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UEFA make decision on switching Europa League final venue if Man Utd and Tottenham qualify

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UEFA has confirmed that the Europa League final will go ahead as planned at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, despite speculation that the venue could be changed due to the strong possibility of an all-English showdown between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

The Spanish city has long been designated to host the prestigious fixture, and Athletic Bilbao, the local club, had high hopes of competing in the final on home turf.

However, those ambitions were dealt a major blow after Manchester United delivered a commanding 3-0 performance in the first leg of their semifinal matchup, signaling their intent to progress.

Tottenham, meanwhile, also look likely to book their place in the final following a confident 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt, giving them a solid advantage heading into the second leg in Norway.

Should both Premier League clubs advance, many supporters have called for a more geographically suitable venue to accommodate the travelling fanbases from England. Nevertheless, UEFA remains firm in its decision.

According to reports from the BBC, the European football governing body has no plans to relocate the final, confirming that the 51,000-capacity San Mames will host the event regardless of which teams qualify.

The final is scheduled for May 21, with kickoff set for 20:00 local time. Of the total 49,600 seats, approximately 41,000 tickets have been made available for fans and the general public through UEFA’s official ticketing platform.

Each finalist will be allocated up to 15,000 tickets, while the rest will be sold globally via UEFA.com. Successful applicants will be allowed to purchase up to four tickets per order, with ticket pricing designed to cater to a wide range of budgets.

The lowest tier, called Fans First, will cost €40 and is reserved for supporters of the finalist clubs. Other categories include Category 3 at €65, Category 2 at €160, and the premium Category 1 seats at €240.

Securing a ticket, however, is only part of the challenge for fans hoping to witness the final live. Travel and accommodation costs in Bilbao have surged as demand has soared. Flight prices from London, for example, have risen dramatically, from around £75 just a month ago to over £400 now.

The trend extends to hotels, with dynamic pricing strategies pushing rates to astonishing levels. One three-star hotel, the Ilunion Bilbao, located just ten minutes on foot from the stadium, is listing its cheapest room at an eye-watering £2,444 for a single night during the final.

The situation has left many supporters frustrated, as they grapple with soaring expenses for what could be a defining match in both Manchester United’s and Tottenham’s seasons.

Despite the logistical hurdles, anticipation continues to build for what promises to be a high-stakes clash on the European stage. Will English dominance in the Europa League be sealed in Spain? Football fans around the world eagerly await the answer.

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Marcus Rashford ‘chooses next club’ as Aston Villa ponder £40m deal

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Marcus Rashford 'chooses next club' as Aston Villa ponder £40m deal
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Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is reportedly determined to force a move to Barcelona this summer.

The England international joined Aston Villa on loan in January and has impressed with four goals and six assists in 17 outings under Unai Emery, although a recent hamstring issue has kept him sidelined.

Villa hold an option to sign Rashford permanently for £40 million this summer, but they have yet to decide whether to trigger it—and they do not possess first refusal, meaning Manchester United could sell him elsewhere.

Rashford was heavily linked with Barcelona in January, but financial constraints scuppered a deal and opened the door for Villa.

Rashford ’looking to force’ Barcelona switch

Despite enjoying his spell in the West Midlands, Barcelona remain Rashford’s preferred destination.

According to Sport, his representatives have approached the Catalan giants about a potential loan move, though United would need to subsidise part of his £325,000‑a‑week wages—or Barcelona would have to agree to a significant pay cut on his behalf.

Clubs in Saudi Arabia and across the Premier League are also monitoring the situation, but Rashford has made it clear that he only wants to join Hansi Flick’s side.

Would Man United accept another loan deal?

Selling Rashford this summer would count as pure profit for United under Premier League Profit and Sustainability rules, thanks to his home‑grown status.

While United are keen to reinvest any funds raised, it’s hard to see them agreeing to another loan—especially one that leaves them covering part of his salary.

That said, they might contemplate a move with a mandatory purchase clause in 2026, giving them both short‑term flexibility and long‑term certainty.

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Ruben Amorim ‘could QUIT’ Man Utd as Sir Jim Ratcliffe fears revealed in shock report

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Ruben Amorim 'could QUIT' Man Utd as Sir Jim Ratcliffe fears revealed in shock report
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly growing concerned that Ruben Amorim might walk away from Manchester United.

After Erik ten Hag’s dismissal in October 2024 following a 2-1 loss to West Ham, United moved swiftly to bring in Amorim on the back of his success at Sporting CP.

Yet translating his tactics at Old Trafford has proven challenging, with the Red Devils languishing in 16th place in the Premier League.

Despite domestic struggles, United have excelled in Europe and stand one win away from securing Champions League football by beating Tottenham Hotspur in Wednesday’s Europa League final.

Amorim himself hinted at the possibility of an early exit if results don’t improve, saying, “It’s a decisive moment in the history of the club. We need to be really strong in the summer and to be brave because we will not have a next season like this. If we start like this, if the feeling is still here, we should give the space to different people.”

According to The Sun, Ratcliffe—United’s minority owner and INEOS chairman—“remains concerned” that Amorim may decide “enough is enough after a campaign of chaos.”

The report suggests Ratcliffe views the 40-year-old Portuguese as somewhat of a “loose cannon” and wants reassurance that Amorim will honour the final two years of his contract rather than depart and leave the club in disarray.

Ahead of the crucial final, Amorim appeared undeterred, insisting on his belief in the squad’s readiness. “I am really confident. I feel that my players are ready for this game. They know what it means, not just for us but for our fans and for the club.

After this season, we are ready to fight for the one thing that can help us remember this season in a different way.

So I am really confident.” With both Ratcliffe’s concerns and Amorim’s resolve laid bare, all eyes will be on Wembley to see whether the Europa League final serves as a turning point for United’s tumultuous season.

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Ex Arsenal star Lacazette’s home burgled while playing final game for Lyon with cash and jewellery stolen

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Ex Arsenal star Lacazette’s home burgled while playing final game for Lyon with cash and jewellery stolen
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Alexandre Lacazette’s home was targeted by burglars while he was on the pitch for Lyon last night, according to French outlet Le Progrès.

The 33‑year‑old, playing his 391st and final match for his boyhood club, was facing Angers at Groupama Stadium when two intruders are reported to have broken into his residence in Lyon’s fifth arrondissement around 9.30 pm local time.

Once inside, they accessed a safe and made off with jewellery, luxury leather goods and cash, with the stolen haul “claimed to be tens of thousands of pounds.”

Security cameras captured the suspects, and police launched an investigation after the burglary was officially reported at 1.30 am.

Lacazette rose through Lyon’s youth system before joining Arsenal in 2017, then returned to France in 2022.

Manager Paulo Fonseca recently confirmed that Lacazette will depart when his contract expires this summer, as Lyon look to balance the books amid financial concerns.

In recognition of his service, supporters unveiled a giant tifo before kick‑off, and Lacazette honored them by scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory over Angers—his 200th and 201st for the club—securing a sixth‑place finish.

He joins several teammates who have suffered similar crimes in recent seasons, including Georges Mikautadze, who was robbed at gunpoint last December, and Dejan Lovren, who faced an attempted break‑in in October 2023.

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