Last night’s clash between Bayern Munich and Juventus may have been disappointing for the Juventus faithful, but there is hope for next week’s second leg.

Why will Juventus beat Bayern? The same reason why Italy beat Germany in the semi-finals of Euro 2008. It’s happened so many times before, that it’s hard to not notice that Bayern Munich and the German national team have been nothing but complacent over the past few years. Despite having a wealth of options in defense, midfield and offence, Bayern have that hint of complacency, that is not usually found in Italian teams. A good example is their defeat to Arsenal in the previous round of the Champions League. Arsenal were literally playing their reserve team, and went into the match without any hope. But the complacency of Bayern Munich was clearly seen by the end of that match.

Last night, Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon spectacularly failed to step up. But mark my words, these two players are too good to have a second bad game. At the Juventus Stadium, the home team will dominate and score the 2 goals that they need. But whether they can prevent Bayern from scoring, remains to be seen.

Bayern Munich have been fantastic this whole season. But they haven’t yet faced a competitive opponent as good as Juventus. Juventus may not have the quality in them that Bayern have. But what they do have, is the hard working nature of Italian teams. Previously in the competition, AC Milan looked to have beaten Barcelona by sheer hard work. But they lacked enough quality.

Juventus can be described as a perfect team. They have the history, experience, quality & depth in squad, and most of all, the ‘know-how’ to win trophies. Bayern aren’t far off in this aspect, but they lack the ‘know-how’. Bayern, in the past few seasons, have come agonizingly close to winning the Champions League. Few may think that it will only be a matter of time before Bayern eventually win the competition. Bayern are just too good, but equally complacent.

The Bayern board are looking to eliminate this complacency by bringing in Pep Guardiola. But for now, Bayern are too complacent to win this year’s Champions League. Even if Bayern do go through, don’t be surprised if they lose to a weaker opponent in the final again!

DISCLAIMER – The article represents the views of the author, and not those of the site.

But Chelsea may have the best players at their club, but against Manchester City they showed the lack of stability. Manchester City didn’t win the title last year because they had the best players; it was because they were the most stable side. United lost too many players to injury, therefore, they lost their stability. Chelsea have recruited new players, and have formed a new team. But it will take time for the players to glue themselves together and gain some much needed stability.

Apart from the lack of stability, Chelsea looked pretty good overall. Their passing was good, defense was a little disappointing and the offense was good as well. They won’t take together to gel together, and the return of Oscar, a playmaker, will only multiply the speed of the process.

I think, if Chelsea are to play the kind of football like Real Madrid and Barcelona, they will need a better manager. No offense to Roberto di Matteo, but his tactics are just not right for a team supposed to challenge for the Premier League. His tactics are like those of a team fighting for survival in the Premier League. He is a Chelsea legend, and I respect that, but Chelsea won’t go too far with him as manager. And don’t be surprised to see him fired any time next year .

Chelsea felt Drogba’s absence. The aggressiveness that Drogba brought to Chelsea’s attack was vital for their FA Cup and Champions League double last season. He could create a goal out of nothing. He created the goals for himself. He is one player that Chelsea Football Club will never be able to replace. A player like Drogba is born only once in a hundred years.

Chelsea have lost their first trophy this season, but there is nothing to be sad about it. They have a bright future, and will only get better.

Brazil lost 2-1 to Mexico in the final of the men’s football in the Olympics. It was a rather shocking defeat, considering the fact that they were clear favourites to win gold at the Olympics. But they were given a good lesson from an average Mexico team, who performed exceptionally well to see off a strong looking Brazilian side.

Brazil showed the lack of experience. It could be seen within each and every player of the Brazilian squad, that they lacked experience on the big stage. Except for Hulk, who was the only hope for a dreadful Brazilian side, every player under-performed. Rafael showed, from the very first minute, that he should have never been a first team option. Hulk, one of the three overage players in the Brazil squad, showed his true class and was the only one who could manage to perform against Mexico. Even Thiago Silva, who was bagged by PSG for a heck load of money, poorly performed in this match.

Around all these players, one person that stands out is Neymar. Not for his good performance, but for his failure to perform (again) on the big stage. Neymar, who is valued at over 70 million euros by Santos, gave us a good reason why he chose to stay in the Brazilian league. It’s because the Brazilian league itself is overrated. He obviously had no competition from defence in the Brazilian league. If you are worth over 70 million, you have to perform in every match. His attitude equals that of Cristiano Ronaldo. But unlike Ronaldo, he isn’t worth the player to have such an attitude.

Neymar, who is courted by several European clubs, is expected to stay in Brazil until the FIFA World Cup in 2014. But if he expects himself to be ready for the challenge posed by Spain and Germany, he will have to move to Europe much sooner than 2014. Neymar is only 20, and he will only get better with more gametime. But, at such a young age, he is already tagged as a ‘diver’ in world football. This problem persists with much of today’s young footballers. It’s totally disgraceful to football and will spoil the game.

The future of Brazil is bright, but its present needs a good, personal mentor. One that leads them into the right path.

Malaga in trouble?

It’s no secret that Malaga are now in a state of financial crisis. They have rich owners, but they are unwilling to pay off the debts that the club are currently suffering from. The situation is so critical that Malaga could also be relegated if they don’t pay off their debts. This, in turn means that Malaga’s players are now looking to exit the club. And the club are reportedly willing to sell their star players at bargain prices, even though they qualified for the Champions League this season.

Santi Cazorla and Salomon Rondon have already headed for the exit doors, at rather cheap prices. Saloman Rondon departed for Rubin Kazan, whereas Santi Cazorla completed his move to Arsenal shortly thereafter. I am sure Premier League clubs would be watching closely at the club’s situation, and why not? There is a Champions League club willing to cash in on its players, so full opportunity must be taken. It’s their best chance of doing good business. For example, Santi Cazorla is a remarkable signing for Arsenal, considering they haven’t made a marquee signing since the departure of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas last term.

Clubs like United, City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle would want to react swiftly. Chelsea are unlikely to make a move, simply because they’ve signed so many attacking midfielders, and another player would only harm the other players, than do any good. Sure, it’s a cruel thing to buy players from cash strapped clubs. But from a business point of view, it’s a pure profit for clubs interested in buying their players.

Recent players to be linked with Premier League clubs include winger Isco and left back Nacho Monreal, both to Manchester United. But this situation will surely change when the end of the transfer window comes to a gradual end. Isco, is a player which the Malaga team was built around for the past few seasons. He is highly rated and a talented player. He would succeed in the Premier League.

Hopefully, Premier League clubs do take advantage and make some high-profile transfers in the coming days of the transfer window.

Let’s face it. Arsene Wenger does not want to sell van Persie to United. Manchester United have been rivals to Arsenal for years now. It is a bitter feeling, but one that he has to face. According to reports, Arsenal are willing to sell van Persie for 20 million pounds to clubs apart from United. But for United, they wants at least 25 million, preferably a fee closer to 30 million pounds. It’s understandable. Arsene Wenger has never sold a player to United before, and probably never would, if it weren’t for van Persie.

Robin van Persie reportedly wanted a salary of 220 k per week. The critics were sure that United would not agree to the amount. But according to rumours, United are willing to pay that sum for him. So therefore, they should have no problem paying Arsenal the 25 million they require. United’s current bid is said to be around 15 million pounds, but they are unwilling to pay more than that for an injury plagued player who had just turned 29.

Arsenal are confident that United will not bid more than 15 million pounds, and let this transfer saga continue for the rest of the summer. And why should they not be? They have already bought a replacement for van Persie, so they can take all the time that they want. Wenger still thinks he can convince van Persie to stay at Arsenal. But I am pretty sure that his attempts will fail. Arsenal cannot guarantee trophies, neither can they afford to pay for his wages. Furthermore, van Persie is said to be keen on a move to Old Trafford. Not only for money, but the partnership that he can form with Wayne Rooney. He is looking forward to a new challenge at Old Trafford and is guaranteed to win trophies.

It’s a common problem for Arsenal. They are continually frustrated with the lack of trophies, and the lack of ambition shown by Wenger and Mr. Gazidis in the transfer window. Previously, they sold Adebayor, Clichy and Nasri to City. They also sold Thiery Henry and Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona. It is frustrating for the fans. It is not right to find fault with the players. The players have every right to win trophies if they are as good as van Persie — something Arsenal fans fail to understand and in turn curse their ex-players.

Anyhow, if United were willing to pay 30 million for Lucas Moura, 25 million shouldn’t be a problem for them. What will be a problem, however, is the agent’s fees. Rumour has it that Kees Vos, wants around 4 million as agent’s fees in van Persie’s transfer. Now, Ferguson hates agents. He has previously lost on several transfer targets due to agent’s demands. He will never agree to pay 4 million just for his agent. It’s getting ridiculous these days since agents have such huge demands, and Ferguson is right to be angered at them.

However, in an unlikely case, if van Persie becomes increasingly frustrated by his agent, he could part ways with his agent. It’s not impossible, and Vurnon Anita has already shown us this. He fired his agent, in order to push through a transfer to Newcastle. It has been reported before that van Persie is keen on a move to United, and if he becomes more eager, he could follow this method.

Should United pay the money for van Persie? Hit me up on Twitter @ratedrdheeraj

It’s hard to understand what Ferguson is ACTUALLY looking for this summer. He has signed a creative midfielder in Kagawa, so creativity shouldn’t be a problem for United. But the pursuit for Lucas Moura really brought out the question of Ferguson’s thought process.

Lucas Moura is pretty much a forward. His preferred position is as an attacking midfielder, but like most other modern wingers, he is simply best as a winger/forward. So if Ferguson wanted another attacking midfielder, what had he thought of Kagawa then? And if he was looking for a winger, what was to be the future of Nani? Only Ferguson knows the answer, but luckily United failed in the pursuit of Lucas Moura.

But what most critics are craving for, is a defensive midfielder. Someone who possesses the capability of Roy Keane. Ferguson was never able to replace Roy Keane. Michael Carrick was brought in, but he dramatically failed. United lacked a defensive midfielder last season, someone like Yaya Toure.

However, contrary to the above, I haven’t heard United being linked to a defensive midfielder this summer. There were a few speculations about Kevin Strootman and Javi Martinez earlier, but none of them were true. So, does Ferguson intend to play Carrick, Cleverley or Scholes in that region? Again, only Ferguson knows.

Another factor is that, maybe Ferguson sees Kagawa as a replacement to Ji Sung Park; someone who plays occasionally and shows up in big matches.

The pursuit of Robin van Persie brings another set of questions to my mind. Robin van Persie can play at 4 different positions; on either wing, behind a striker, and as a striker himself. Since Lucas Moura’s pursuit failed, is he looking for another winger? Or does he just want to bring him in, to add a different dimension to his team? Ferguson already has plenty of strikers. Why waste money on another?

Another possible situation, though unlikely, is to covert Rooney into an attacking midfielder, and play with two other strikers. I know, this is definitely not going to happen, but Rooney is creative enough to provide for two other strikers. When Fergie wants to play ultra-attacking, he may use this.

All this brings us to one conclusion: Ferguson wants to sign one forward, and one midfielder. Although he is most likely going to sign another attacking midfielder, the need is a defensive midfielder.

Manchester United intend to sign Robin van Persie and they’ve made no secret of that. With City out of the race and Juventus switching targets, United are front-runners to sign Robin van Persie. But there are advantages and disadvantages of signing him.

Let’s take a look.

Robin van Persie is an exceptional player. He was the Player of the Season, finished the league as top scorer, and almost single-handedly saved Arsenal last season. The fact that he wants to move to Old Trafford is surprisingly encouraging for the Old Trafford faithful. If he ever gets the chance to play alongside Rooney, it would be hard for the opposition to counter their threat. Robin van Persie is exactly the kind of striker that could complement Rooney and add to Manchester United’s attacking threat. United have been missing a player in the attacking mould since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2009. So the on field results could definitely be a plus point in signing him.

Robin van Persie is a versatile forward. He can play on either wing, behind a striker, or as a striker himself. And Sir Alex Ferguson loves versatility. Almost every player in his starting 11 is versatile. If United have an excess of strikers, Ferguson can change his formation and accomodate Rooney, Welbeck and van Persie in the same team.

Signing van Persie would shut the critics up. It would finally mean that United have made a much needed marquee signing since the departure of Ronaldo. The Glazers should support the transfer if they intend to send a message to the critics and their rivals. His signing would bring a sense of fear among rivals; especially Manchester City. The fact that United beat City to sign such an important player should boost their morale.

Robin van Persie is now 29 years old. Of course, this is an advantage as well as a disadvantage. But the advantage is that he is now in his prime. He was in devastating form for Arsenal last season, so he should only get better next season.

The arrival of van Persie at Old Trafford is likely to assist in the development of the young forwards at United, namely Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez.

Robin van Persie has just turned 29.  He hasn’t got too many years left in his career and would have a low sell-on value. Considering this, the Glazer’s might hesitate to spend 20 million on him.

van Persie isn’t the healthiest of players in the Premier League. If you take away the last two seasons of his career, he is just an injury-plagued player whose career is in demise. So there is every possibility that such a situation can occur again, especially since he is 29.

There are plenty of strikers at United, why buy another?

Yes, I’ve mentioned that Fergie can simply change his formation. But if Danny Wlebeck and Javier Hernandez were to adjust and play at right/left wing, they are likely to re-evaluate their futures. It could be hard for them to adjust to the change in formation since they’re so young. What if van Persie remains consistent for a long period — what would that mean for Hernandez and Welbeck in the long run for United?

Any other pros/cons? Tweet me @ratedrdheeraj

It’s now time for United to turn their attention to van Persie. The failure to land Lucas is heart breaking, but it is best that United now look for other options. Robin van Persie is keen on joining United, costs only 20 million, and is definitely worth the price. No defence in the world would be able to handle the partnership of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. It would ensure United win the Premier League title, and make them serious contenders for the Champions League.

The Manchester Evening News reports the following:

Earlier this week Roberto Mancini virtually conceded defeat in his attempts to lure the Dutchman to City and Juventus, the other contenders in a three-way battle, are now thought to have cooled their interest after being confronted with his hefty wage demands.

That leaves the Reds at the front of the queue – and M.E.N. Sport understands van Persie could jet in to sign as early as tonight.

The news clearly says that he could jet in as soon as tonight for agreeing personal terms and going through a medical. But, it’s not done till it’s actually done. We’ve witnessed this before, where several news sources claimed that Lucas would join United very soon. On the contrary, he’s snubbed United for PSG. So let’s not get too excited about this news. But as far as I know, the Manchester Evening News is a solid source of information.

Should United buy van Persie? Leave your comments below or tell me @ratedrdheeraj

It’s now safe to say that the Lucas Moura transfer saga is over. With PSG offering over 45 million, I don’t see Lucas staying in Brazil anymore. As disappointing as it is for me, it’s just crazy money for a 19-year-old. But, it’s not a negative for United. They can buy three other better players with that kind of money. And it’s now time to switch attention to Robin van Persie, now that City and Juventus are out of the race.

The Daily Mirror reports that United are shocked by a demand of 6 million pounds from his family and relatives. Further it adds that Lucas is apparently ‘bored’ in Manchester. There is no way this deal is going to be completed, unless Lucas wants a move only to Old Trafford. That seems unlikely, though, due to the fact that today’s generation of footballers are attracted mostly to cash. They don’t look forward to becoming legends at big clubs.

Few hours ago, even Inter Milan pulled out of the race for the same reason. PSG sporting director Leonardo has good connections with Sao Paulo and a deal should be completed within the next few days. Sao Paulo would be crazy to reject 45 million euros.

Once again, United have failed in the transfer market. It’s either two situations; United don’t have the money or United have the money, but don’t want to spend it. For years now, the Glazers have been criticised for their debt, which was thought to be the reason for the club not spending in the transfer market. But, Sir Alex Ferguson has always denied that they are the reason for this. Instead, saying that the players were simply overpriced.

Should United splash the cash for Lucas? Leave your comments down or tweet me @ratedrdheeraj

Axel Witsel is a name frequently linked with Manchester United, and this time Portuguese publication Relvaldo are the latest to link the Belgian International with the British club.. Basically, I think all the midfield names linked with United at the moment are backup options for Lucas Moura, who is top priority for United. The Benfica star has also been linked with PSG, and United would want to avoid a bidding war with PSG, one of Europe’s richest clubs.

According to the report, United are ready to meet the buy-out clause in Witsel’s contract, €40million. The player is valued at €20 million according to transfermarkt.co.uk, and United are surprisingly willing to pay double that amount. I think they would do better if they spend that amount of money on Lucas Moura. Axel Witsel is a good player. He would inject the United squad with some much needed creativity, and also height.

The 23-year old Belgian is largely injury and suspension free, and is more or less a player of the Darren Fletcher mould. But he is definitely not 40 million. It’s crazy money for a normal player. That kind of money should be spent on big names, like Lucas Moura, who brings in endless potential and possibilities for United.

Did SAF stay back for the Moura deal or the RVP deal?

But the Mirror reports another story, saying that Manchester is too ‘boring’ for Lucas. It also adds that Lucas would prefer the city of Paris rather than Manchester. It’s really frustrating for a United fan. Week-in, week-out; every time a new story. Now, it appears as if Sir Alex stayed back in England to push through a move for Robin van Persie.

I assume United are nowhere near signing Lucas, the Brazilian football federation (CBF) also confirmed that they had not given permission for Lucas to have a medical in Manchester, and would not give him permission even if a request came through from the club. Even the player clearly stated that he would not decide his future until the end of the Olympics. So, until then, whichever newspaper reports any kind of rumour, it’s obviously wrong.

But I am pretty sure United are still in pole position to sign the Brazilian, unles Paris Saint-Germain have actually made a bid in excess of 35 million pounds. But even then, the fact that PSG have a maximum number of non-europeans in their team could mean that Lucas MAY be attracted to sign for United.

Where do you think Lucas Moura will end up? Tweet me @ratedrdheeraj

The money

Since the takeover by Sheikh Mansour, Manchester City have spent nearly a billion pounds on the club’s development. This was not only vital for their Premier League victory last season, it proved that money can buy you titles. But the most important thing of spending money, is where and how you spend it. Manchester City spent it wisely, and although there were a few mistakes in player transfers and hiring managers, they now have a formidable team, and are also very young. Unlike Chelsea, who also spent quite large sums, they spent it wisely. Chelsea wasted 50 million on Fernando Torres. They could have instead got Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid for 10-15 million lesser. Plus, Torres isn’t young either, whereas Aguero is still under 25.

Horrible start by Arsenal

I can’t quite remember the last time Arsenal had been outplayed so badly i.e. the loss at Old Trafford last season. They were humbled by a young and strong United side. Arsenal had troubles with injuries – agreed. But having lost Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the same year, surely they had enough time and money to buy a replacement. Mikel Arteta was hardly the ideal replacement for those two playmakers. Shockingly Arsenal suffered defeats to even the now relegated Blackburn Rovers. This was obviously the end of their campaign, and getting back to the top half of the table was a great achievement. Yet, it only widened the gap between the top 2 and the chasing pack.

A wasteful Chelsea side

Chelsea had a new manager in place, Andre Villas Boas. Lot was expected from the young manager after a successful season at Porto. But I wouldn’t blame him for the horrendous errors committed by them in defence. The old guard, in particular, seemed to have disliked the new manager. They had a good team, but were highly inconsistent and tactically weak. Only god knows how they managed to beat Barcelona and Bayern Munich to win the Champions League. But even fans of Chelsea would have to agree, that ‘parking the bus’ was the only way they would have achieved anything.

Apart from Juan Mata, they lacked creativity in midfield. They played ugly against the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich. They can never find a replacement for Drogba, who bowed out of Chelsea with the Champions League victory. But now, they want to change their style of play. Signing Eden Hazard, Oscar and Marko Marin would signal the start of a new era for Chelsea, an offensive one. They were inconsistent in the league last season, and I’m hoping they’ll be better this time around.

A strong United side

United were about to start a new era of their own. They made new signings, Ashley Young, David de Gea and Phil Jones. And they had promoted two promising youngsters from their youth ranks; Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck. Their squad was filled with youth and enthusiasm, but yet the creativity was lacking. They started the season well and were too good for both Arsenal and Chelsea, but eventually falling prey to Manchester City. Nevertheless, they will be back this season, stronger and hungry for more.

The done-deals

1. Nick Powell
18 year old Nick Powell was the first to sign for United this summer. He did have comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo on his arrival. It’s a good signing as he represents the future of Manchester United and also England. He is quite promising and has scored many wonder goals. Fans should be excited to watch him next season.

2. Shinji Kagawa
Shinji Kagawa completed his expected move after a medical. He obtained his work permit this week. His signing will definitely represent a change in formation to United and a new begining. He is young and has tremendous potential. He is the playmaker United needed for a long time.

The failures

1. Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard is probably the biggest failure Manchester United have had in this summer. He was highly rated, possessed the ‘X-factor’, was a playmaker, etc. It seemed like he was made for and destined for Manchester, until Chelsea‘s Champions League triumph. He was clearly tempted by the money offered by Chelsea. Obviously, it was ridiculous money, but United had to cough up the money for a player of that quality. It is a huge disappointment to see Hazard wear a Chelsea shirt.

The true rumours

1. Lucas Moura
Lucas Moura is almost certain to join United following the reports from the Daily Mail and ESPN saying that he is close to completing a deal. He is a good addition, and would thrive at United. His best position remains unknown to me. He is mostly played as a winger, where he plays best at. But, apparently, his preferred position is as an attacking midfielder. I don’t think United need another winger, and he better be useful in a playmaker’s role. Read more on Lucas Moura here.

2. Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie is another man constantly tipped to end up at Old Trafford. Ferguson is also confident of landing him, but his pricetag and wages are over the limit for a 29-year old. Arsenal want 20 million pounds, and van Persie wants the same salary offered to Wayne Rooney. These are astronomical demands for an injury-plagued player. It is reported that City and Juventus are willing to match those sums, but van Persie’s preferred destination is Old Trafford. This move obviously isn’t going to materialise, considering the number of strikers United already have.

3. Leighton Baines
The situation with Leighton Baines remains very unclear at the moment. Various newspapers reported that United made a bid for him, but Everton just simply deny every report. The interest is obvious, but no bid has been made yet. It is understood that Everton want a sum close to 20 million pounds, whereas United are willing to pay only 12 million pounds. Only time will tell where the player will end up, but the rumours are cooling off slowly by the day.

The unlikely rumours

1. Moussa Dembele
This isn’t really an unlikely rumour, but he is most probably just a back-up option, in case the deal for Lucas Moura collapses. Dembele broke into the spotlight this season through brilliant displays for Fulham in the Premier League. He is a decent player, but isn’t the marquee signing that United fans crave for.

2. Ashley Cole
This is just insane. There is no way, in this whole universe, that United would want to buy Ashley Cole from Chelsea. United are looking for a long term replacement for Evra, and signing a 31 year old definitely isn’t going to help. Specially, from their rivals, Chelsea. Ashley Cole had a rather poor season and I don’t think the rumours have any truth in it.

3. Robert Lewandowski
It’s almost a tradition that every good player is linked with United. But this time, United have actually shown interest in signing Lewandowski. A few sites report that United are willing to negotiate a deal for the Dortmund hitman for the NEXT summer. So, nothing in this summer for Lewandowski.

The sold players

1. Ji Sung Park 
It is really sad that Park had to leave this summer. Park spent seven illustrious years at United and showed that Asian players can succeed at top clubs. He was an absolute engine, his work rate was very high. But this day had to come. I hope the best for Park at QPR.

2. Paul Pogba
His name itself infuriates me. This person is one of the most arrogant persons I’ve ever heard of. At the age of under 20, this guy has the attitude of Cristiano Ronaldo. I’m glad he left, and he won’t be gaining any success at Juventus. If first team action was what he wanted, Juventus have slotted him into their youth team. I would have let a player like him go for free.

3. Ezekiel Fryers
Another contract rebel, Fryers moved to Tottenham from United after succeeding in the United youth academy. It just shows the respect one has for his club that he grew up with. Frankly, he made no difference to me. And Benoit Assou-Ekotto is too good to be out of Tottenham’s first team. I really wonder why he made this move.

Any other rumours missed out?  Hit me up on Twitter @ratedrdheeraj

The Daily Mail isn’t the most reliable source for transfer news, but the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson stayed back in England got me thinking. Of course, it could be for several other reasons, but as a United fan, you would hope that he stayed back for this very purpose. The paper reveals that the deal is worth a whooping 30 million pounds, a figure that is quite high for an unproven 20 year old. Of this 30 million, Lucas would receive 30% of the transfer fee. Whether this is true or not, I doubt whether Sao Paulo would agree to 20 million pounds for themselves.

However, ESPN later confirmed that Manchester United are actually pushing through to complete a deal for Lucas Moura. It isn’t official and I believe that both these reports are partly true. Lucas Moura won’t be moving in the near future, although it is likely to happen in the next week or two. I doubt if Sao Paulo will be willing to sell their most prized asset unless Lucas himself states that he wants to move.

What are your thoughts on these two reports? Let me know @ratedrdheeraj

Hello and welcome to the first ever episode of The Red Devil Diaries. Do you feel you aren’t getting enough news, match analysis, fan rant, etc. about your beloved Manchester United? Well, from now on, this section will give you endless information about Manchester United. Detailed analysis of every match PLUS fan reviews from EVERY FAN and insiders of the club.

1. Win the League

It was obviously very frustrating and disappointing to come within seconds of winning the Premier League title, and yet losing it. Manchester United have that ‘never give up’ attitude through which they win matches. This is definitely not the end of an era. In fact, I would say that this is the beginning of a new era for Manchester United. Last summer, a lot of young players were bought. This season, injuries had meant that most of the young players were given more playing time than expected. For their age, they played reasonably well. But the young players WILL rise to the occasion next season. I think that they have had enough experience to adjust. Therefore, they will be crucial in United’s attempt at winning back the Premier League title from their ‘noisy neighbors’.

 2. Buy a marquee signing.

It has been said time and time again that Manchester United haven’t signed a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo since his departure to Real Madrid. Many have even posed questions on where that money had been spent. Manchester United will definitely sign one more midfielder and a full back. United are yet to stun the world with a big signing. Much like how Eden Hazard stunned the world by deciding to join Chelsea. In the same way, United need to make a marquee signing

 3. Improve their form at Old Trafford

Last season, United had the best record at home in the Premier League, but had a terrible away record. This season, it was the other way round. They had the best away record but had an average home record. United failed to pick up points in matches where they should have definitely beaten their opponents.

 4. Scare off rivals

This season, United played good football; they got the points, however, they did not dominate their opponents, therefore, they were not clear cut winners. Manchester City played destructive football and were effective. They managed to scare away rivals like Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham. United will have to produce more dominating performances in order to remain a threat in the Premier League.

5. Perform better at European stage

To say the least, United were horrible at European competitions this season. They were really complacent and highly underestimated decent competitors such as FC Basel and Benfica. Manchester United are a club that should be serious contenders for the Champions’ League trophy. Sir Alex will know this and will definitely make some changes to pose a serious challenge for the European games.

To add your views and share your thoughts for the next episodes, please contact the author on twitter @ratedrdheeraj or mail him at dheerajpreddy@gmail.com

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/06/15/the-red-devil-diaries-episode-1-introduction-and-aims-for-sir-alex-ferguson/feed/ 0 03190 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/06/14/cristiano-ronaldo-isnt-to-blame-for-flop-against-denmark/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/06/14/cristiano-ronaldo-isnt-to-blame-for-flop-against-denmark/#comments Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:40:07 +0000 Dheeraj Reddy http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=356788 Let’s face it, Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the Portugal squad. He is the only irreplaceable player in Portugal’s squad. Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably one of the best players Portugal have ever had. Yet, Cristiano Ronalod is jeered by his own fans, including Real Madrid fans and even Portuguese fans. The truth, however, is that there are too many expectations on the shoulders of CR7. He is one of the best players in the world, and is tipped by so many of his fans to overcome Lionel Messi of Barcelona.

It's okay, happens to everyone!

Last season, Cristiano Ronaldo was the highest scorer in the league, yet the FIFA Ballon d’Or was given to Lionel Messi. Agreed, this season Lionel Messi is the highest scorer, but apart from the Copa del Rey, he has no other trophy to show for. Yet, many critics and even football sites have declared that Messi played better this season. Look at this situation from the perspective of Cristiano Ronaldo. You are supposed to be the best player, you clearly have done everything you can, but yet, the voting procedure of the FIFA Ballon d’Or denies you the winner’s trophy. He is clearly pissed off and therefore, it leads to his arrogance on and off the pitch.

He is clearly piled up with huge loads of pressure from his club and country. He is expected to perform every match, more like a superhuman. The pressure of Real Madrid has reduced greatly this season thanks to Mesut Ozil. He failed to perform against Barcelona in their 3-1 loss, and the fans jeered him. But what the fans failed to understand, that Real Madrid are over reliant on CR7 and if he stops scoring, Real Madrid will stop winning. Thanks to Dani Alves, Barcelona were able to stop Cristiano. But all this changed when Real Madrid looked and played like a team, rather than a one-man show, in the course of time. This had immediate effect. When the pressure was handled by both Ozil and Ronaldo, Ronaldo made sure that he didn’t let his team down. His coolly taken finish guided Real Madrid to their first Clasico win for a long time. He won the league, and now plays a lesser one-man role for his club. But Portugal are completely different. To be honest, they don’t have any creativity or spark in midfield. Nani isn’t consistent and when he is, he is mostly injured. The only player who is expected to score is Ronaldo. This is another reason why he fails to perform for country – pressure.

Cristiano Ronaldo is egoistic and carries a great amount of attitude. But this should have never been a problem in the first place. A manager who has more ego than Ronaldo is the clear solution to this problem. Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho are the only two people on earth who can handle this ego, and control it. Paulo Bento is nowhere near both these great managers. In fact, instead of criticizing Ronaldo, he always avoids having a bust up with him. Clearly, he is either over-proud on Ronaldo or he fears his job would be in serious jeopardy if he does fall into a bust up with Ronaldo.

I believe that Ronaldo is at his best pressure-free. It’s not like he can’t handle pressure. But there is too much of it while playing for Portugal. But the most important factor is that Portugal have no other outstanding player apart form Ronaldo. Sure, there are Nani, Fabio Coentrao and Pepe. But none of these make a drastic impact on Ronaldo’s game. They need a midfielder who can create and score goals himself, something Mesut Ozil has done so majestically.

2 down, more to follow?

Last night, Manchester United announced the signing of 18 year old forward Nick Powell. Not long ago, they also announced the signing of 23 year old Shinji Kagawa. Considering the age of both these players, they are quite remarkable signings. This would add the much needed creativity and spark in United’s midfield. Rival clubs such as Arsenal and Chelsea have already made remarkable signings themselves, and so will Manchester City. Chelsea and Manchester City have endless money. Chelsea have the Champions League trophy to show-off and attract players while Manchester City have the Premier League title. Comparatively, United finished trophy-less this season, apart from the early season victory in the FA Community Shield. You’d expect players to join Chelsea or City rather than United. But United have their vast history and experience to show off themselves, something that Chelsea or City could only achieve after a decade or two. And unlike Liverpool, who have a great history, but no present, Manchester United have a great squad and the will to challenge for every competition on earth.

No offence to to Chelsea, City or Liverpool, but United will always have something that these clubs can never have. This would have certainly played on the minds of Kagawa and Powell before joining United. Sure, Hazard chose to join Chelsea instead of United. But he is obviously a mercenary who doesn’t stick to his words. Remember, he said that he would be going to Manchester? Where did he end up? In London, with Chelsea. His wage demands were so high, that even the endless wealth of City dried up. Plus, Chelsea obviously had many more Belgians in their squad than United or City.

But the real question is, can United continue to sign more players this summer? The transfer season hasn’t even started yet, so they do have ample time remaining.

I have never doubted United over their financial capability because they make the largest profit among all English clubs, despite their early exits from all cup competitions last year. The Glazers are most likely to put a part of the club up for flotation in the Singapore stock market. Not only would this wipe out the debt that United carry, this would provide them with endless funds for the transfer market. They could earn up to $1 billion with the flotation.

Their targets include Luka Modric, Kevin Strootman, Leighton Baines and Robert Lewandowski. Of these, I think United would pay most attention to Luka Modric and Leighton Baines. Kevin Strootman is a must buy for United because he is a defensive-minded midfielder, which United could definitely find handy. But United haven’t shown any serious interest in him and if they do, he could be on the cheaper side. He has been compared to Roy Keane recently and plays a similar kind of role in midfield. Leighton Baines is most probably going to end up at United, i.e., if his club agree to sell him for around 15 million. But rumors are spreading around that Everton manager David Moyes could quit his job of the Everton board decides to cash in on Leighton Baines. This could set United up for a long transfer saga over the summer. Luka Modric is a great buy, but considering his price for his age, United may once again be forced to NOT buy Modric, just like last summer. Also, PSG have shown interest in him recently. PSG are backed by Qatari owners (filthy rich owners). Modric is definitely going to leave Tottenham. He has made no secret of his desire to play Champions League football. Signing Robert Lewandowski is a no-brainer for me. He is an excellent player and is better than United’s Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez. But considering the number of strikers United have, there’s no way they could be serious in buying Lewandowski. Yes, they are probably looking for someone to replace Berbatov. But do they want the Bundesliga Player of the Season to play a reserve striker role at United? Or do they want to play him in the first team, thereby stunting the development of young Danny Welbeck, at the same time making Hernandez a reserve striker?

Through the summer, various rumours will be out on papers about players being linked with a move to United. But can United buy these players? Do they still have the capability to attract players and make a marquee signing to silence their critics?

Leave your thoughts below in the comments section or tweet me @ratedrdheeraj.

It’s no secret that Manchester United have set their sights on the talented Everton defender, Leighton Baines. He has been repeatedly linked with a move to Old Trafford. The player himself suggested that he was flattered by the news. But is he worth the hype and the 20 million pounds demanded by Everton?

Leighton Baines is undoubtedly a great player and had it not been for Ashley Cole, he would have enjoyed first team action for England. According to me, the interest in Baines is largely because of Patrice Evra’s age and his inconsistent performances for Manchester United of late. Also, United’s first choice target, Jordi Alba, would most probably head towards his hometown, Barcelona instead of United. Therefore, Leighton Baines is a must-buy for United. Leighton Baines is currently with England playing in Poland at the Euro 2012. Don’t expect any decision to be made on him until the tournament reaches its conclusion. Baines is 27, and United don’t really prefer buying players at that age. But if United have shown interest in him, he must be something special. Baines is an exceptional free-kick taker and handles defensive and attacking duties equally well.

He’s a worthy acquisition to United and would strengthen United’s defence by a large margin. Baines is rated at around 16 million and is mostly injury-free. There’s nothing much to write or say about Baines; he largely stays away from the media and avoids controversies. He isn’t the kind of player who likes to steal the limelight but United will need him to if they are to challenge for the Premier League title next season.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/06/12/leighton-baines-heading-to-old-trafford/feed/ 8 82188423 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/06/11/modric-made-for-united/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/06/11/modric-made-for-united/#comments Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:40:23 +0000 Dheeraj Reddy http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=344439

Manchester United have completed the signing of Shinji Kagawa. Finally they have bought a play-maker. But Shinji Kagawa isn’t the answer to the midfield problems at Old Trafford. Shinji Kagawa is a great player, no doubt. But he isn’t fit to play in the 4-4-2 formation played by United. Even if United do change to the 4-2-3-1 formation, there isn’t any guarantee that Kagawa will be a success in the Premier League. To me, he doesn’t seem to have the physical strength to survive in the Premier League. Manchester United need a player who has played in the Premier League and has found success. At the same time, they need to find a replacement for the evergreen Paul Scholes, who came out of retirement to help out United overcome their injury struggles. Luka Modric is the perfect like-to-like replacement for Scholes. He can play almost anywhere and is a proven Premier League player. He’s got the ability and skill to survive in the Premier League and fits in in any formation. Manchester United have to find the cash to get him.

Only 12 months ago, Modric was one of the top targets for United’s rivals, Chelsea. He looked almost certain to join Chelsea and was fully prepared to leave Tottenham. Daniel Levy wanted to keep his star players at Tottenham so badly, that he rejected a huge fee of  £ 40 million from Chelsea. I know that Modric is quite a brilliant player, but he is 26 years old. That price isn’t worth a player of that age. Because of Chelsea’s £ 40 million bid, United would have to pay a sum close to that region. Modric is way too costly for United, plus his wage demands aren’t going to be cheap.

Should United opt to play the 4-2-3-1 formation, in order to place Kagawa in the first team, Modric could fit in at defensive midfield. He could play the kind of role that Xabi Alonso plays at Real Madrid. I don’t think he would be too bad in that area. Kagawa is good, but is he good enough? I think, if Modric does arrive, Kagawa could be left on the bench. Modric is an amazing player and United’s ‘noisy’ neighbours have also shown interest in him.

Modric’s work rate is really appreciable. For an attacking midfielder, he does a tremendous job of defending and tracking back for counter attacks. He would lift the play-making burden off Wayne Rooney, allowing Rooney to become a better striker and score more goals up front. Modric will score goals himself. Personally, I haven’t seen him score too many, but whenever he does, he scores amazing goals.

I have said this before in my previous articles, and I’ll say it again, clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City have already strengthened their squad, thanks to their mega-rich owners. United have to keep pace and rack up quality signings themselves to remain a threatening force in the Premier League. If they want to continue to be a top club in England and in Europe, they will have to find the cash to buy players. Modric is a must-buy for United, and this time they will have to buy him at whatever price it may be. Even with Kagawa’s signing, he is the perfect fit for the hole in United’s midfield.

With Sir Alex Ferguson’s imminent retirement set to come sooner rather than later, here we look into the four reasons why Pep Guardiola would certainly be the right man to manage Manchester United.

Not so long ago, Sir Alex Ferguson’s old friend Dave Whelan, also the owner of Wigan Athletic, clamed that Sir Alex Ferguson will retire in 2013. How true this maybe, only Ferguson and Whelan know. But for now, it’s time that the Glazers would start looking for a suitable replacement. And they needn’t look any further, Guardiola is the man for the job.

Sir Alex turned 70 last December, and his health isn’t getting better nor is he getting any younger. Therefore, it would be perfect for Ferguson to retire this season. I’m sure he is already thinking about his retirement, and would have already spoken to his family members. In his 25 years, he gave everything he could for Manchester United. He has made them a force to be reckoned with, not only in England, but all over Europe. During his reign he has nurtured so many legends such as the likes Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes and the list never ends. Pep Guardiola is almost the same. He managed Barcelona and gave everything he could, to the club in his 4 years in charge. He is another man who loves to nurture youngsters, including 3 time Ballon d’Or winner, the irrepressible Lionel Messi. Manchester United could easily continue their legendary dynasty, with a world-class manager like Guardiola.

Manchester United are no Barcelona, neither do they deploy the ‘tiki-taka’ method of playing football that Barcelona have so majestically pulled off under Guardiola. But Guardiola knows how United play. Sir Alex will retire at the end of this season and could hand over the reins to a man who understands the way United play football, who will be delighted to take over the responsibility of arguably the greatest and most popular football club in history. Although United don’t play the ‘tiki-taka’,  they play the kind of football that Guardiola appreciates and loves.

Unlike clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea, United aren’t a ‘project’. They are already a global brand and can attract any player. Should the FIFA Financial Fairplay be deployed in the future, City and Chelsea would be in deep trouble. Roman Abramovich (Chelsea’s owner) and Sheikh Mansour are obsessed in building a team like Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United. It is their obsession and never ending supply of  money, that allows them to spend large values of money on players and managers. But Guardiola isn’t the kind of person who wants money. He’s already reached the greatest heights, and won almost every competition possible with Barcelona. There is no need for him to spoil his CV by joining a club like Chelsea. In this aspect, United would be perfect. Anyone would love to have the experience of managing Manchester United, one of the largest and greatest football clubs in history with a HUGE (and I mean HUGE) fanbase from every part of the world.

Unlike great coaches such as Jose Mourinho and Fabio Capello, Pep Guardiola is more likely to stay with a club for a long period. He maintains that kind of respect and loyalty towards the club that he manages. Even during his playing days, he loved evry club that he played for. He played at a club because he enjoyed playing there. He is a passionate worker and is NOT a mercenary. Roman Abramovich is trying his best to get Guardiola at Chelsea, but Guardiola doesn’t work for the money, nor will he ever. Guardiola is a legend at Barcelona and he definitely be a legend at United, if he ever does mange Manchester United.

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