Man Utd
Amorim criticises academy culture after players’ social-media response
Amorim labelled some academy players ‘entitled’ and warned the club must change its culture. in 2025
Ruben Amorim again addressed concerns about the attitude of Manchester United’s younger players on Friday, singling out members of the academy as “entitled” and saying none had come to his office to discuss his earlier comments. The manager made the remarks ahead of Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa and defended his broader message about standards within the club.
Bruno Fernandes’ recent interview also featured in the discussion. Amorim confirmed the 31-year-old had spoken to officials before conducting the interview, the manager noting the captain “said what he is feeling.”
Amorim pointed to the reaction from some academy graduates after he previously questioned standards. Chido Obi and Harry Amass posted pictures on social media celebrating individual successes after suggestions they were not meeting the standards required to be a Man Utd player.
Amorim said his intent was not to be negative but that the players’ responses illustrated a wider cultural problem. “Sometimes strong words is not bad words, sometimes difficult moments is not the bad things for the kids,” Amorim said.
“We don’t need to be always with accolades in everything in every situation, we are not helping. That’s why when you guys talk about a lot of players nowadays that they go against the clubs and everything happened because they feel entitlement.
“I have that feeling all the time that we need to fight against this feeling. Sometimes I’m the first one to say that I’m failing this club inside the pitch, I have that feeling we are not performing the way we should be but outside the pitch, I guarantee you I’m not failing to this club.
“I think it’s something in our club, and we talk about the players sometimes forget about what it means to play for Manchester United. We as a club sometimes forget who we are and that’s that’s the feeling that I have. I understand everything is the environment, is the moment of the players, the kids they feel entitled.
“They feel free to respond to the manager with a picture, my office is open, nobody is coming to talk to me. And that is the way we can solve things. I think we need to change first as a club and then everything is going to change.”
On the reaction to his remarks he added: “I didn’t say anything wrong. I just spoke about how the luck of playing for Manchester United,” he continued. “Sometimes you play for Manchester United and you go see different realities and you understand that football can be so different and that you are really lucky to be in Manchester United.
“That was my point but, again, let’s move on and with the time that I think these things will change.”
Off the field Amorim is also trying to secure more consistent performances. United are sixth in the Premier League, an improvement on last season, but they continue to frustrate, most recently in Monday’s 4–4 draw with Bournemouth, a game in which they surrendered a 2–1 lead to trail 3–2, went 4–3 up and then conceded a late equaliser to Eli Junior Kroupi.
Man Utd
United Weigh Jesús Rodríguez as Rashford Exit Could Fund New Wide Option
United examine Como winger Jesús Rodríguez as they plan to sell Marcus Rashford and reinvest funds.
Manchester United have been linked with Como winger Jesús Rodríguez as the club prepares to permanently offload Marcus Rashford this summer. The reported fee for Rashford, around $34.6 million (€30 million, £26 million), is expected to be reinvested on a replacement wide player, with SPORT naming Rodríguez as a target.
Rodríguez first emerged in senior football last season with Real Betis, registering three goals and two assists. Como paid around $31 million to sign him last summer, a club-record move that reflected their belief in the youngster.
Having turned 20 in November, Rodríguez is enjoying a breakthrough campaign. For Cesc Fàbregas’s side this season he has produced eight assists and three goals in 28 appearances. Those numbers underline a clear improvement from earlier in his career, when he faced criticism over a lack of end product. Como and Fàbregas have been credited with helping the player refine his game.
Physically Rodríguez combines height and speed. Listed at 6’0, his acceleration and top speed frequently allow him to overwhelm opponents and he often prefers to use direct running rather than elaborate on-ball play. There are, however, signs of growing variety to his output; only Inter’s Federico Dimarco has created more Serie A goals than Rodríguez this season.
United’s interest in Rodríguez is one strand of a broader search for attacking reinforcements. The report reiterates links to RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, and also names Strasbourg’s Martial Godo and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola among options. Marcus Tavernier of Bournemouth was recently touted, and United are also said to hold an interest in Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.
Much will come down to finances. Manchester United are known to be prioritizing the heart of midfield ahead of Casemiro’s impending departure and the bulk of the budget is expected to be allocated to midfield targets such as Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton or Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba.
Man Utd
Zubimendi U-turn Rocks Man Utd as Real Madrid Face Fresh Rodri Twist
Zubimendi U-turn stings Man Utd, leaving recruitment plans in doubt; Real Madrid face Rodri twist.OK
A sudden U-turn by Zubimendi has landed as a clear blow to Man Utd, reshaping short-term planning and introducing new uncertainty for the club. The development arrived without warning and has forced those responsible for recruitment to reassess options and priorities. The immediate effect is a tightening of timelines and a recalibration of expectations inside the club.
At the same time Real Madrid have encountered a distinct twist involving Rodri. That development has added a separate layer of unpredictability for the reigning organisation. The two stories together underline how quickly plans can change in the current market and how clubs must remain adaptable when targets alter course.
For Man Utd the U-turn presents practical challenges. Existing strategies will require rapid review, and contingency measures will need to be advanced. The club must balance the short-term consequences of this reversal with longer-term objectives, all while managing internal and external stakeholders who expect clarity.
Real Madrid’s Rodri twist carries its own implications. Whatever its shape, it has disrupted assumptions and compelled reassessment on their side. The precise consequences will depend on how the situation evolves, but at present it stands as a reminder that even established approaches can be unsettled.
Taken together these developments are a lesson in volatility. Decision-makers at both clubs will be monitoring events closely, adjusting recruitment work and planning as circumstances dictate. Supporters and observers will be watching to see how each organisation responds, and whether immediate recalibration can limit the disruption caused by sudden changes in player-related matters.
Both stories remain fluid. What is clear is that the transfer landscape can shift abruptly, and that the ripple effects of a single U-turn or twist are felt quickly by clubs and their wider networks.
Bournemouth
United Add Marcus Tavernier to Left-Wing Shortlist as Summer Recruitment Continues
United have added Marcus Tavernier to a three-man left-wing shortlist ahead of the summer transfer.
Manchester United have reportedly added Bournemouth forward Marcus Tavernier to a short list of left-wing options as they consider reinforcements for next season. The move follows an acknowledged need for natural width on the left, a role that Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount have been asked to fill despite both being primarily central players.
Interim manager Michael Carrick said it is “quite possible” that United will look for a left winger ahead of next season. Reports place Tavernier alongside RB Leipzig teenager Yan Diomande and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White on the club’s list. Gibbs-White is more of a No. 10 and has only sporadically been used on the left.
Tavernier’s versatility is a key reason he has attracted interest. This season he has started in a variety of positions, including central midfield, attacking midfield and on the right. In his two Bournemouth starts against United he has been directly involved in four goals and assists; one appearance in December 2023 saw him as a left winger in a 3–0 Cherries win, while the 4–4 draw at Old Trafford last December saw him line up in central midfield.
The 26-year-old is rated at $53.6 million (£40 million) and has produced 10 goals and assists in 26 appearances across all competitions so far this season. He remains under contract with Bournemouth until 2029, a fact that would allow the south coast club to demand a significant fee should they decide to sell. The Cherries have a recent history of cashing in on players they have developed into stars.
Top-five rivals Aston Villa are also reported to have shown interest, making enquiries during the January transfer window. United are expected to continue monitoring Tavernier before making a final choice at the end of the season, a decision that is likely to be influenced by whether Champions League qualification is achieved.
The club will weigh Tavernier’s adaptability, existing cover and the market before committing to any summer business. Dorgu, who was recruited as a defensive player after a spell as a left back at Lecce prior to a 2025 transfer, flourished higher up the pitch before his current injury layoff, a development described in some quarters as a happy accident.
