WHY MANCHESTER UNITED BLOCKED JOSHUA ZIRKZEE’S MOVE TO ROMA THIS WINTER
Massara reveals the truth on Raspadori and Joshua Zirkzee negotiations. Plus, injury news and Gasperini's frustration at Roma.
Roma’s sporting director, Ricky Massara, says the club should know more about Giacomo Raspadori’s situation by Sunday, while talks about Joshua Zirkzee with Manchester United are completely off the table.
Gian Piero Gasperini stirred things up after the 2-0 win at Lecce this week when he skipped the post-match interviews. People saw it as his way of protesting the club’s slow pace in the January transfer market. So, is there any real movement when it comes to landing Atletico Madrid striker Raspadori?
“We’re negotiating for Raspadori, and honestly, things are moving toward a conclusion—one way or another. We’ll probably have a much clearer picture by tomorrow,” Massara told DAZN Italia.
Gasperini also said having the Friedkin family in Rome mattered more to him than the team’s points so far this season. Does that mean he and the owners are on the same page?
“It’s always great when the owners are here in Rome, but we feel their support all the time anyway. We all want the same thing: to help the team and the club keep growing. So yes, we’re all pulling in the same direction.
“There’s always a lot of back-and-forth—part of the job when you’re trying to build the best team possible.”
Lately, there’s been talk about Roma having an eye on Marseille’s teenage striker Robinio Vaz.
“He’s a fantastic talent, but honestly, that transfer looks almost impossible right now. Marseille probably won’t even consider selling him, and if they do, lots of clubs will be interested,” Massara said.
As for Zirkzee, Massara made it clear that Roma can forget about signing the Manchester United forward, especially after Ruben Amorim’s recent exit.
“Manchester United has shut down any transfer talks at the moment. With the coaching change, they’re not moving anyone. So, I really don’t see them changing their mind.”
Tonight, Evan Ferguson starts against Sassuolo, but nobody’s sure where he’ll be playing in the future.
“He’s here, he’s helping, and he’s getting better all the time. He’s young and coming from another league, but the progress is clear. We’re glad he’s out there tonight. We hope he stays for the rest of the season, but let’s see how things go.”
Wesley’s out with the flu and only makes the bench. Artem Dovbyk, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Leon Bailey, and Pierluigi Gollini are all injured. Neil El Aynaoui and Evan Ndicka are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The good news? Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso are back from suspension, but now Bryan Cristante is serving a ban.
FORWARD EVOLUTION: ANALYZING MBEUMO’S TRANSITION FROM A RIGHT-WINGER TO A CLINICAL CENTRAL STRIKER
Red Devil revival: Discover why Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville think Bryan Mbeumo is the best signing in the Premier League.
Jamie Carragher can’t say enough good things about Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United’s big signing under Ruben Amorim. In fact, Carragher called Mbeumo “one of the best” in the Premier League this season.
United splashed out over £200 million in Amorim’s last transfer window, bringing in Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Senne Lammens. All four have made their mark, especially during the team’s recent hot streak under caretaker boss Michael Carrick, who stepped in after Amorim left last month.
Mbeumo and Cunha have quickly become real threats up front, and Sesko just can’t stop scoring, with six goals in seven games since Amorim’s exit. Lammens, meanwhile, has settled in as United’s new No. 1 after his £18 million move from Royal Antwerp. He looks like a smart bit of business.
The turnaround has been dramatic. United have picked up 16 points out of a possible 18 under Carrick, rocketing into the Champions League spots. This, from a team that finished way down in 15th last season.
Carragher, the Liverpool legend, has loved watching United’s revival, and he keeps coming back to Mbeumo as a standout. On Sky Sports, he said, “Bryan Mbeumo came in as almost a right-winger or a right-sided forward in Amorim’s system, and I was surprised to see him go through the middle. But for me, he’s been one of the best signings in the Premier League this season. He just fits Manchester United.”
He added, “Gary Neville always talks about what a United player should be, and honestly, Mbeumo looks the part. He’s got the power and pace to drive you up the pitch, and he’s clinical too. He’s been fantastic, whether he’s leading the line or out wide.”
Neville himself is a big fan, calling Mbeumo “a really solid signing.” He even suggested Arsenal and Chelsea missed a trick by not snapping him up. On the Stick to Football podcast, Neville said, “Looking at it now, Mbeumo probably would have been better for Chelsea and Arsenal than some of the players they signed. Joao Pedro’s been decent, but Mbeumo would have been a sensation for Arsenal. He’s just a good signing for United. I like him a lot.”
Ian Wright agrees and admitted he was “gutted” Mbeumo didn’t end up at Arsenal. “He always looks dangerous,” Wright said. “Absolutely, he would have made Arsenal stronger.”
United just edged out Everton 1-0 on Monday night and are gearing up to face Crystal Palace next. After the win, Carrick said, “We had to work for it. Credit to Everton; they made it tough and forced us to defend our box a lot. The way we dug in was top class. Keeping a clean sheet is fantastic. We know we can play better, but it’s satisfying to come away from home and get the win.”
GARY NEVILLE SPEAKS OUT: UNITED URGED TO FIND "TOP CLASS" MANAGER DESPITE CARRICK'S SUCCESS
Unbeaten but uncertain! Discover why Gary Neville wants Manchester United to find an elite manager despite Carrick's success.
Gary Neville thinks Manchester United needs to look for a new manager, even though Michael Carrick’s done a great job as interim head coach. Since Carrick took over, United haven’t lost in the Premier League. They’ve beaten City, Arsenal, Spurs, and Fulham, and only just drew with West Ham. You can see the team has turned a corner, and plenty of fans want Carrick to get the job full-time.
Still, Neville says United should go after the “best class of manager available.” He’s not ruling Carrick out, especially if the team grabs a Champions League spot, but he wants the club to aim high.
Before the Everton game on Monday, Neville told Sky Sports, “Manchester United have to go out and find another manager now, because you just don’t know how things will play out." When someone like Thomas Tuchel signs with England, it narrows United’s options. But that’s not a bad thing for Michael; his chances aren’t hurt at all. If he gets United into the Champions League, fans will be desperate for him to stay. I love Michael; I really do. But United needs to go for the top managers. They’ve already tried young, inexperienced options with the last two appointments. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was another ex-player, and it just didn’t work. So now, I think they need to play it safe and cut down on risk.”
Neville also shared that he spoke to the club a few weeks back to make his view clear. He told Sky Sports, “I’ve already said where I stand. I’m not going to repeat it every week, but I did speak to the club because journalists always ask them what’s going on. It’s a tough spot for them. There’s a huge push for Carrick, and the more he wins, the stronger that will get, especially if he gets close to Champions League football.
I asked the club where they stand and what they’re telling people. Honestly, their answer was solid. They said they’ve started the process of looking for a new manager, gathering data, reaching out to people, and just getting on with it. That’s what you need. You have to plan.
But they also told me they’re not going to rush. No matter what happens with results – win, lose, or draw – they’re waiting until the end of the season to make a decision. If Michael’s interested in the job at that point, and honestly, I can see him saying no, because he’s that sort of guy always putting the club first, well, then he can put his name forward. Or maybe he’ll decide he’s ready and wants to stay. Either way, they’re handling it the right way.”