Manchester United drew 2-2 with Barcelona on Thursday night in the first leg of the Europa League play-offs thanks to a Marcus Rashford goal and an own goal.
The Catalan giants opened the scoring in the 50th minute through Marcos Alonso, howeverPutrefactionresponded well and leveled the process just two minutes laterRaschford. The visiting team opened 2-1 when Jules Kounde put the ball into his own net, but Raphinha made it 2-2 with 14 minutes remaining.
Erik ten HagThe team knows that they will advance to the next phase of the competition with a victory in the second leg at Old Trafford next Thursday. Xavi's charges will be without midfielder Gavi next week after receiving his third yellow card of the season in Europe.
Off the pitch, he is linked to United with a transfer of Mason Mount from Chelsea and England. The midfielder is reportedly reluctant to commit to a long-term deal. The 24-year-old is also believed to be seeking a pay rise.
Elsewhere, today marks the "flexible window" for investors to bid for United, with Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani formalizing his intention to buy the club.
TODAY'S BIG TALKING POINT:Should United have played 10 players yesterday?
Keep an eye on the latest transfer news, views and rumors with our dedicated blog below:
main events
Flexible term for United acquisition offers
Liam Holz
Scroll below for streaming updates
That concludes our current United transfer blog.
Scroll below for news, rumors and updates from Old Trafford.
Liam Holz
United considering signing Marcus Thuram: reports
reports oftransfer marketsuggest that United have entered the race to sign Marcus Thuram.
However theFirst LeagueThe giants will face competition from Arsenal and Tottenham.
Thuram, 25, has had an impressive season for Borussia Monchengladbach, registering 13 goals and four assists in 21 games in all competitions. He also played for France at the Winter World Cup in Qatar. Thuram only has a few months left to fulfill his contract.
Liam Holz
Full story on the Qatar-backed acquisition
Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has formalized his intention to buy the club. This comes after the highly criticized Glazer United family put it up for sale in November of last year and before the 10 p.m. m. from this night.
Read the full report here >>>
Liam Holz
Let us know what you think about acquisition interest
KEY EVENTJoshua Smith
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani presents proposal
Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has made an offer for 100% of Manchester United, a confirmed statement confirms.
United's owners, the Glazers, set a "flex deadline" at 10 p.m. m. on Friday night for interested parties to submit their bids, with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe being the only other confirmed bidder at the time.
One explanation said:
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani today confirmed the submission of a bid for 100 per cent of Manchester United Football Club. The offer is aimed at restoring the club to its former glory on and off the pitch and, more importantly, bringing fans back to the heart of Manchester United Football Club. The offering will be completely debt free through Sheikh Jassim's Nine Two Foundation, which aims to invest in the soccer teams, training center, stadium and other infrastructure, fan experience and supported communities. for the club The vision of the offer is for Manchester United Football Club to be known for its excellence in football and to be recognized as the best football club in the world. More details of the tender may be released as the tender process progresses.
Liam Holz
SkyBet Premier League 2022/2023 Winning Odds
United are just five points behind neighbors City at the top.
But are they still in the running for the Premier League title this season?
Here are the latest betting odds provided bySkyBetNombrewith this constant load.
Manchester City - 4/7
Arsenal - 13/8
Manchester United - 16/1
*Odds were correct as of 19:45 on February 17. Subject to change.
Liam Holz
Only the 22 goals so far this season!
Liam Holz
Paul Scholes shares Frenkie de Jong's verdict
United failed to sign the main goalfrankie junglast summer.
But they ran into himBarcelonaCrack at the Camp Nou.
See what the former United midfielder had to sayPablo Scholessaid about him;
He is a wonderful footballer. They probably brought him here to replace Busquets, but Busquets continues. I think he is more suitable for this role. I don't think [de Jong] likes to play that forward role. I think he will be better in the starting eleven replacing Busquets.
Liam Holz
United said how much it will cost Marcel Sabitzer
United have been told they will have to pay £18m to signMarcel Sabitzer.
Sabitzer arrived at Old Trafford on the final day of the game on loan from FC Bayern Munich.
However, there is currently no option or obligation for a permanent exchange.
However, reports from the German publicationBILDsuggest the 28-year-old could stay at United next season if they reach his asking price. Sabitzer made a name for himself at RB Leipzig before joining Bayern last summer.
Liam Holz
Choose your starting XI against Leicester
choose the team
Liam Holz
The next six Premier League games
United returned to the Camp Nou from their midweek adventure.
Here are the next sixFirst Leaguegames they have to deal with;
Sunday February 19 – Leicester (H) at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday March 5 – Liverpool (A) at 4:30 p.m.
Saturday March 11 – Southampton (H) at 3:00 p.m.
Sunday March 19 - Brighton (A) at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday April 1 vs Newcastle (A) at 15:00*
Saturday April 8 vs Everton (H) at 15:00*
*Subject to change due to broadcast schedules.
Liam Holz
Let us know what you think about acquisition interest
Liam Holz
United aim to sign Lautaro Martínez: reports
United have again been linked with a summer move for Lautaro Martinez.
After that, a new striker is on United's agendaCristiano Ronaldohe was allowed to go.
Victor Osimhen andharry kaneThey are considered to have two main objectives.
informateam talkindicate that Argentine striker Martínez has been suggested as an alternative for the club next summer. He has scored 15 goals in 31 games for Arsenal this season and Chelsea are also interested in an offer for him.
It is brown
Real Madrid "with one eye" on Diogo Dalot
RespectivelyANDReal Madrid is eyeing the signing of United right-back Diogo Dalot.
The 23-year-old has yet to renew his contract at Old Trafford, although the Reds seem desperate for the defender to stay at Old Trafford.
Dalot has made 90 appearances for United since joining the Porto club in 2018.
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Barcelona confirm Pedri's injury after clash with United
Barcelona midfielder Pedri will almost certainly miss his team's Europa League second leg against United after picking up a confirmed hamstring injury.
A statement from the Spanish club said:
"The tests carried out this Friday morning have confirmed that Pedri has an injury to the rectus femoris of his right thigh. He is small and his evolution will mark his availability." The canary suffered the injury towards the end of the first part of Barça - United It was played on Spotify on Thursday at the Camp Nou. Unfortunately, the injury comes at one of the best moments for Pedri, who has been key in the last victories for FC Barcelona".
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United's dream duo!
Man Utd have NEVER lost a match that Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro started togetherpic.twitter.com/Q1vAuUVGFy
– UF (@UtdFaithfuls)February 16, 2023
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United must 'pay £18m to sign Marcel Sabitzer permanently'
Respectivelysports photo, vonthe human human, Bayern Munich have told United how much it would cost to sign midfielder Marcel Sabitzer permanently in the summer.
The German club are demanding a transfer fee of 18 million British pounds (20 million euros) for Sabitzer. However, the report adds that they will be open to negotiations with the Reds at the end of the season.
Bayern are looking to capitalize on Sabitzer, who played 54 times for Bayern before coming to Old Trafford. The Austrian has played three games with Erik ten Hag's team since his signing on the last day.
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Ten Hag explains what United must do to be title contenders
United manager Erik ten Hag has suggested that if his team is in a similar position to what they were in the Premier League in April, they have a chance of winning the league title.
The Reds are the only team in Europe to have competed in four competitions and, if they advance in the Europa League and FA Cup in the next two weeks, they will have just three more league games to go before the international break in March.
"We haven't thought about that," Ten Hag said. “What we have to do is put ourselves in the right position in April. In order for our minds to always be on the next game, we must always be better than the previous game and think from game to game with energy and focus."
Click here to read the full story.
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Ten Hag plans a double for Bono and Castello Lukeba
Respectivelyteam talkUnited manager Erik ten Hag is aiming to secure a brace for Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and Lyon defender Castello Lukeba in the summer.
The report ensures that Bounou -a 31-year-old Moroccan international goalkeeper- will try to leave the Spanish team at the end of the season to play in the Champions League.
Meanwhile, the left-footed Lukeba has impressed with 22 appearances and one goal for the French outfit this season.
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Ferdinand praised Rashford
@MarcusRashfordget rich
– River Fernando (@rioferdy5)February 16, 2023
He's at a new level, a level he hasn't been before, a consistency he hasn't been able to maintain until now.
A fit, focused, direct, confident, lethal and powerful Rashford is not to be confused!
kyle newbould
Tell us your predictions for the Premier League title!
kyle newbould
Contra Mason Monte
United are monitoring the status of Mason Mount's contract at Chelsea and negotiations over a new deal are said to be stalled.ESPN.
The Blues academy product will see his current contract expire in the summer with little progress in negotiations, putting several Premier League clubs on high alert over what could be a staggering free transfer.
The report suggests the talks have hit a snag as the 24-year-old is reluctant to embark on the long-term deals being rolled out at Stamford Bridge – both Enzo Fernández and Mykhaylo Mudryk signed eight-and-a-half-year deals in the january.
The clash is said to have alarmed several top clubs including United, Liverpool and Man City, although the latter pair's efforts to sign Jude Bellingham could take them to the background in this particular race.
kyle newbould
A return to the determined action of Casemiro
kyle newbould
LUCKHURST: State ownership of United would set a dangerous precedent
Treacherymanchester unitedDecades have passed, but the prospect of Britain's most famous club becoming a sportswear front is a particularly depressing thought.
The online perception of a possible takeover by a Gulf state is misleading. Many tweeters who receive interest from Qatar or Saudi Arabia invest mainly in transfers and titles. His goal is for United to imitate Paris Saint-Germain, a Qatari merchandise with an attack invented in a FIFA video game.
If Qatari or Saudi investors were to end the occupation of Glazers, it's hard to imagine dozens of supporters gathering on Sir Matt Busby Way with tea towels tied over their heads. United fans have long been among the most novice and grateful.
When Joel Glazer tried to raise the drawbridge with the Super League company, United fans stormed the castle and their home game against Liverpool was postponed. There were passionate protests against Rupert Murdoch's failed inauguration in 1998 and Joel, Avram and Bryan Glazer called for a police escort to escape Old Trafford in 2005.
Read here >>>
kyle newbould
Fashion fanatic from Rashford, Rio?
@RioFerdy5hum@MarcusRashfordlast night's performance#MUFC||#UEL
—Manchester United (@ManUtd)February 17, 2023
kyle newbould
Pedri's injury confirmed
Barcelona midfielder Pedri will miss next week's Europa League second leg against Manchester United with a hamstring injuryANDhas called.
This was confirmed by the blaugranaon Friday morning that their silky midfielder suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg after going down in the 40th minute on Thursday night.
And now reports suggest he will be out for around a month, making next Thursday's trip to Old Trafford all but impossible. Xavi's men are also sweating because of the form of Sergio Busquets, who missed the first leg, while Gavi will be suspended after his third yellow card in Europe.
kyle newbould
Rashford was "disappointed" last night.
kyle newbould
David Harrison named new Director of Soccer Operations
Manchester United have appointed David Harrison as their new Director of Football Operations.
Harrison arrived from Everton and will succeed Alan Dawson, who leaves United in July after 11 years. Harrison will work at United's Carrington training complex and report to director of football John Murtough.
According to United sources, Harrison will oversee all operational aspects of the club's football activities.
Harrison's speech:
"I look forward to taking on this role at a time when Manchester United have so many opportunities and prospects. I will always treasure my memories of 27 years at Everton and wish everyone at Goodison and Finch Farm all the best for the future.
"Now my focus is on helping Manchester United create the best possible operating environment to support success on the pitch."
Read the full report here >>>
kyle newbould
Marcus Thuram is interested
Manchester United is one of several clubs across Europe interested in a summer transfer for Marcus Thuram, according to Manchester United.transfer market.
Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Thuram is expected to expire his contract with the Bundesliga club this summer, making him a free agent who could be in talks on a pre-contract deal.
The 25-year-old has scored 10 goals in 19 league games this season and appears to be one of the most sought-after strikers on the window, not least because he will cost next to nothing.
United are said to have made "interesting suggestions" but will face competition from across Europe in the Premier League from Tottenham and Newcastle, as well as Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.
daniel murphy