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Man Utd’s stance on hiring Xabi Alonso after shock Real Madrid exit (Details)

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Man Utd’s stance on hiring Xabi Alonso after shock Real Madrid exit (Details)

Several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, are closely monitoring developments after Real Madrid made the surprise decision to part ways with Xabi Alonso on Monday.

The move came less than 24 hours after Real’s dramatic 3–2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. Alonso departs the Santiago Bernabéu just seven months after taking over from Carlo Ancelotti, leaving Los Blancos second in La Liga and four points behind their fierce rivals.

The former Spain international made an encouraging start on his return to Madrid, but results tailed off during the winter period, with the team winning only seven of their last 14 matches in all competitions. Behind the scenes, tensions were also reported to be growing, with Alonso’s relationship with several senior players becoming strained.

Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior were both linked to dressing-room friction, while Vinicius was reportedly reluctant to commit his long-term future to the club during Alonso’s tenure.

Real Madrid confirmed the decision in an official statement on Monday evening, explaining that the separation had been agreed mutually. The club paid tribute to Alonso’s legacy, highlighting his status as a club legend and praising his professionalism, dedication and embodiment of Madrid’s values, while wishing him and his coaching staff success in the next chapter of their careers.

Shortly after the announcement, Real revealed that reserve-team coach Álvaro Arbeloa would step up to lead the first team, though it remains unclear whether the appointment is permanent or a temporary solution until the end of the season.

Despite the abrupt end to his spell in Madrid, Alonso’s standing within the game remains extremely high.

He earned widespread admiration during the 2023/24 campaign by guiding Bayer Leverkusen to an extraordinary unbeaten domestic double, suffering just one defeat across 53 matches in all competitions, which came in the Europa League final.

Alonso had previously been strongly linked with the Liverpool job before the club opted for Arne Slot, and he would likely emerge as a leading candidate should the position become available again in the future. Manchester City are also believed to view him as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola, given Alonso’s time playing under the City boss during his spell at Bayern Munich.

Manchester United are said to be keeping a close eye on the situation as well. With Ruben Amorim dismissed last week and Darren Fletcher’s brief interim stint failing to deliver results, former midfielder Michael Carrick has reportedly agreed to take charge on a short-term basis.

However, his role is expected to run only until the summer, with United casting a wide net as they search for a permanent manager ahead of next season.

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

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