Cristiano Ronaldo Lights Up Old Trafford, nets twice in first game back with Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo will have to settle for two goals on his return to Manchester United at Old Trafford. The Portuguese star scored the Red Devils’ first two goals on their way to a 4-1 triumph over Newcastle United in Ronaldo’s first action for the club since his $28 million transfer acquisition from Juventus in August.
Ronaldo was thrown right into the starting lineup in a game that had the feel of a major occasion at Old Trafford, where he last appeared in a Manchester United shirt back in May 2009. He didn’t disappoint the sell-out crowd on hand.
The Manchester United No. 7 poached his first goal just before halftime after the Newcastle goalkeeper spilled a shot and Ronaldo was at the doorestep to push the ball over the line. After Newcastle scored a surprise equalizer in the 56th minute, Ronaldo got his team back in front with a patented Ronaldo goal: He beat his defender one-on-one and fired a searing left-footed ball under the goalkeeper.
Manchester United cruised for the rest of the game against a tiring Newcastle side that allowed Bruno Fernandes all the time he wanted to pick out the corner for a third goal. And then the Red Devils turned on the style with a well-worked fourth goal in stoppage time. A Paul Pogba pass was dummied by Anthony Martial to substitute Jesse Lingard, who applied a classy finish in the box.
There was a different feel about this Manchester United team with Ronaldo in the lineup, and the rest of the Premier League challengers will be on notice. If Manchester United was considered a title contender before his arrival, it might soon be the favorite if Ronaldo can keep up the goal-scoring exploits.
Solskjaer: “Ronaldo senses the big moments and is ruthless. He is clinical, has lifted the team and everyone around us. The fans can dream, we will keep our feet on the ground.” #MUFC
Donny van de Beek is looking to leave Manchester United at the end of the season, according to reports.
The Netherlands international was signed in a £40 million deal from Ajax last September but has struggled to make an impact since his arriving at Old Trafford.
Van de Beek has started just two games in the Premier League and only 11 matches across all competitions. According to the Daily Star, Van de Beek is concerned over his long-term future and is now looking to move on this summer.
The report also claims that his lack of playing time has harmed his chances of winning a place in the Netherlands squad for their European Championship campaign.
It’s claimed that Van de Beek will speak with United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward before the season finishes to determine his next move and why he has been overlooked by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The United manager had urged Van de Beek to be patient after he was given little playing time at the start of the season.
But the midfielder was used only sparingly across the winter period when United’s fixture schedule was heavily congested. ‘I wouldn’t say that Donny is happy,’ Solskjaer admitted in January.
‘Of course, he wants to play more, but he gets about his job in the right manner.
‘We are doing well and have got players who are playing really well in his position.’
Van de Beek has not featured for United since February 14 and is currently sidelined with a muscle injury.
Manchester United’s defensive vulnerabilities returned as AC Milan grabbed an injury-time equaliser in their Europa League last-16 first-leg tie at Old Trafford.
Amad Diallo’s stunning header five minutes into the second half looked like giving United a first-leg lead.
But Milan, who had already been harshly denied a goal when Franck Kessie’s first-half volley was ruled out for handball, replied when Simon Kjaer evaded the attentions of Nemanja Matic at a corner right at the death and steered a near-post header past Dean Henderson’s weak attempt to save.
It was the least a Milan side lacking former United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic deserved.
It was tough luck on Diallo, who scored in quite brilliant fashion with his first effort on goal in only his third appearance for the Red Devils.
The Ivorian raced on to Bruno Fernandes’ brilliant chipped pass five minutes after replacing Anthony Martial at half-time, then, with his back to goal close to the penalty spot, looped the ball over Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the net.
Diallo’s entrance was delayed slightly as he had a band he was wearing on his wrist taped up. It was the only waste of time the 18-year-old was responsible for. It might only be his third United game but he already looks good value for the initial £19m United paid Atalanta for him in January.
Only Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and George Best have scored European goals at a younger age for the club and for a long time, the inspirational effort seemed set to spare Harry Maguire’s blushes for a simply woeful first-half miss.
Maguire timed his far-post run to perfection as he arrived, unmarked, to meet Fernandes’ flick-on from an Alex Telles corner. Amazingly, even though he was barely half a yard out when he connected, Maguire ended up in the net but the ball did not as it flicked off the inside of the post and flew across the six-yard area to safety.
Martial went close in the opening stages but it was one of the Frenchman’s more ineffective displays and it only took five minutes for his replacement to upstage him.
But while the window of opportunity is open for Diallo, Henderson now fully understands the reality of life in the harsh glare of the spotlight at Old Trafford.
Henderson has performed pretty well in his 16 appearances for United this season, so much so it has been suggested he is ready to replace David de Gea as the first-choice goalkeeper at the club.
But mistakes on this stage get magnified in a way they do not at Sheffield United, where he did so well last season to take him into the England fold.
And the more often Kjaer’s goal was replayed, the more a view began to form that Henderson should have done much better in his attempt to keep it out.
In five previous two-legged European ties with Milan, United have emerged victorious only once and with Ibrahmovic potentially returning at the San Siro next week, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have their work cut out to reach the last eight.
Despite Ibrahimovic’s absence, there were still some familiar faces in the Milan side.
Diogo Dalot is still a United player but, unlike in the Premier League, Uefa rules allowed him to play against his parent club, while England defender Fikayo Tomori may yet have a future at Chelsea.
It is now more than two years since Brahim Diaz left Manchester City for Real Madrid.
Diaz was part of the same City youth team as Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho. Like Sancho, he decided there was a future away from Pep Guardiola.
Evidently he decided to use his return to Manchester to remind an English audience of his talent as he probed and prodded around the United box as Milan took control.
One through ball for Davide Calabria was exceptional but the full-back was unable to get the ball under control quickly enough.
Aside from Kessie’s disallowed effort, Alexis Saelemaekers drew a save from Henderson after stepping inside Matic’s outstretched leg and Rade Krunic put a header just over.
Kjaer ensured their efforts did not go unrewarded.
Bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United caused a stunning upset with a Premier League victory over title-chasing Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side needed three points to regain top spot from rivals Manchester City but were lacklustre for large periods of the contest as the away side picked up only their second win of the season.
The Blades took a shock first-half lead through Kean Bryan’s flicked header, which went in off the far post following John Fleck’s corner.
Anthony Martial had a goal ruled out as Harry Maguire was adjudged to have fouled Aaron Ramsdale, but the United skipper headed in the leveller just past the hour mark.
The visitors responded with 16 minutes remaining as Manchester United failed to clear and substitute Oliver Burke side-footed in via a deflection off Axel Tuanzebe for their first win over the home side since the opening day of the newly formed Premier League in 1992.
“It’s a long time to wait for a win at Old Trafford and it’s a special result, and a special performance,” said Blades boss Chris Wilder.
“I’m not saying an incredible escape is on but I want to show what we are about.”
Wilder’s side remain bottom, 10 points off safety, while Manchester United remain second.
On seven previous occasions this season, Solskjaer’s United had come from behind to win a league game and they looked on course to repeat the trick when Maguire headed in against his old club.
But recovering a deficit time and time again is unsustainable throughout a season and their luck finally ran out.
Unbeaten away from home this season, the Red Devils have dragged themselves into a surprise title challenge, with this their first defeat in 13 games since they lost at Old Trafford against Arsenal in November.
But it is their home form that is causing them the most harm – this is a fourth defeat at Old Trafford this season, following that loss to the Gunners, a hammering by Tottenham and a loss to Crystal Palace in their opening game.
And this damaging result will be a reality check for Solskjaer and his team, who were desperately poor throughout.
They failed to exert any real pressure on the Sheffield United backline and talisman Bruno Fernandes, so often the hero, has now hit a slump and gone four straight league games without a goal or an assist.
Marcus Rashford dragged an effort wide from the edge of the area early on and saw a long-range free-kick gathered by Aaron Ramsdale.
Mason Greenwood’s 25-yard drive straight was straight at the goalkeeper and Alex Telles’ shot looped on to the roof of the net but the strikes were all from long range and saves you would expect the keeper to make.
Edinson Cavani, impressive since joining on a free transfer last summer, was sent on after 66 minutes as the hosts chased a winner but ended up conceding.
With fellow title-chasers Leicester held to a 1-1 draw at Everton, United’s missed opportunity means Manchester City are in the ascendancy, a point clear at the top with a game in hand.
Diallo scored four minutes into his 13-minute Atalanta debut as a substitute against Udinese in October 2019 (becoming the first player born in 2002 to score in Serie A), but only played another 11 minutes across two games that season. Then, despite United’s attention, he had to wait almost a year for his next senior minutes: a 13-minute cameo against Hellas Verona on Nov. 28 before a promising 22-minute appearance off the bench in the Champions League against FC Midtjylland on Dec. 1, in which he showed some delicate touches, fine runs and had two good shots saved late on.
Indeed, Diallo’s ability on the ball has seen him likened to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, and he’s excelled even when playing two age groups above his own throughout his youth career. However, it’s still a massive fee for such an untested player who might not even feature in the Premier League this season. You also have to wonder why the teenager has been used so sparingly (especially in an outrageously fixture-congested year) by Atalanta — even as an impact sub — given his obvious talent, profile and credentials.
With only another 35 minutes under his belt since they agreed the deal, it’s a gamble for United, who have been burned before with the likes of Bebe. But sources told ESPN’s Rob Dawson that Diallo will be considered a first-team signing, along with 18-year-old Facundo Pellistri who was signed from Uruguayan side Penarol at the same time.
As Diallo arrives in Manchester after receiving his UK work permit, here’s a look at why the Old Trafford hierarchy thought the Ivory Coast-born winger was worth the risk.
What kind of player is he?
Diallo is far from unknown on the scouting circuit, having been on the radar of Europe’s leading clubs for quite some time due to his performances at youth level — where he often stands out against older opponents — and his more recent displays in the Italian “Primavera” (U19) league.
His stats in the Primavera over the past two years are impressive — 12 goals and nine assists in 39 games — while he also notched one goal and three assists across six games in the UEFA Youth League in 2019-20.
A top scout at one such club granted ESPN access to their entire file on Diallo, which dates back to 2019 and is based on his appearances in youth tournaments and the U19 league. In the club’s internal system, Diallo is rated as a potential 7.5 player (out of a maximum 10), which equates to “a prospective regular at a Champions League-level club” — just for reference, a peak Messi was apparently a 9.0 according to their system (clearly nobody can be perfect!)
Some snippets from the report, which was compiled using input from different members of the club’s scouting staff, reveal interesting details about his characteristics as a player.
“Physical profile: can seem lightweight, but deals well with contact. Able to stay on his feet even when facing strong challenges. Low point of gravity, good balance. Impressive change of direction with and without the ball. Impressive body control and coordination. Very quick on short spaces, loses some power and speed over longer distances. More continuous than most players of his age, impact persists throughout the game.”
Diallo is also applauded for his “capability to see all areas of the pitch” and he is “able to distribute the ball well beyond short-medium distances; executes good switches of play.” His defensive work-rate is also highlighted as a positive: “His willingness to track runs, defend and align with the team’s defensive structure is surprisingly good.”
What position does he play?
Diallo moved from central midfield early in his career. Diallo is now a tactically aware inverted winger — ideal for a 4-3-3 formation — with skills more akin to the modern wide playmaker than an out-and-out winger limited to a change of pace and the ability to take on opponents. The report reads:
“Characteristic inverted winger who likes to cut in on his left foot from the right. Prefers to take up positions relatively deep in order to participate in build-up rather than go directly for a goal or the conclusive phase, but is also effective closer to the goal and penalty area. Less effective on the left, but can roam with success in central positions.”
Is his style similar to that of any current players?
The Messi comparisons come from Diallo’s great balance, quick feet, excellent technical skills, mesmerising dribbles and ability to see and execute the ideal pass — not to mention his fine left foot.
He possesses a maturity and confidence beyond his 18 years that allows him to exploit his considerable skills — but not just for the sake of it, only when there’s something to be gained — and gives him a real team ethic with plenty of willingness to track back and work hard to play his part in defending.
One professional scout with deep insight into the Italian youth scene says that Diallo’s undoubted potential still needs to translate to first-team level.
“I have seen Diallo many times and he’s an interesting talent, but I have to admit that the deal, especially at the figures involved, was a great surprise to me,” he told ESPN under the condition of anonymity. “Yes, he’s excelled at youth level and yes, even with those from age groups above, but in my view he’s not comparable to players like [Barcelona’s] Ansu Fati, [Real Madrid‘s] Vinicius Jr., Reinier or Rodrygo, who I all tracked at youth level. And for the money involved in this deal you expect a potential world star. I just don’t see Amad Diallo having the same potential of those I mentioned.”
What’s next?
The next steps for Diallo are going to be crucial in enabling him to optimise his talent. Will he be immediately integrated in the first-team squad — much like Pellistri (who, incidentally, occupies the same wide right attacking slot) — and be defined as a first-teamer but almost exclusively play with the reserves? Or will he be sent out on loan to get more experience?
With Diallo reportedly working hard on improving his English he’d no doubt prefer to stay in Manchester, yet the increasingly common route of loaning up-and-coming players abroad to countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium or even Germany might be another possibility. As the holder of an Italian passport, that is certainly an easy option.
What Manchester United decide to do with him next is of utmost importance, because their success stories of signing late teenage prospects with immediate first-team aspirations from abroad are few and far between. They have taken a gamble by spending big money on an unproven 18-year-old, but as their transfer policy continues to target younger players, how Diallo settles at Old Trafford could play a big part in their future.
