September deadline.
Asked if he can guarantee he will remain an Ajax player, the São Paulo academy product said: “No, to be perfectly honest, I can’t. What I can say is that I want to come to the right decision with my family, business partners and Ajax, which is good for everyone. In the end, God determines my future. I am very happy at Ajax, I have a contract until the summer of 2025 and I will give everything for this beautiful club for every second”.
Bailly set for Marseille?
Transfer market ‘guru’ Fabrizio Romano maintains that Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly is set for a move to Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille.
According to the Italian, the French side and Man United have, n principle agreed on a loan dela for the defender with the deal also set to include a mandatory buy option clause to be activated if Marseille qualify for the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League.
The ball is now in the court of the central defender and his team with personal terms to be ratified between all sides.
#EmptyOldTrafford campaign
The online campaign to leave Old Trafford empty on Monday night continues with the hashtag gaining popularity in many parts of the world. Geopolitical Professor of Sport Simon Chadwick reports that the US, West Africa and India are popular areas where the hashtag has created considerable traction.
United fans are also unhappy that despite winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League during the Glazer tenure, since the departure of Alex Ferguson as manager in 2013, their fortunes have taken a severe turn for the worse. The club has gone through five full-time and three interim managers in the nine years since 2013, with only three trophies won in that time with supporters also annoyed about the old stadium having seen limited investment from the owners.
It remains to be seen how the campaign itself actually translates into empty seats at Old Trafford on Monday night but fans will hope to make their point with a march to the famous stadium also planned ahead of kick-off.