MAN UNITED CONFIDENTIAL: Dilemmas over Old Trafford leaky roof amid ownership doubts, today’s Barnsley friendly comes too early for midfield starlet… plus David de Gea is back in Manchester
- Man United are in a dilemma over what to do with the leaky roof at Old Trafford
- Plus, the club will open contract talks with one of their promising teenage stars
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Manchester United are in a dilemma over what to do with the notoriously leaky roof at Old Trafford, Confidential can reveal.
During a staff meeting at the stadium on Thursday, managing director Collette Roche outlined the difficulties United face in trying to fix the problem that has come to symbolise the Glazer family’s neglect of the club.
United know that the roof over the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand needs replacing – and repairing in other areas of the ground. However, the logistics of installing cranes over the railway line at the back of the south stand means the work cannot be done during the season without severely restricting the match-day attendance.
The uncertainty over the takeover battle at Old Trafford is also an issue. United are reluctant to commit to a costly roof replacement when the club could be redeveloping or rebuilding the entire stadium if Sheikh Jassim or Sir Jim Ratcliffe convince the Glazer family to sell up.
As well as Roche, chief executive Richard Arnold and chief financial officer Cliff Baty spoke to hundreds of staff from Old Trafford and Carrington at the meeting.
Man United are in a dilemma over what to do with the notoriously leaky roof at Old Trafford, which has previously left supporters drenched when attending matches
The Glazers put up the club for sale 11 months ago but a takeover doesn’t look close to completion after both bids were turned down
Your browser does not support iframes.
Members of the club’s commercial department also explained how kit suppliers adidas decided on the curious green-and-white striped design for this season’s third strip.
The meeting took place in the International Suite at Old Trafford with staff getting together for drinks in the Manchester Suite afterwards.
No more moles
Talking of leaks, the rogue social media account that alerted United to the possibility of a mole in their camp was closed down last week within hours of Confidential reporting the club’s concerns.
The anonymous account on X – formerly Twitter – had posted some suspiciously accurate injury updates on several United stars, sparking an internal investigation to find out if the information was coming from a club insider.
Despite the account being swiftly shut down, United will continue to monitor social media for any other potential leaks.
Mainoo made to wait
United have arranged a behind-closed-doors game against Barnsley on Tuesday as several of their injured stars near a return to action.
Sergio Reguilon is on his way back after missing the last four games, and Kobbie Mainoo was also due to play against the League One club. However, that now seems unlikely after it was decided that the run-out may have come a little too soon for him.
The 18-year-old midfielder impressed in pre-season but hurt his left ankle in United’s defeat to Real Madrid in Houston on the club’s tour of the US. Mainoo trained with his teammates ahead of last week’s Champions League tie against Galatasaray and is expected back soon.
The majority of the players who face Barnsley are Under-21s, and the youngsters had access to the senior facilities at Carrington on Monday in preparation for the game.
Kobbie Mainoo is likely to miss out on a behind-closed-doors game against Barnsley today
The youngster has been sidelined since sustaining an ankle injury their pre-season tour
Forson’s bright future
United are in discussions to extend the contract of exciting teenage forward Omari Forson who has been named in the England elite development squad (formerly known as under-20s) for games against Romania and Portugal during the international break.
Forson has captured the eye this season with a goal every 78 minutes including two against Galatasaray in the UEFA Youth League – the under-19s version of the Champions League.
The 19-year-old played for the senior side on United’s tour of the US in the summer, and was also named on the bench by Erik ten Hag for the Champions League opener against Bayern Munich in Germany.
The only problem for United is that Forson is out of contract next summer and the club are keen to talk about cementing a longer-term deal.
The Red Devils are keen to tie down youngster Omari Forson to a new deal in the near future
De Gea back in town
David De Gea is back. Well, at least in Manchester if not at Manchester United.
The Spanish goalkeeper returned to the UK on Monday and is spending a few days sorting out the house in Hale where he lived until leaving United after 12 years at the end of June.
De Gea has since joined his pop star partner Edurne Garcia and their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Yanay at the family home in Madrid. The couple got married in Menorca last summer.
Some United fans have mischievously noted that De Gea remains a free agent amid Andre Onana’s difficult start to life at Old Trafford.
However, it’s understood that De Gea – who turns 33 next month – is relaxed over his future as he enjoys some well-earned family time, and is not rushing to find a new club.
That may change in January but after spending his last four years at Old Trafford earning £375,000-a-week, he can afford to bide his time.
David de Gea was released by Manchester United despite winning the Golden Glove last year
The former Man United goalkeeper shared a snap of himself back in the city on Monday
Antony’s ex to meet police
Antony’s ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin will hold a formal interview with Greater Manchester Police on Thursday.
The influencer has flown in from Brazil having made allegations – which the player strenuously denies – that he attacked her on four occasions, including twice in the UK.
Cavallin claims that she was headbutted and punched by Antony in a Manchester hotel room the day after the team’s 2-1 win over local rivals Man City on January 14. She added that the alleged attack caused a cut to her head and damage to one of her breast implants.
A further allegation is that Cavallin cut her finger as she tried to shield herself from a glass said to have been thrown by Antony at her during an argument at home in May.
Antony met with GMP officers for a voluntary interview last month after returning to the UK from Brazil where Cavallin’s allegations have also been investigated by Sao Paulo Civil Police. The 23-year-old has not been arrested, charged or placed under any restrictions.
United cleared Antony to return to first-team duties and he has appeared as a substitute in the last two games against Galatasaray in the Champions League and Brentford in the Premier League.
Gabriela Cavallin will hold a formal interview with Greater Manchester Police on Thursday
Cavallin claims that she was headbutted and punched by Antony in a hotel room in January
Fans keep faith with Glazer forum
United fans are expected to attend a key meeting with high-profile club executives despite calls for them to boycott, Confidential understands.
The 1958 group, who have been behind several anti-Glazer protests in recent months, have urged members of the Fans’ Forum to stay away from their latest meeting on Tuesday and halt any dialogue with United’s controversial owners. The group said the forum had been used ‘as a tool for manipulation and deception’ by the Glazers.
Forum insiders say they do not foresee a large-scale boycott of the latest meeting, but one warned that patience among the membership with the owners and club chiefs is ‘running thin’.
The Fans Forum convenes four times a year and its meetings are often attended by chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough, while co-chairman Joel Glazer dials in from the US.
He vowed to engage in dialogue with fans after protests led to a game against Liverpool being called off in 2021, but such engagement has not come to fruition.
United fans are deeply frustrated at the protracted takeover process and were left angry at the sight of hundreds of Galatasaray fans in the home end during last week’s Champions League clash at Old Trafford.
Despite calls to boycott a key meeting with high-profile club executives, United fans are expected to attend the event
United stars warm up
The Manchester United Foundation collected thousands of coats from last weekend’s winter appeal.
Manager Erik ten Hag and his players did their bit by bringing in spare coats to the club’s Carrington training base ahead of the game against Brentford.
Goalkeeper Tom Heaton had enough to fill a bin bag and Marcus Rashford donated one by Japanese fashion brand BAPE worth hundreds of pounds.
Fans of both United and Brentford gave to the appeal at Old Trafford on Saturday. The coats will be distributed among young people and their families across Greater Manchester as well as some in Ukraine.
The foundation is investing £100,000 to buy additional hats, gloves and scarves that will help people in deprived areas through the winter.
Marcus Rashford was among the United stars to donate hundreds of pounds worth of clothes to the Manchester United Foundation
Harry’s tee party
After teeing up Scott McTominay for the last-ditch winner amid delirious scenes against Brentford on Saturday, Harry Maguire teed off with teammate Mason Mount at the James Maddison Invitational golf event 24 hours later.
The Premier League footballers joined other celebrities at the Shire Golf Club in Barnet. to raise money for Super Strong Sophie’s Sparkle which was set up to support Sophie Grace Taylor in her fight against osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.
Sophie sadly passed away in 2019 at the age of five but Tottenham star Maddison has continued to raise money in her name to help other children and their families in a similar situation.
IT’S ALL KICKING OFF!
It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.
It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify
Your browser does not support iframes.
Source: Read Full Article