European Super Football

Could this prove to be a bargain for Manchester United? The Red Devils have secured the signing of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna and the Netherlands for £36.54 million. The 23-year-old striker has committed to a five-year deal at Old Trafford, with the possibility of extending for an additional year. While Zirkzee's contract with Bologna had a release clause of €40 million (£33.6 million), United chose to pay a slightly higher amount to spread the payment over three years, aiding compliance with Profit and Sustainability Rules. Zirkzee is the first player to join the men's team since Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a 27.7% stake in the club last December. Premier League: Summer 2024 news and stories  More Manchester United news Last season, he scored 12 goals in 37 matches, helping Bologna secure an unexpected spot in this season's Champions League. Zirkzee started his career at Feyenoord before moving to Bayern Munich in 2017. He transferred to Bologna for around £7.15 millio...

Manchester United 1 - 0 Fulham Joshua Zirkzee quickly became an Old Trafford favourite by scoring an 87th-minute winner against Fulham. The former Bologna striker was brought on alongside Alejandro Garnacho after an hour, as United struggled to break down Marco Silva's side. With time running out, the duo combined brilliantly, with the Argentine winger delivering a cross from the right that Zirkzee expertly guided into the bottom corner, dealing a crushing blow to Fulham.United had a slow start, with Andre Onana forced to tip a Kenny Tete effort over the bar early on. But as the match progressed, United posed the greater threat. Fulham's goalkeeper Bernd Leno was in fine form, making three crucial saves to deny United. First, he thwarted Bruno Fernandes , drawing visible frustration from the Portuguese midfielder.  Then, it was Mason Mount's turn. His attempt was also stopped by Leno after a cross from Marcus Rashford. Despite these setbacks, United were determined to...

Netherlands 5 - 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina New Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee scored his first goal for the Netherlands as they scored Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Nations League. United's summer signing from Bologna who was only winning his third cap, netted a fine flicked header following Xavi Simons' deflected shot. Ermedin Demirovic levelled for the away side with a first-time finish from Denis Huseinbasic's through ball in Eindhoven.  But Zirkzee then picked out Tijjani Reijnders to put the hosts ahead again in first-half injury time. Liverpool's Cody Gakpo then scored a third. He slid the ball into an empty net from Reijnders' low drive across the six-yard box. Former Manchester City and Inter Milan strimer Edin Dzeko did give the Bosnians some hope after he scored his 66th international goal  Wout Weghorst, who also has a connection with Manchester United, came on for Zirkzee and scored the Netherlands' fourth, before Simons eventually wrapped up an...

Manchester United 4 - 0 Everton Ruben Amorim secured his first Premier League victory in style as Manchester United cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win over struggling Everton at Old Trafford. Author - Olivia T After a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town in Amorim's league debut last weekend and a midweek Europa League win over Bodo/Glim t, the Portuguese boss saw his side find their feet on Sunday. Despite a shaky start, they ultimately delivered a clinical performance, with Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee both bagging two goals apiece. It was a match to forget for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, who had been a summer transfer target for United. His misfortune played a key role in the home side’s opening goals. Rashford’s low strike took a deflection off Branthwaite's boot to give United the lead, and moments later, the centre-back was caught dithering on the ball. This allowed Amad Diallo to steal possession and set up Bruno Fernandes, who teed up Zirkzee for a composed fi...

Real Sociedad 1 - 1 Manchester United Joshua Zirkzee netted his first European goal for Manchester United, but his side had to settle for a draw against Real Sociedad, leaving their Europa League last-16 tie finely poised. Author - Liam C Stadium - Anoeta Stadium Zirkzee broke the deadlock 12 minutes into the second half, firing a low shot from the edge of the box that caught goalkeeper Alex Remiro off guard. However, Real Sociedad levelled the score through a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty, awarded after a VAR review spotted a handball by Bruno Fernandes. United will feel frustrated not to have taken a win after dominating for nearly an hour, with Andre Onana untested before Sociedad were awarded their penalty. Fernandes saw a goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Aritz Elustondo in the first half, while the United skipper also sent a free-kick narrowly wide. The equaliser seemed to unsettle United and Onana was forced into action, diving to his right to keep out Brais Méndez’s cur...

The 23/24 season isn't even finished yet.  The transfer rumours are already flying in from across all angles.  Let's explore some of the latest rumours from Europe's biggest clubs and also get some immediate reaction. It could be a busy summer at Old Trafford It has been reported across several media outlets that Manchester United have not given up on their attempts to land Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite . This is despite the new-look Old Trafford hierarchy deciding they will not entertain paying up to £80million when the transfer window reopens in the coming weeks. Additional rumours also say that the club have decided that the maximum they are willing to fork out for Branthwaite's signature is £55million.  Manchester United and Barcelona are reportedly vying for the signature of England international Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa. Watkins has had an outstanding season under the management of Unai Emery, becoming a key player for the team. Watkins' performan...

Lyon 2 - 2 Manchester United A stoppage-time equaliser from Lyon has left Manchester United’s Europa League quarter-final delicately poised at the halfway point. Author - Olivia T Stadiun - Groupama Stadium United fell behind after 25 minutes when Thiago Almada’s wide free-kick evaded a strong enough touch from André Onana, whose uncertain handling continues to draw scrutiny. But just before the break, United drew level through Leny Yoro. The 18-year-old notched his first goal for the club, reacting sharply to Manuel Ugarte’s volley and steering it into the bottom corner. The visitors looked to have snatched a late winner when Joshua Zirkzee, introduced from the bench, guided a looping header past the goalkeeper from Bruno Fernandes’ cross in the 88th minute. However, with virtually the last kick of the game, Onana fumbled a shot from Georges Mikautadze, allowing Rayan Cherki to tap in and spark celebrations in the Lyon end. READ MORE:  UEFA Europa League and Conference Le...

Arsenal 1 - 1 Manchester United Manchester United won 5-3 on penalties Author - DJ Joshua Zirkzee sealed Manchester United’s place in the fourth round of the FA Cup by scoring the decisive penalty in a dramatic shootout victory over Arsenal, despite the Red Devils playing nearly an hour with 10 men. United faced an uphill battle when Diogo Dalot received a second yellow card in the 61st minute for a mistimed tackle on Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino. The dismissal came after Bruno Fernandes had put United ahead in the 52nd minute with a stunning strike. The Portuguese playmaker curled the ball into the top corner after Alejandro Garnacho capitalised on Gabriel’s slip and delivered a pinpoint cross. Arsenal quickly capitalised on their numerical advantage, equalising just two minutes later. Centre-back Gabriel volleyed home from close range to bring the Gunners level. The momentum appeared to swing further in Arsenal’s favour when Harry Maguire was judged to have fouled Kai Havertz ...

Does there need to be a change in tactics? Do they need a new manager? What's next for the Old Trafford club? Despite last season's FA Cup win, United fans views on the future of Ten Hag were split. After finishing eighth in the Premier League last season, many fans wondered if he was the right man to lead the club back to its former glories.  Some supporters also argued that his tactical approach was too rigid, and there was additional growing concerns about his ability to adapt to the demands of the English game.  Debate about Ten Hag's future again Once again, the Dutchman's position at the helm of one of football's giants has shifted from persistent uncertainty to genuine crisis following a 3-0 defeat against Tottenham. For United's hierarchy, the choice to stick with the ex-Ajax manager is proving to be one that may cast a shadow over the early phase of his reign at Old Trafford. But the question now is whether they should double down on their decision...

Netherlands v Spain Preview Spain, the reigning UEFA Nations League champions, head to Rotterdam for the first leg of their quarter-final clash against the Netherlands. Author - Ajay Feyenoord's stadium will host the match The winners of this two-legged tie will progress to the semi-finals in June, where they will face either Croatia or France. After being knocked out by England in the Euro 2024 semi-finals last summer, the Netherlands secured second place in League A Group 3 of the Nations League, picking up nine points from six matches (W2 D3 L1) in the latter half of last year. Since the competition's inception in 2018, the Dutch have twice come close to lifting the trophy—finishing as runners-up to Portugal in 2019 before losing the third-place playoff to Italy in 2023. READ MORE: What's the point of the UEFA Nations League Manager Ronald Koeman will be looking to shore up a defence that struggled during the group stage, conceding seven goals—the most of any team at...

Manchester United 1 - 1 Fulham (Fulham won 4-3 penalties) Bernd Leno was the penalty shootout hero as Fulham knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup, with the German keeper making two vital saves to send the Cottagers into the quarter-finals. Author - Olivia T Stadium - Old Trafford After both sides converted their first three spot-kicks, Leno denied Victor Lindelöf before Fulham captain Antonee Robinson kept his side’s perfect record intact. That set the stage for Leno to produce another big moment, stopping Joshua Zirkzee’s effort and sparking wild celebrations from the travelling fans. Marco Silva’s men had taken the lead just before half-time when Calvin Bassey was left unmarked at the far post to nod home from close range after Rodrigo Muniz flicked on a corner. United responded through the Portuguese playmaker. He levelled the scores in style, rifling a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after being picked out by Diogo Dalot. Both sides had chances t...

Manchester United 1 - 3 Brighton & Hove Albion Manchester United fell to their sixth home defeat of the season at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion. Author - Liam C Yankuba Minteh scored first for the visitors early in the match, but a penalty from Bruno Fernandes midway through the first half seemed to provide the foundation United needed to secure all three points. However, a chaotic second half saw Kaoru Mitoma tap home at the back post, before a mistake from Andre Onana gifted Georginio Rutter a third in an eventful 3-1 victory. It was hardly the way United's players would have wanted to mark the death of their iconic and legendary striker Denis Law . However, they deserved nothing more. This was another dreadful display in what is becoming a very bad season for the twenty times champions of England.  A closer look at what happened This was far from the kind of result or performance that would have honoured the great Denis Law.   The brilliance and flair ...

Manchester United's plans for the new season appear to be going well. The Red Devils have signed French defender Leny Yoro from Lille on a contract until 2029.  The deal is valued at €62 million (£52.18m), with an additional €8 million (£6.73m) in potential add-ons. The 18-year-old centre-back has committed to a five-year stay at Old Trafford, with an option to extend for another 12 months. Yoro, who debuted for Lille at 16, had attracted interest from Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain, and Liverpool. Last season, he made 32 league appearances, scored two goals, and was instrumental in helping Lille secure fourth place in Ligue 1 . His performances earned him a spot in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season. In total, Yoro played 44 matches across all competitions for Lille, reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League, where they were narrowly defeated on penalties by Aston Villa. Yoro's signing follows Manchester United's recent acquisition of forward Joshua Zirkz...

Manchester United 0 - 2 Newcastle United Newcastle United secured a rare league victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, only their second since 1972, as they handed the hosts a third consecutive home defeat – a feat not seen in 45 years. Author - Olivia T This result also marked another unwanted milestone for United, who have now suffered five league losses in a single calendar month for the first time since Sir Matt Busby’s reign in September 1962. Eddie Howe’s side were deserved winners, with early strikes from Alexander Isak and Joelinton sealing the points and lifting Newcastle to fifth in the table to cap off a strong finish to 2024. The in-form Isak continued his hot streak, notching his 12th goal of the season and eighth in his last six matches, scoring in each of those games. In stark contrast, Manchester United were woeful. The last time they lost three consecutive home league games was in 1979, and this performance provided little cause for optimism. Head coach Ru...

Liverpool v Manchester United preview Northern rivals are set to clash in a Premier League showpiece at Anfield, where title favourites Liverpool host a struggling Manchester United in a highly anticipated showdown. Author -  Liam C Arne Slot’s high-flying Reds hold a commanding 23-point lead over their long-time adversaries in the league table. While Liverpool chase Premier League glory, Ruben Amorim’s beleaguered United side find themselves nervously glancing over their shoulders at the relegation battle. As Arsenal, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest scrap for the “best of the rest” tag, Liverpool have defied predictions of a mid-season slump. Slot’s team ended 2024 in emphatic style, thrashing West Ham United 5-0. They are poised to start 2025 with the same ruthless momentum. The goals at the London Stadium came courtesy of Luis Díaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah, and Cody Gakpo, sealing Liverpool’s fourth consecutive victory across all competitions and ext...

Manchester United 0 - 0 Manchester City Manchester United and Manchester City played out a drab goalless draw at Old Trafford, a result that served as a stark reminder that both clubs are in need of a reset come summer. Author - Olivia T Stadium - Old Trafford City carved out the better of the rare clear-cut chances, with Omar Marmoush twice testing André Onana. The Egyptian forward, however, was unable to find a way past the United goalkeeper on either occasion. United, for their part, fashioned a handful of half-chances but never truly looked like breaking the deadlock. There was early promise when Alejandro Garnacho was brought down on the edge of the City area by Rúben Dias, yet the pattern that followed was all too familiar. For all their effort, Rúben Amorim’s side often appeared short on belief in the final third. Their closest moment came with 13 minutes remaining, when substitute Joshua Zirkzee directed a Patrick Dorgu cross goalwards, only for Ederson to beat the effort a...

Another great day for Brighton fans. Are they about to go the next level this season? Euphoria was certainly the word to describe the noise that greeted the final whistle, even though beating United has become almost routine for Brighton, with five victories in their last six meetings. Perhaps the excitement was due to starting the season with back-to-back wins, although Brighton achieved that last year as well. More likely, it’s because they’ve once again found a manager who can keep the club moving forward, reaching heights their fans could never have imagined two decades ago. There was an element of luck in Brighton's win, particularly when Joshua Zirkzee, on a wet pitch, couldn’t stop himself from sliding towards goal after failing to convert Bruno Fernandes' 72nd-minute cross. Unluckily, he didn’t cross the line before Alejandro Garnacho’s shot struck him, resulting in the goal being ruled out for offside. However, the seamless transition from Roberto de Zerbi to Hurze...

Manchester United 0 - 2 Crystal Palace Manchester United’s home struggles continued as they slumped to a fifth defeat in six Premier League games at Old Trafford, with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s second-half brace sealing a deserved 2-0 victory for Crystal Palace. Author - Olivia T Stadium - Old Trafford In a bold tactical gamble, United head coach Ruben Amorim opted to leave £100m worth of striking talent on the bench, deploying Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine while Marcus Rashford edges closer to a move to Aston Villa. Despite a promising start, the experiment failed, and Palace grew into the game before substitute Eberechi Eze, returning unexpectedly from injury, delivered the moment that changed the contest. His inch-perfect 64th-minute free-kick caused havoc in the United box, with Maxence Lacroix’s header rattling the bar before Mateta reacted quickest, bundling the ball home past a stranded André Onana. The French forward added his second in the dying moments, tapping in Daniel Muñ...

Matheus Cunha to Manchester United? The Red Devils are continuing to explore potential manoeuvres in the market in search of attacking players, and one of the names that has gained strength in recent days is Matheus Cunha.  Author - Olivia T Source | Football Pictures Flickr The Brazilian forward, currently with Wolves, has shown outstanding performance in the Premier League, attracting the interest of major English clubs.  His ability to play in various attacking positions and his dynamism fit the profile that their manager is looking at. Cunha wants to make the step up While things didn’t work out for Cunha at Atletico Madrid, he has certainly revived his career since joining Wolves. He joined the Midlands side on an initial loan deal at the start of 2023 before the move was made permanent in the summer. While he prefers playing as a number nine, Cunha can pretty much feature anywhere in attack. His versatility, combined with his effectiveness in the final third, makes h...

Manchester United 2 - 1 Leicester City Harry Maguire was the hero as he nodded home a dramatic stoppage-time winner to send FA Cup holders Manchester United into the fifth round, completing a comeback victory over Leicester City. Author - Olivia T Stadium - Old Trafford With extra time and penalties looming, Bruno Fernandes delivered a teasing free-kick into the box, and Maguire rose highest to head it in. The goal was shrouded in controversy, as the defender appeared to be offside, but with VAR not in use at this stage of the competition, the officials let it stand—much to Leicester’s frustration. For United fans, it was a rare moment of joy in what has been a tough spell, with their team losing five of their previous seven home matches at Old Trafford. The evening had started in familiar disappointment when Leicester took the lead just before half-time in an otherwise uneventful first 45 minutes. Bobby De Cordova-Reid reacted quickest after Andre Onana parried Wilfred Ndidi’s eff...