Cristiano Ronaldo invented a whole new way of beating a defender v Eibar

Remember when everybody thought Cristiano Ronaldo was having a poor season?

Well, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has lifted two fingers to the doubters with his performances in recent weeks and his rotten opening months of the campaign now seem a distant memory. With 17 goals in his last 10 appearances, it would be fair to say he's performing well at the moment.

Consequently, Eibar couldn't have welcomed Real Madrid to the Ipurua Municipal Stadium at a more unfortunate spell of the season - and Ronaldo didn't take his foot off the gas in the Basque Country.

In fact, it was one of his most imperious showings in La Liga in 2017-18 with the Portuguese scoring both of Los Blancos' goals in an economical 2-1 win.

Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a ruthless one-on-one finish past Marko Dmitrović, before Ivan Ramis equalised for the home side just after half-time.

Read more: http://www.givemesport.com/1272873-cristiano-ronaldo-invented-a-whole-new-way-of-beating-a-defender-v-eibar?autoplay=on

Jose Mourinho has been ‘regularly calling’ £53.3m Barcelona star with a £154,000-a-week offer

It looks like Jose Mourinho is desperately trying to convince Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti to join our club in the summer.

According to Sport, Mourinho is calling Umtiti on a regular basis to persuade him to snub Barcelona’s contract extension offer and instead move to Old Trafford.

The Frenchman is already in negotiations with the La Liga giants to commit his long-term future to the club by putting pen to paper on a new bumper deal. But the reportadds that his brother and agent Yannick Umtiti is in regular touch with the United officials to seal a potential move to Old Trafford in the summer.

Umtiti has developed into one of the best defenders across Europe and is the leader of Barcelona’s defence. Since leaving Lyon for the Catalan giants, the Frenchman has grown tremendously and continues to impress for the La Liga giants this season with his rock-solid defending and leadership abilities.

The Spanish publication claim that the Red Devils are ready to meet Umtiti’s €60m release clause and will offer him a staggering deal worth €9m-a-year.

Mourinho remains keen to shore up his defence in the summer transfer window and has identified the Barcelona centre-back as his top target.

Despite signing the likes of Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly, the United manager wants to add another defender to his ranks.

Umtiti fits the bill perfectly to play at United as the French international is strong, powerful and an intimidating figure, tailor-made to play in the Premier League. He can cope well with the demands of English football due to his sheer strength and physicality.

It is believed that Mourinho tried signing Umtiti in the winter transfer window. But after having failed to do so, the United manager is expected to double his efforts using the presence of his international teammates Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial to convince the defender to join our club.

On the other hand, Barcelona are confident that the 24-year-old will sign a contract extension with them and will snub United in the summer, just like he did in January.

It remains to be seen what happens once the summer transfer window opens but I find it highly unlikely that Umtiti would leave Barcelona for United.

Read more: http://weallfollowunited.com/2018/03/11/jose-mourinho-has-been-regularly-calling-53-3m-barcelona-star-with-a-154000-a-week-offer/

Man Utd news: Real Madrid star Ronaldo FUMES at Pogba transfer rumours - Spanish claims

CRISTIANO RONALDO is apparently furious that Real Madrid have been linked with a move for Paul Pogba.

The Manchester United midfielder has had a hard time since moving from Juventus as he has failed to hit his top form.

Pogba has often come under criticism for under-performing as United fail to keep tabs on Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Reports circulated last week that Jose Mourinho could cash in on his £89million star in the summer with Real Madrid rumoured to be interested.

But when Ronaldo heard the news he has demanded that the transfer does not happen, according to Spanish outlet Don Balon.

Read more: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/930050/Man-Utd-news-Real-Madrid-Cristiano-Ronaldo-FUMES-Paul-Pogba-transfer-rumours-gossip-De-Gea

Barcelona youngster explains why he chose to leave Arsenal

Marcus McGuane left Arsenal to join Barcelona because he was “getting frustrated by a lack of opportunities”.

McGuane moved to Barcelona in the January transfer window, having been with Arsenal since he was five years old.

The midfielder moved up through the youth ranks with the club, but only ever made two first-team appearances – both as a second-half substitute in the Europa League this season.

He has featured heavily in La Liga 2 for Barca, and became the first Englishman to represent the club in 29 years when he featured in the Catalan Super Cup final victory over Espanyol earlier in the week.

The 19-year-old explains that he felt he had to leave north London after failing to break through.

“I was getting frustrated by a lack of opportunities,” he told the Daily Mail. “It is good to train but I did not want my performance to plateau and stay at the same level. This step made sense.”

On whether Arsene Wenger ever promised him any opportunities, he replied: “I didn’t have any conversations with him.

“I thought if I kept working hard, I would get opportunities. It didn’t come.

“There’s no grudge but I felt the best thing was to find another way. If you want to be at a place to develop and get first-team football, maybe you have to look elsewhere than Arsenal.

“Before English footballers were less adventurous. Now we see opportunities elsewhere.”

Read more: http://www.football365.com/news/barcelona-youngster-explains-why-he-chose-to-leave-arsenal

Real Madrid told how much they will have to pay for Neymar - but the PSG star could be eyeing a Barcelona return

Real Madrid and Barcelona are both monitoring Neymar’s situation.

Neymar, it appears, remains firmly on Real Madrid’s radar and are said to not be put off by the €400m it will cost to make PSG cave in – but they have company.

Reports in Spain have surfaced that the Brazilian – constantly linked with the back-to-back European champions since his plane landed in Paris – could still move to the Bernabéu, despite the denials.

Spanish newspaper AS has revealed that Neymar’s father has informed Real Madrid that Los Blancos can sign the wantaway Brazilian for €400million – a sum only Madrid and a select few others would even consider.

Talks between the two parties are said to have already taken place in Paris.

This morning, however, it is also claimed that fed up Neymar “offered himself” back to Barcelona before injury ended his season.

The world’s most expensive player has seemingly not settled in the French capital following his astonishing £198m move in August 2017.

Injuries and the club’s failure to produce in the Champions League could turn his time at the Stade De France into purely a pitstop.

Not going to plan: PSG wanted Neymar to propel them to Champions League glory – but they’re out and he is injured

Though it transpires there could be a tug-of-war between the Catalan giants with former club Barcelona said to be considering their options.

Respected Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo suggest Neymar wants a stunning return to Camp Nou with the La Liga leaders.

They say he “allegedly asked important people” at his former club how a summer return to Barca could be arranged, despite leaving under a cloud and year-and-a-half ago.

PSG’s master plan seems to be falling flat with the club unable to make the quarter finals of the Champions League after losing 5-2 to Real Madrid over two legs.

Last season they self destructed, throwing away a huge advantage before blowing it in the second game at Barcelona to tumble out in humiliating fashion in one of the best matches ever played.

Manager Unai Emery appears to be on the brink and has come under fire from one of his own players after attacker Julian Draxler went public following his exclusion from the last 16 tie on Tuesday night.

Read more: https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/real-madrid-still-want-neymar-despite-staggering-psg-demands-now-got-heart-set-sensational-barcelona-return-114719261.html

Barcelona's Denis Suarez out for three weeks with groin injury

Barcelona have confirmed that Denis Suarez will be sidelined for up to three weeks with a groin injury.

Denis, 24, picked up the knock in the first half of Wednesday's Catalan Super Cup win against Espanyol and was replaced by Barca B's Christian Rivera.

The former Villarreal and Sevilla midfielder was making his first appearance since Jan. 17 and just his third start of the calendar year.

None of those starts were in La Liga, though, with his only minutes in Spain's top flight in 2018 coming in stoppage time of Barca's 4-2 win against Real Sociedad at the beginning of January.

Denis Suarez of FC Barcelona scores his team's fourth goal during a Copa del Rey win against Murcia. 

Coach Ernesto Valverde has not even called him up for the last five league matches, and he was an unused substitute in the Champions League draw with Chelsea.

However, he looked set to return to the squad for this weekend's game against Malaga with captain Andres Iniesta missing with a hamstring injury.

Barca have not confirmed how long Iniesta will be missing for and remain hopeful of having him available in some capacity for Wednesday's second leg against Chelsea at Camp Nou.

Denis was one of Barca's better players against Espanyol before being forced off in the 43rd minute after a challenge from Didac Vila, who also had to be taken off.

In total, he has made 19 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring three goals and providing six assists.

Read more: http://www.espn.in/football/barcelona/story/3412491/barcelonas-denis-suarez-out-for-three-weeks-with-groin-injury

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho in constant talks with Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti

Manchester United attempt to sign Samuel Umtiti from Barcelona

Manchester United’s efforts to sign a central defender this summer are very much on the move, according to a report from Catalan newspaper Sport this morning.

Jose Mourinho has been calling Samuel Umtiti on a regular basis to try and convince him to sign for Manchester United.

Umtiti, who is enjoying an excellent season at Barcelona, is playing both sides of the equation and could well sign a new contract at the Camp Nou.

The front page of Sport on Friday morning

The front page of Sport on Friday morning

Samuel Umtiti has two options

Sport confirm that whether Samuel Umtiti stays at Barcelona next season is a “great unknown”.

Manchester United tried to sign the French centre back in the January window. The Red Devils are willing to pay Umtiti’s release clause of 60 million euros.

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United would pay Umtiti nine million euros per season. The French defender is currently on four million euros a year at the La Liga giants.

Meetings have been held by Samuel Umtiti’s brother and representative Yannick Umtiti with Manchester United.

In addition, Manchester United regularly have scouts at Barcelona matches watching Umtiti.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 15: Paul Pogba of Manchester United reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Stoke City at Old Trafford on January 15, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Pogba & Martial also trying to convince Umtiti

Besides the regular calls from Jose Mourinho, Sport also reveal that French international team mates Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial are also trying to convince Umtiti to join Manchester United.

Umtiti meanwhile, has informed Barcelona of the salary increase offered by Manchester United.

This comes just a year and a half after Umtiti signed for Barcelona from Lyon for 25 million euros.

Were Umtiti to receive nine million euros per season, he would be one of the best paid players at Barcelona.

The La Liga leaders are keen to tie down Umtiti before the World Cup to a new contract as they fear his current market value will increase at Russia 2018.

Intriguingly, Sport add that Jose Mourinho has no qualms about calling up Barcelona players. Something Pep Guardiola would never do, despite being a former coach of the La Liga giants.

Read more: https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/transfers/manchester-united-boss-jose-mourinho-samuel-umtiti/