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Today’s newsletter features a possible Manchester United right-back merry-go-round and news that Amanda Staveley, instrumental in orchestrating Newcastle United’s takeover, is open to investing in another club.
Also coming up…
- 🔴 Arsenal land Arteta’s No 1 transfer target
- 🎸 Heavy metal icons
- 🚀 Madrid coach puts ‘galactic’ into ‘galactico’
United’s Right-Back Reshuffle?
After making moves to strengthen their forward line and at centre-back this summer, right-back is next on the agenda for Manchester United. And there are a lot of moving parts involved…
United are in talks with Bayern Munich over a deal for 26-year-old Morocco right-back Noussair Mazraoui — a player West Ham had been close to signing — and have also shown an interest in Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries.
Any move hinges on the future of fellow right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka — a player West Ham had been interested in signing. The 26-year-old previously turned down a move to West Ham — although that situation could be revived as Wan-Bissaka is open to a move to Inter.
The possibility of Wan-Bissaka joining the Serie A club and Dumfries moving in the opposite direction has been discussed by intermediaries.
Manchester United are interested in Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui (ANP via Getty Images)
Wan-Bissaka’s United contract expires next summer and the club favour selling or swapping him now than risk losing him for free in a year’s time.
He featured in 22 of United’s 38 Premier League matches last season, either side of various injury absences. He also started the 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
His departure would leave United light in the senior right-back department — Diogo Dalot would be the only one remaining.
How do Wan-Bissaka and Mazraoui differ?
Wan-Bissaka is renowned as an excellent one-v-one defender, while Mazraoui, creative and comfortable on the ball, brings more to the table offensively. He also has the added bonus of versatility, capable of playing at left-back — an area where United were ravaged by injuries last season.
However, Mazraoui does have an injury-riddled past of his own — it’s the last problem United need after last season’s revolving treatment-room door.
The transfer news you need to know
- This morning, David Ornstein brought us the transfer news that could lead to one of the biggest deals of the summer. Napoli are continuing talks to sign Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, while dialogue between the two clubs is ongoing about Victor Osimhen moving in the opposite direction. Nigeria striker Osimhen, 25, has been the subject of persistent transfer chatter over the past two years. Could he finally be on the move?
- Arsenal academy product Emile Smith Rowe is a fabulously entertaining player to watch, so much so he was handed the prestigious No 10 shirt in 2021. Injuries disrupted the past two years of his career and now a fresh start is nigh for the 24-year-old after Fulham agreed a £34million deal to sign him.
- Paris Saint-Germain attacking midfielder Xavi Simons is on his way back to RB Leipzig for another season on loan. The 21-year-old had been interesting Bayern Munich but their Bundesliga rivals have won that race. Meanwhile, Brighton’s Pascal Gross is closing in on a move back to his homeland, the Germany midfielder is set to join Borussia Dortmund for a fee in the region of £8million.
- Duncan McGuire, the USMNT striker at the heart of a Ross and Rachel-esque on-off transfer saga in January, looks set for a quieter summer. Much like the aforementioned Ross in the Friends finale, McGuire was rushed through John F Kennedy International Airport, but that was to pursue a transfer to English Championship side Blackburn Rovers rather than chasing his long-term love interest. The deal collapsed twice — and Orlando City are now set to activate a two-year extension on his contract.
- NJ/NY Gotham FC have signed England defender Jess Carter from Chelsea. Carter, 26, was excellent for the Lionesses at last summer’s World Cup. The move sees her join up with her long-term partner, goalkeeper Ann Katrin-Berger.
Mikel Arteta gets his man in Calafiori, whose career nearly ended at 16
(Photos: Getty Images/design: Eamonn Dalton)
While Manchester United are figuring out their right-back situation, Arsenal have made moves to address their left-back issues with the signing of Riccardo Calafiori.
Mikel Arteta’s interest in the 22-year-old pre-dated his impressive Euro 2024. However, for Calafiori, making it to a major tournament — or even a professional debut — hadn’t always been a given.
Such was the severity of the knee injury he suffered as a 16-year-old at Roma, no one knew if he would play again. Calafiori was sent to the United States for a consultation, a decision he later wrote “saved my life as a footballer”.
His dream of spending his career at boyhood club Roma ended in 2022, but one breakthrough Serie A season, an Italy debut and a strong Euro 2024 showing later and Arsenal have parted with 10 times the €4million figure Bologna paid Basel for his services just last summer to bring him to the Premier League.
Staveley eyes a return to football
British businesswoman Amanda Staveley was instrumental in orchestrating Newcastle United’s controversial takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and overseeing the club’s rise from teetering on the edge of relegation to a Champions League return.
The 51-year-old left Newcastle this month alongside fellow former co-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi. However, she’s not finished with football and is open to investing in another club — as she tells George Caulkin in an exclusive interview.
Pintus at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas (NASA)
Who are your work colleagues? Antonio Pintus counts Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and a selection of NASA astronauts among his.
The 61-year-old Italian is Real Madrid’s performance director and head fitness coach. He first joined the club in 2016 and has earned cult-hero status among supporters. Even the former King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, is a fan.
Pintus is renowned for his intense methods and use of data and innovation to inform training — and NASA have come calling.
The space agency has consulted Pintus to ensure physical preparation for its missions to the moon is “state of the art”. Following Pintus’ visit, NASA engineers also began considering how to develop machines to expand astronauts’ exercise capabilities in the confined area of a spacecraft.
NASA has turned to sports science assistance from professional teams before, including from NBA side Houston Rockets. Sometimes, these things just write themselves.
A kit launch made of (heavy) metal
The Athletic FC is a big fan of a music and football combo. Everton manager Sean Dyche appearing in a music video for British indie band Blossoms? Yes. Pop singer Gala on the joy of seeing England Women celebrating to her hit Freed from Desire? Absolutely.
You can imagine our delight when Aston Villa teamed up with legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath’s frontman Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Geezer Butler to launch their new Adidas home kit.
Soundtracked by Black Sabbath’s anthem Paranoid, an old walkout track at Villa Park, sprinkled with some delicious Villa references and with acting cameos from Osbourne, Butler and Osbourne’s wife Sharon’s dog, the video has been watched over 10 million times on social media platforms.
Jacob Tanswell has the full story behind this marketing masterpiece. My personal favourite quote? “It was Ozzy and Sharon’s idea to put their dog in the Villa kit.”
Catch a match
Olympics, men’s football (kick-offs in ET/UK)
- Group C: Spain vs Egypt (9am/2pm) — Peacock, Eurosport
- Group A: United States vs Guinea (1pm/6pm) — Peacock/USA Network, Discovery+
- Group A: New Zealand vs France (1pm/6pm) — Peacock, Eurosport
Club friendly
- Barcelona vs Manchester City (7pm/12am on July 31) — ESPN, Premier Sports/City+
(Top photo: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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