HeadtoHeadFootball -

EDITOR PICKS

Soccer

Report: Guardiola agrees to Manchester City extension until 2025

Pep Guardiola isn’t going anywhere.

The Manchester City manager has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2025, report David Ornstein, Pol Ballus, and Sam Lee of The Athletic.

Similar to Guardiola’s current deal, the reported extension is a two-year pact that’s structured as a one-year deal, giving both the club and manager the option for an additional season.

The extension will replace Guardiola’s current contract that’s set to expire next summer.

Guardiola will have spent almost a decade as City boss if he sees out the proposed new deal. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has enjoyed a wildly successful spell with Manchester City since his arrival in 2016.

The 51-year-old has led the club to four Premier League titles and an appearance in the Champions League final in 2021, which it lost to Chelsea.

“Stay in another place for seven years? No, I don’t think so,” Guardiola told reporters earlier in November when asked if he could envision a similar tenure with another team.

“It is difficult to find what I have here as a manager.

“To be a manager for a long time you need to be so supported. The results help a lot, that is undeniable. In this world, they sack you, they fire you, we know that.”

Manchester City currently sit second behind Arsenal in the Premier League. They’ve also secured a spot in the Champions League round of 16.

Soccer

Report: Manchester United to sue Ronaldo over explosive interview

Manchester United hired lawyers Friday to sue Cristiano Ronaldo for breach of contract following the player’s unauthorized interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson reports.

United also instructed Ronaldo not to return to the club’s training base when the World Cup concludes in December, according to Jackson.

United waited until the entire interview was broadcast before launching legal proceedings Friday. The club wasn’t aware of the interview before it was released.

“Manchester United has this morning initiated appropriate steps in response to Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent media interview,” the club said in a statement. “We will not be making further comment until this process reaches its conclusion.”

Ronaldo told Morgan he felt “betrayed” by United’s attempts to force him out of the club during the summer transfer window. The 37-year-old also said he has no respect for Ten Hag, that the club hasn’t updated Old Trafford in decades, and that the younger players “don’t care” about football.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner landed in Doha on Friday to begin preparations for the World Cup. His native Portugal begins group play Thursday against Ghana.

Soccer

Ronaldo: Manchester United 'betrayed' me

Cristiano Ronaldo revealed in a wide-ranging interview Sunday that he felt “betrayed” by Manchester United’s attempts to offload him in the summer transfer window.

Ronaldo also took aim at United manager Erik ten Hag, saying he has no respect for the Dutchman.

When asked if he felt the Red Devils had tried to force him out, Ronaldo told British broadcaster Piers Morgan, “Yes, not only the coach, but another two or three guys (at the senior executive level).”

Ronaldo added: “I felt betrayed. … I felt that some people don’t want me here, not only this year but last year, too.”

United said in a statement Monday they will consider their response “after the full facts have been established” and that their “focus remains on preparing for the second half of the season and continuing the momentum, belief, and togetherness being built among the players, manager, staff, and fans.”

Ten Hag said repeatedly during the summer that Ronaldo wasn’t for sale and was a part of his plans for the 2022-23 season. Since then, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has made just four Premier League starts, featuring almost exclusively in the lower-tier Europa League.

When Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute during United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in October, Ten Hag dropped him from the squad entirely. The coach reinstated him shortly thereafter.

“I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me,” Ronaldo said of Ten Hag. “If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.”

The Portuguese star made similarly dismissive comments of Ralf Rangnick, who took interim charge of United in November 2021 before making way for Ten Hag. Rangnick had spent the majority of the previous decade in a director’s role at Red Bull and RB Leipzig.

“If you’re not even a coach, how are you going to be the boss of Manchester United? I’d never even heard of him,” Ronaldo told Morgan in The Sun newspaper.

The 37-year-old said he only returned to United because Sir Alex Ferguson had talked him out of a move to Manchester City in August 2021.

But the Euro 2016 winner couldn’t believe how little had changed at the club since he made his first debut at Old Trafford in 2003.

“Since Sir Alex Ferguson left, I saw no evolution in the club. The progress was zero. Nothing changed,” Ronaldo said. “Not the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym, even some points of technology, the kitchen, the chefs, which are lovely persons. They stopped in time, which surprised me a lot.”

Soccer

Report: Ten Hag fed up, wants to sell disgruntled Ronaldo

If manager Erik ten Hag has it his way, Cristiano Ronaldo won’t play another minute for Manchester United.

Ronaldo’s controversial tirade in an interview this week was the last straw, as Ten Hag informed Manchester United officials that he’s prepared to part with the 37-year-old, whom he feels has gone too far, reports ESPN’s Rob Dawson.

Ten Hag met with co-chairman Joel Glazer, chief executive Richard Arnold, and football director John Murtough on Monday to discuss Manchester United’s course of action after Ronaldo said he felt “betrayed” by the club.

The manager is ready to cut ties whether United sign a replacement in January or not, Dawson reports.

The Portuguese superstar accused the United chiefs of plotting to sell him last summer and said he doesn’t respect Ten Hag. Ronaldo also believes the club’s owners “don’t care” about the club.

Manchester United said in a statement that they are considering their response, and Dawson reports they are seeking legal advice.

Players are also upset at the timing of the explosive interview, as it was aired shortly after United’s dramatic win over Fulham on Sunday, Dawson adds.

A video of Ronaldo and United teammate Bruno Fernandes went viral Monday after the midfielder seemed to dismissively greet the forward at Portugal’s training base ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

Earlier this season, Ten Hag dropped Ronaldo against Chelsea after the veteran refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur in October.

Page 150 of 847« First...102030149150151152160170180...Last »

Soccer