Author: cimi

Manchester United backed out of a 2012 deal to sign Eden Hazard due to demands from the player’s then agent for “secret” payments, a report has explained more than a decade later.

Hazard was Europe’s hottest summer transfer saga 13 years ago. The young Belgian had helped fire Lille to a French league and cup double in 2010/11 and was ready to take the next step in his career.

Tottenham Hotspur and nouveau-riche Manchester City were among the clubs tracking Hazard, as were Manchester United. The Old Trafford club, reaching the end of the Sir Alex Ferguson era, are believed to have agreed both a transfer fee with Lille and personal terms with the player.

But The Times has revealed things broke down when John Bico, who represented Hazard until 2014, “demanded a huge backhander”. He is alleged to have asked for £1m paid from United, plus “several million more direct from the owners”, which would have been kept off the club’s accounts.

United refused to engage in a “clear breach” of both Premier League and UEFA regulations.

There is no suggestion that Hazard himself had knowledge of the practices of his agent, who has also been extradited from UAE to face financial crime charges in Belgium in a separate case.

But where United didn’t take interest in Hazard further, even though the club had been keeping tabs on him since the age of 15, Chelsea eventually sealed the transfer that underpinned much of their on-field success for the next seven years. The Blues even managed to treble their investment when the player was sold to Real Madrid in 2019 for up to €146m.

However, the transfer – specifically any arrangements between Chelsea and Bico – is now the subject of an ongoing Premier League investigation. When Todd Boehly’s consortium assumed control from former owner Roman Abramovich in 2022, they reported the club to the Premier League and UEFA over alleged irregular payments connected to transfers that had been made under the old regime.

There are allegations that Abramovich paid £6m to Bico via an offshore company. Chelsea were also being investigated in 2023 for payments to offshore companies relating to the transfers of Samuel Eto’o, Willian and others around a similar time a decade ago.

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Real Madrid will play the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on Saturday night without both David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga due to injuries.

It poses a potential problem at left-back, up against Barca superstar Lamine Yamal, with Alaba and Camavinga both viable options that have been utilised there.

Alaba and Camavinga each suffered problems during Wednesday night’s La Liga win over Getafe. Afterwards, Carlo Ancelotti described it as “difficult” for them to be involved in the Copa final.

The boss confirmed in that moment that Camavinga in particular would need to be medically assessed more formally on Thursday. With that having now happened, the club has confirmed a worrying diagnosis for the Frenchman.

A statement revealed that Camavinga has suffered a “complete tear of his left adductor tendon”.

Recovery for the connective tissues in the upper leg can take between four and 16 weeks, depending on the severity – “complete tear” automatically sounds bad – and exact location of the problem.

Based on even the lower end of the timeframe it seems unlikely that Camavinga will play again in La Liga this season, given their final fixture comes on 25 May. He could also be a major doubt for the first iteration of the expanded and reformatted FIFA Club World Cup, which starts in mid-June.

In the immediate term, Madrid are likely to have to go with Fran Garcia against Barcelona in Saturday’s final. The 25-year-old, re-signed as a squad player in 2023, hasn’t generally been trusted in the biggest games, as evidenced by Alaba getting the nod in recent clashes with Arsenal.

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Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has hailed River Plate teenager Franco Mastantuono as an “incredible player” and tipped him to excel in European football.

Fernandez’s employers Chelsea and Manchester United are also thought to be keen admirers of the attacking midfielder. Both Premier League clubs have been linked with a move for the record-breaking 17-year-old, who is said to have a release clause worth €45m (£38.4m).

Much like Mastantuono, Fernandez came through River’s academy. Despite never playing with the Argentina under-20 international, Chelsea’s playmaker had nothing but praise for his compatriot.

“He’s showing that he has a European future. You can see it,” Fernandez told ESPN. “He’s an incredible player. He’s doing very well and has shown great talent. In my opinion, he’s a star. I wish him the best and hope he can achieve all his goals. Hopefully he can also help us in the national team.”

Mastantuono turns 18 in August, so any potential suitors from Europe would be able to legally sign him this summer. Yet, for all the praise lavished on the teen, his experience of senior football is desperately minimal. Mastantuono boasts less than 1,000 minutes of top-flight football, scoring a single goal in his first 90-minute game.

River head coach Marcelo Gallardo has been more measured in his assessment of the team’s latest starlet. “Mastantuono continues to show flashes of being a special player,” the manager conceded. “We need to understand the growth process; the young players have to develop with the team. We’ll keep backing them without getting carried away or heaping too much pressure on them.”

Not everyone got the memo. River’s legendary former attacking midfielder Andres D’Alessandro has lauded Mastantuono. “I’m a big fan of his because he’s left-footed; he reminds me of the players we had at River in the past, the natural playmakers – the No 10s the club has always produced and continues to produce today,” he gushed.

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Ansu Fati’s agent Jorge Mendes has played down concerns over a feud between his client and Barcelona manager Hansi Flick but wouldn’t be drawn on his future at the club.

Fati has been riddled with injury for the past five years but has been bound to the sidelines even when healthy this term. Flick handed the fallen prodigy a rare Champions League appearance against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-final first leg earlier this month, insisting that the forward “deserved to come on” while his side saw out a 4-0 victory in Catalonia.

However, Fati was left on the bench as Barcelona fell 3-1 down to Celta Vigo last weekend as the club’s title tilt hung in the balance. The Spain international was one of three players on the bench criticised for their frustrated reactions even as their teammates masterminded an unlikely comeback.

Flick was particularly unimpressed. Rather than deflect the issue, Barcelona’s German boss bluntly approached the topic head on.

Mendes was questioned about Fati by El Chiringuito this week. “He’s fine. He’s fine. Everything’s fine,” the Portuguese representative insisted. When the topic turned to his client’s transfer future, Mendes was more coy. “I don’t know yet,” he claimed.

Fati has supposedly accepted that he no longer has a future in Catalonia. The former Sevilla youth-team player was loaned out to Brighton & Hove Albion last season but failed to make a notable impression on the south coast, limiting interest from fellow Premier League clubs.

Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce were thought to be interested, while an ambitious Como outfit have also been mentioned in dispatches. Cesc Fabregas, however, has poured cold water on those links.

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90min rounds up the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip circulating around the world…

Chelsea hold a shock interest in re-signing Kevin De Bruyne from Manchester City – the Belgian spent two years at Stamford Bridge between 2012 and 2014 before being deemed surplus to requirements. (Football Insider)

Manchester United centre-back Matthijs de Ligt is on the radar of Champions League semi-finalists Inter, with an initial loan offer with option to buy set to be put forward. (Tuttomercatoweb – Italy)

Mauricio Pochettino, currently in charge of the United States, is a contender to replace Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham Hotspur manager. (TBR Football)

Barcelona are willing to sell Raphinha this summer if they receive offers in the region of €100m. The Brazilian, who has scored 30 goals across all competitions during 2024/25, is on the shortlist of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea. (Fichajes – Spain)

Xabi Alonso will demand Real Madrid sign a new centre-back, left-back and central midfielder if he succeeds Carlo Ancelotti as manager. (Fichajes – Spain)

Liverpool are leading the race to sign Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez and also have a strong interest in his team-mate Dean Huijsen. However, Chelsea are also interested in the latter and want to tie up a deal before the Club World Cup gets underway in June. (GIVEMESPORT)

Arsenal and Tottenham could battle one another in the race to sign Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmund. (CaughtOffside)

Aston Villa are expecting to receive offers for Ollie Watkins this summer amid interest from Liverpool and Man Utd. (Football Insider)

Man Utd have drawn up a dream two-player central midfield shortlist that comprises of Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes. (TEAMtalk)

Bayern Munich and Juventus are also interested in signing 21-year-old Wharton from Palace. (TEAMtalk)

Barcelona have lined up a €50m move for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, but will only execute the transfer if Frenkie de Jong fails to sign a new contract. (El Nacional – Spain)

Forgotten Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who has spent the season on loan at Ipswich Town, could re-join former club Leeds United this summer. (Football Insider)

Arsenal and Liverpool remain keen on signing Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo, who is valued at just shy of £70m. (CaughtOffside)

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison is more likely to stay at the club if manager Ange Postecoglou leaves this summer. (TBR Football)

Man Utd have been scouting Atalanta defensive midfielder Ederson and his 26-goal team-mate Mateo Retegui. (TuttoAtalanta – Italy)

Veteran Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric could be the latest blockbuster name to join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. (Fichajes – Spain)

Man Utd want to include talented Real Betis teenager Jesus Rodriguez in any permanent deal for Antony, who is currently on loan in Spain. (El Nacional – Spain)

Newcastle United could turn to former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, who now plays for Lazio, even if they’re able to keep hold of the in-demand Sandro Tonali. (Tuttomercatoweb – Italy)

Paris Saint-Germain forward Lee Kang-in could depart the club this summer and head to the riches of the Saudi Pro League. (Fichajes – Spain)

Chelsea outcast Joao Felix, currently out on loan at AC Milan, could be offered a career lifeline by Real Betis. (El Nacional – Spain)

West Ham United and Wolves are also interested in signing Felix on loan but his most likely destination is former club Benfica. (TBR Football)

Inter want to strengthen their attacking midfield options by signing former Real Madrid academy graduate Nico Paz from Como. (Fichajes – Spain)

Leeds could sack manager Daniel Farke despite the German leading the club back to the Premier League – the west Yorkshire club’s US-based ownership group, 49ers Enterprises, aren’t convinced he can keep them in the division. (Mail Sport)

Brighton & Hove Albion will not stand in Kaoru Mitoma‘s way if a big-money offer arrives from Saudi Pro League moneybags Al Nassr. (Football Insider)

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