Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person

Alberto Ruiz: United eyeing Real Madrid starlet who lit up Under-15 World Cup

2026-10-31T08:44:24Z

Manchester United have been alerted to the emergence of a Spanish forward who set the stage alight at the recent Under-15 World Cup. The Red Devils have been attentive to emerging talents from across the world as they build a backbone for the future.

INEOS’ transfer activity has been questionable, but they have also signed some gifted young footballers from across the globe.

The idea is to pick up diamonds in the rough for nominal fees before they become household names. The move is financially viable as well, and it now appears that the Premier League giants have found their next target at the Santiago Bernabeu.

United monitoring Alberto Ruiz

According to AS, United are eyeing Real Madrid starlet Alberto Ruiz. The report states: “Clubs in the Premier League, to name but one, have already set their sights on him. Among others, according to AS, Manchester United.”

The report, however, confirms that an immediate exit will not be possible because of regulatory restrictions. It continues: “They would have to wait before making a move for him due to regulations. Firstly, he would have to turn 18.”

“Secondly, he must meet the requirements of a points-based system that came into force following Brexit. But the spotlight has already been turned on Alberto.”

One assumes Real Madrid will not be too keen to offload the next gem out of La Fabrica, who reportedly idolises Kylian Mbappe.

Who is Alberto Ruiz

Ruiz was outstanding for Spain at the Under-15 World Cup, helping his team lift the trophy and finishing as joint top scorer with eight goals. The report adds: “Alberto is an attacking midfielder with a penchant for dropping deep to receive the ball, drive forward and get stuck in.”

The 15-year-old’s attributes could also make him a fantastic long-term heir to Bruno Fernandes, whose future at Old Trafford remains unclear.

If United manage to convince the Portuguese to stay, Alberto Ruiz could eventually be ready to fill his shoes in a couple of years.

Bruno Fernandes

Stat	Premier League	UEFA Champions League	League Cup	All competitions
Competition	Premier League	UEFA Champions League	League Cup	All competitions
Apps	7	3	1	11
Minutes	630	237	17	884
Starts	7	3	0	10
Sub appearances	0	0	1	1
Goals	3	1	0	4
Non-penalty goals	2	1	0	3
Assists	1	0	0	1
Goals + assists	4	1	0	5
Minutes per goal	210	237	–	221

Page 1 of 51 2 3 4 5

Stat	Premier League	UEFA Champions League	League Cup	All competitions
xG (PL)	2.66	–	–	2.66
xA (PL)	1.50	–	–	1.50
xG + xA (PL)	4.16	–	–	4.16
Avg rating	7.24	6.91	6.30	7.06
Shots	13	7	1	21
Shots on target	6	3	0	9
Shot accuracy %	46.2%	42.9%	0.0%	42.9%
Conversion %	23.1%	14.3%	0.0%	19.0%
Passes	407	129	18	554
Accurate passes	335	108	17	460

Page 2 of 51 2 3 4 5

Stat	Premier League	UEFA Champions League	League Cup	All competitions
Pass accuracy %	82.3%	83.7%	94.4%	83.0%
Key passes	16	7	2	25
Dribbles attempted	8	1	0	9
Dribbles completed	3	1	0	4
Dribble success %	37.5%	100.0%	–	44.4%
Tackles	6	3	0	9
Interceptions	2	2	0	4
Tackles + interceptions	8	5	0	13
Blocks	3	0	0	3
Duels	38	14	0	52

Page 3 of 51 2 3 4 5

Stat	Premier League	UEFA Champions League	League Cup	All competitions
Duels won	14	8	0	22
Duels won %	36.8%	57.1%	–	42.3%
Dribbled past	6	0	0	6
Fouls won	4	4	0	8
Fouls committed	5	1	0	6
Offsides	0	0	0	0
Yellow cards	2	0	0	2
Red cards	0	0	0	0
Penalties won	0	0	0	0
Penalties conceded	0	0	0	0

Page 4 of 51 2 3 4 5

Stat	Premier League	UEFA Champions League	All competitions
Penalties scored	1	0	1
Penalties missed	0	0	0
Clean sheets	0	1	1

Page 5 of 51 2 3 4 5

The Spaniard, however, signed a new deal with Real Madrid last year that keeps him at the club until 2028. The teenager is already considered the future of Los Blancos, so securing his signature will not be easy.

The Peoples Person Reliability Assessment
Overall credibility: 5/10

Why?

Alberto Ruiz matches United’s youth-centric transfer policy.
This could be a part of the Red Devils’ regular scouting activity instead of a concrete interest.

TPP view

We believe that Alberto Ruiz could be a fine addition to United’s academy, but United’s interest in the teenager is likely at a preliminary stage.

Win a Mystery Football Shirt Box from Mystique Jerseys!

Just choose your size and leave the surprise to us.

Simply predict the score of the Chelsea game in the comments below

Special offer: Get 10% off any Mystique Jerseys order! Use code UNITED10 at checkout.

Tell us which teams to avoid and you won't receive a shirt from those teams, guaranteed.

Open worldwide. If more than one person predicts the score correctly, the winner will be decided by a random draw. If you make more than one entry, only your last entry will count. No entries accepted after 12.30pm GMT on Saturday 30th October. The winner will need to provide their name, address, shirt size and any teams to avoid. The UNITED10 discount is exclusive to The Peoples Person and United World readers and is valid until 31 December 2026.

online polls

The post Alberto Ruiz: United eyeing Real Madrid starlet who lit up Under-15 World Cup appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Lennart Karl: Man United keeping tabs on Bayern Munich’s record-breaking 18-year-old

2026-10-31T06:44:56Z

Manchester United are always on the lookout for young talent.

Search for young talent

They have scoured the market in England, Europe, and further afield to bring in players with promising skills.

This is evident in their acquisitions of Isaac Konde from Liverpool, as well as David Eze and Karim Cassim from Manchester City. They have also signed Cristian Orozco from Colombia and Diego Leon from Paraguay in the last 18 months or so.

Latest interest

According to German football expert Christian Falk, United are also showing an interest in a young talent from the Bundesliga.

Uli Hoeneß, a former German football executive at Bayern Munich who is currently in a supervisory role on the board, spoke out against Lennart Karl recently. He stated that Karl needed to learn humility, but this is reportedly not an opinion shared by the majority of the board, who want to keep the midfielder.

Falk’s information states that “those who are involved in the daily business are very confident in Karl. They want to keep him.”

Nonetheless, Premier League clubs are aware of the potential unrest and “the Premier League is also reading what is being said in Germany.”

Falk claimed that he has heard that “Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United saw that there is something going on around Lennart Karl. Ultimately, when there’s a player at the Ballon d ‘Or ceremony who finished fourth in the Men’s Kopa Trophy (behind Warren Zaire-Emery, Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal), he’s going to be interesting to other clubs.”

The journalist claims calls have been made and Karl has a value of €60m [£50.1m], “so it’s more than possible” for Premier League clubs to get involved and that the situation is “getting interesting”.

Falk also confirmed that there has so far been no contact over a new deal.

Who is Lennart Karl?

Karl is an attacking midfielder or winger who has scored 10 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern and is seen as one of Europe’s most talented youngsters.

He has also been described as “a dynamic, low-centre-of-gravity dribbler and playmaker who typically operates as a central number 10 or cuts inside from the right wing onto his stronger left foot.” The youngster is also Bayern’s youngest ever Champions League goalscorer, whose “meteoric emergence for both club and country has captivated spectators across Europe, earning him acclaim from top figures across the game.”

The Peoples Person Reliability Assessment
Overall credibility: 8/10

Why?

Lennart Karl is almost certainly a player that Man United, like all top clubs, will be watching.

The news is no more concrete than United keeping tabs on the situation, so is very likely to be the case

Christian Falk can be hit or miss for German transfer stories

TPP view

We believe that United would almost certainly be keeping tabs on a player like Lennart Karl due to his age and his rise in European football.

Lennart Karl Season stats

Games played	Goals	Assists	Mins played
11	1	2	443

Featured image by Leonhard Simon via Getty Images

Win a Mystery Football Shirt Box from Mystique Jerseys!

Just choose your size and leave the surprise to us.

Simply predict the score of the Chelsea game in the comments below

Special offer: Get 10% off any Mystique Jerseys order! Use code UNITED10 at checkout.

Tell us which teams to avoid and you won't receive a shirt from those teams, guaranteed.

online polls

The post Lennart Karl: Man United keeping tabs on Bayern Munich’s record-breaking 18-year-old appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Tactical preview: What Man United must exploit of fragile Chelsea to grab all three points

2026-10-31T06:07:04Z

Manchester United take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime.

The Red Devils and Michael Carrick are desperate for three points.

United will need to do these three things if they are to come away from West London with a win, as they did last season.

Don’t concede early

Carrick’s side have developed a habit of conceding goals early in big matches.

This has been evident in their last two Champions League matches against Atletico Madrid and 1907 Como.

It is statistically harder to win any match when you give the opposition the lead early on, but this is especially true in big matches.

Therefore, the side will need to be tactically disciplined and mentally switched on at the start of the game.

This will be especially important given Chelsea’s ability to find the net this season, with 17 goals in eight matches.

Midfield battle

Xabi Alonso’s side were outplayed in the midfield battle last time out in the league against Tottenham Hotspur, and United must win control here.

Their experienced midfield three of Jordan Henderson, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia were also outplayed at Anfield in the Carabao Cup during midweek.

Kobbie Mainoo is returning to the squad and they will also need Carlos Baleba’s energy and legs in the middle of the park.

Perhaps even Andrey Santos can play a role against his former team.

Get attacking talent involved

The Red Devils have attacking talent, even if striker Benjamin Sesko will be out until January at the earliest.

United must find a way to get the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Amad on the ball, as they did last season, if they are to have any sort of success at Stamford Bridge.

Man United results vs Chelsea

Last 10 years

Date	Competition	H/A	Score	Result
23/10/2016	Premier League	A	0-4	L
13/03/2017	FA Cup	A	0-1	L
16/04/2017	Premier League	H	2-0	W
05/11/2017	Premier League	A	0-1	L
25/02/2018	Premier League	H	2-1	W
19/05/2018	FA Cup	N	0-1	L
20/10/2018	Premier League	A	2-2	D
18/02/2019	FA Cup	A	2-0	W
28/04/2019	Premier League	H	1-1	D
11/08/2019	Premier League	H	4-0	W
30/10/2019	League Cup	A	2-1	W
17/02/2020	Premier League	A	2-0	W
19/07/2020	FA Cup	H	1-3	L
24/10/2020	Premier League	H	0-0	D
28/02/2021	Premier League	A	0-0	D

Page 1 of 21 2

Date	Competition	H/A	Score	Result
28/11/2021	Premier League	A	1-1	D
28/04/2022	Premier League	H	1-1	D
22/10/2022	Premier League	A	1-1	D
25/05/2023	Premier League	H	4-1	W
06/12/2023	Premier League	H	2-1	W
04/04/2024	Premier League	A	3-4	L
03/11/2024	Premier League	H	1-1	D
16/05/2025	Premier League	A	0-1	L
20/09/2025	Premier League	H	2-1	W
18/04/2026	Premier League	A	1-0	W

Page 2 of 21 2

Source: Wikipedia and API-Football

Featured image Julian Finney via Getty Images

Win a Mystery Football Shirt Box from Mystique Jerseys!

Just choose your size and leave the surprise to us.

Simply predict the score of the Chelsea game in the comments below

Special offer: Get 10% off any Mystique Jerseys order! Use code UNITED10 at checkout.

Tell us which teams to avoid and you won't receive a shirt from those teams, guaranteed.

online polls

The post Tactical preview: What Man United must exploit of fragile Chelsea to grab all three points appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

“We’re still working”: Eva Olid promises more from her free-flowing Man United Women team

2026-10-31T05:46:57Z

Manchester United Women manager Eva Olid has spoken to the media ahead of her side’s match against Everton Women this afternoon.

Evolution

The first topic she addressed was how her team has evolved since the start of the season, explaining, “yeah, especially in terms of the confidence the team now have in possession and out of possession. We look like a totally different team, but, as I say, we’re still the same team. The only difference is that we’ve now had more weeks working together, and we can feel that we understand each other better.”

She also stated that while her side can enjoy their current form, they must be prepared for changes, explaining, “we’re in a good moment, but we know how football works. During a season, you have ups and downs, and you always need to be ready for when things go well and when they don’t. You need to stay together and solve situations as a team. At the beginning of the season, we had two bad performances, but we were able to work together to understand what was happening and how we could improve.”

The derby last weekend

Reflecting on the 1-1 draw with Manchester City last weekend, Olid explained that the crowd numbers were similar to what she experienced in Heart of Midlothian matches against Hibernian, but overall, “we really enjoyed it. We were speaking with the staff about how much we enjoyed Sunday because the fans were with us. We could hear them, and these are the nights we are involved in football for. We enjoyed everything about it: the way the team played, the fans and the intensity of the game. These kinds of matches make us happy.”

Spanish talent moving to club

Olid was then asked about how she, her coaches, and player Andrea Medina are adapting to life at the club.

She explained, “Spanish players and coaches are doing well here. Sometimes, especially for players, we say that they need a period of adaptation because the culture, the weather and everything else are different. But I think Andrea, for example, has adapted really well, and she’s very happy here.”

Elaborating on what she loves about English football, she explained, “for me, the intensity of English football is really exciting. The players combine tactical awareness with technical ability, and that mix is exciting to watch. The physicality probably makes the game more intense, and combining that physicality with tactics and technical ability creates the perfect balance.”

Olid also revealed that she was delighted that Elisabeth Terland scored on Sunday and that Ellen Wangerheim and Lea Schuller both got on the scoresheet on Wednesday night against Burnley in the cup.

Development

The Catalan coach explained that she is happy with the progress her team has made, but that she still wants to see more.

She added, “in possession especially, we’re still working towards the way I want us to play. It’s normal that we need time to reach 100% of what I want. For the moment, we’re finding ways to win matches while also learning this new style and model of play. That’s completely normal.”

Olid continued, “for me, the Manchester City game was a big step forward. We didn’t get a point because we were lucky. We got a point by playing football, trying to have the ball, keeping possession and attacking. When we were defending, we were aggressive and working together. I think we deserved more than a point, but, in the end, I was very happy with the performance.”

Cup

The head coach also said she has been delighted with the young talent and fringe players taking their chance in the Players’ Cup and promised that, should they take their chance in the cup, they will get their opportunities in the league.

She also confirmed that everyone is available to play except Scarlett Hill.

Date	Competition	H/A	Opponent	Score	Result
04/09/2026	FA WSL	A	London City Lionesses W	1-2	L
13/09/2026	FA WSL	H	Chelsea W	0-5	L
19/09/2026	FA WSL	A	Arsenal W	1-1	D
23/09/2026	WSL Cup	H	Sheffield United W	10-1	W
27/09/2026	FA WSL	H	West Ham W	2-1	W
30/09/2026	WSL Cup	A	Durham W	5-1	W
03/10/2026	FA WSL	H	Liverpool W	1-0	W
18/10/2026	FA WSL	A	Charlton Athletic W	3-1	W
21/10/2026	WSL Cup	A	Liverpool W	5-3	W
25/10/2026	FA WSL	H	Manchester City W	1-1	D
28/10/2026	WSL Cup	H	Burnley W	3-0	W

Featured image by Jess Hornby via Getty Images

online polls

The post “We’re still working”: Eva Olid promises more from her free-flowing Man United Women team appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Fabrizio Romano names the elite tactician “most appreciated” by the Man United board, he is a serial winner

2026-10-30T22:54:38Z

After extensive crisis talks, Manchester United have decided to keep Michael Carrick in charge despite a host of options being linked with the job.

The Red Devils are currently languishing in 16th position in the Premier League and they have not won a league game for almost two months.

It seemed as though football director Jason Wilcox was leaning towards Eddie Howe, but financial concerns meant INEOS have steered clear of making a change at this point.

The players have vowed to fight for the cause, starting on Saturday, while Bruno Fernandes and the current boss have patched up after clear-the-air talks.

INEOS are still looking for the perfect replacement

However, should results continue to go south, a change could be on the cards during the November international break.

While most would think it is a straight shoot-off between the ex-Newcastle United boss and Julian Nagelsmann, certain sections within the club would prefer a more ambitious hire.

Fabrizio gives the latest on the Man Utd manager situation with some top names being linked.

Will United make a change after this weekend’s fixture against Chelsea?! #PremierLeague #DAZNBet pic.twitter.com/FREqJWuFUR

— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) October 30, 2026

Continuing with that theme, Fabrizio Romano has revealed the name of the manager who is considered a dream appointment by the 20-time English league champions.

“If you ask me the manager who is most appreciated by Manchester United, in terms of potential candidates, a manager they love is for sure Unai Emery who is doing a fantastic job at Aston Villa,” the Italian told DAZN.

Unai Emery is the dream target

However, it will not be easy to land the former Sevilla manager. Villa do not want to lose him and Emery currently holds supreme power at Villa Park.

“Aston Villa absolutely want Emery to continue. Emery is 100% involved in the project at Villa, he’s deciding everything about players, about tactics, about strategy, and so at the moment, Emery is a very difficult target.”

At Old Trafford, he would have to work within a system headed by Wilcox, Christopher Vivell, and such a dramatic change might not be to his liking.

Antonio Conte is another high-profile managerial target, but his transfer demands are considered significant; hence the reluctance.

Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images

Win a Mystery Football Shirt Box from Mystique Jerseys!

Just choose your size and leave the surprise to us.

Simply predict the score of the Chelsea game in the comments below

Special offer: Get 10% off any Mystique Jerseys order! Use code UNITED10 at checkout.

Tell us which teams to avoid and you won't receive a shirt from those teams, guaranteed.

online polls

The post Fabrizio Romano names the elite tactician “most appreciated” by the Man United board, he is a serial winner appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Referee who sent off Cristiano Ronaldo keeps the red card as a memento

2026-10-30T22:16:09Z

Former referee Xavier Estrada Fernández says he still owns the red card he showed former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo during a Real Madrid match in 2009.

Ronaldo’s eventful night against Almería

The incident occurred on 5 December 2009, when Real beat Almería 4-2 at the Santiago Bernabéu. Ronaldo missed a penalty before scoring in the 84th minute, but his evening ended with a dismissal for two bookable offences.

The first yellow card was issued after the forward removed his shirt while celebrating. He then received a second following an altercation with Juanma Ortiz, bringing a dramatic end to Estrada Fernández’s first Real Madrid match as referee.

Ronaldo apologised the following day and acknowledged that he had made a mistake. Estrada Fernández later spoke about the intense media pressure generated by the decision and said he went almost two years without another Real assignment (via Cadena SER).

Estrada Fernández kept the famous red card

Speaking about the incident, Estrada Fernández told Sport: “I still keep that card.” He also compared the step up from Spain’s lower divisions to the top flight with learning in karts before driving a Formula One car.

Ronaldo’s two spells at Manchester United

Ronaldo joined United from Sporting CP in August 2003 and won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League and the Club World Cup, as well as the 2008 Ballon d’Or. He moved to Real in July 2009 for a then-world-record £80 million. That decorated first spell has since received further recognition, with Ronaldo earning another award for his iconic 2008 campaign.

He returned to United from Juventus in August 2021 but left by mutual agreement on 22 November 2022 following an interview in which he criticised the club and then-head coach Erik ten Hag. Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr the following month and remains the Saudi club’s captain, having extended his contract until 2027.

Final Thoughts

Estrada Fernández still possesses the red card used to dismiss Ronaldo in 2009.
The dismissal came in the referee’s first match involving Real Madrid.
He said he went almost two years without another Real Madrid assignment.

Featured image Yasser Bakhsh via Getty Images

Win a Mystery Football Shirt Box from Mystique Jerseys!

Just choose your size and leave the surprise to us.

Simply predict the score of the Chelsea game in the comments below

Special offer: Get 10% off any Mystique Jerseys order! Use code UNITED10 at checkout.

Tell us which teams to avoid and you won't receive a shirt from those teams, guaranteed.

online polls

The post Referee who sent off Cristiano Ronaldo keeps the red card as a memento appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

“I would never…”: Man United’s captain marvel Bryan Robson criticises Bruno Fernandes

2026-10-30T22:08:28Z

Bryan Robson has admitted that the Stretford End’s “STANDARDS” banner saddened him, while criticising Bruno Fernandes for questioning Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick in public.

Fernandes dispute deepened United’s on-field crisis

After United’s 4-1 defeat at Como on 21 October, Bruno Fernandes publicly questioned Carrick’s decision not to use a man-to-man press. The captain was then left as an unused substitute for the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, during which supporters displayed the banner featuring Robson, Roy Keane and Eric Cantona.

Carrick and Fernandes subsequently held clear-the-air talks at Carrington, with the Portugal international offering assurances over his commitment. Carrick has since confirmed that Fernandes will remain captain as United prepare to visit Chelsea.

Robson says standards should not need explaining

In an interview with The Daily Mail), legendary captain Robson said players should understand the demands attached to representing United as soon as they arrive at the club.

“Standards. The demand has always been to keep them high at Manchester United; you were aware the minute you walked through the door,” he said.

The former captain said former manager Ron Atkinson had made those expectations clear to him, although he already knew what was required. Robson also stressed that the focus should be on hard work and United winning rather than the individual, adding “I would never have called out Sir Alex Ferguson in public.”

Robson’s 13 years as a United player

Robson joined United from West Bromwich Albion in 1981 for a British-record £1.5 million. He went on to make 461 appearances for the club and scored 99 goals.

The midfielder won two league titles, three FA Cups and the European Cup Winners’ Cup during his time at Old Trafford. Injuries and the emergence of younger midfielders reduced his playing opportunities before he departed in 1994 to become Middlesbrough’s player-manager.

Robson later managed Bradford City, West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United and Thailand. He now serves as a United club representative.

Final Thoughts

Robson said the Stretford End’s “STANDARDS” banner made him sad.
The former captain believes United players should already understand what the club demands.
Robson said he would never have criticised former manager Sir Alex Ferguson publicly.
Fernandes remains captain and is likely to return against Chelsea.

Featured image by Molly Darlington/Getty Images

Win a Mystery Football Shirt Box from Mystique Jerseys!

Just choose your size and leave the surprise to us.

Simply predict the score of the Chelsea game in the comments below

Special offer: Get 10% off any Mystique Jerseys order! Use code UNITED10 at checkout.

Tell us which teams to avoid and you won't receive a shirt from those teams, guaranteed.

online polls

The post “I would never…”: Man United’s captain marvel Bryan Robson criticises Bruno Fernandes appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Unlucky Chris Smalling suffers bad injury on FC Porto debut

2026-10-30T21:58:41Z

Former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling is expected to miss around a month after suffering a right knee ligament injury on his competitive FC Porto debut.

Smalling’s Porto debut ends early

Smalling joined Porto as a free agent on 30 September, signing until June 2027 with an option for a further season.

The injury is an early setback following his eagerly anticipated return to European football.

The centre-back made his competitive debut against Académico de Viseu in Wednesday’s League Cup quarter-final. He started the 1-0 victory but was substituted in the 54th minute after striker Mohamed Bouldini fell into his right knee during a challenge.

One-month absence expected after knee diagnosis

Porto confirmed that Smalling had sustained “an injury to the medial collateral ligament of his right knee”. The former United man began treatment on Thursday and “should be sidelined for a period of one month” (via Record).

That projected recovery period rules him out of Saturday’s home league match against Estoril and is likely to keep him unavailable for most of November.

From Old Trafford title winner to Porto recruit

Manchester United agreed to sign Smalling from Fulham in January 2010, with the defender moving to Old Trafford that summer for an undisclosed fee reported to be around £7 million.

He registered 323 competitive appearances and 18 goals during a decade with United. Smalling won the Premier League in 2010/11 and 2012/13, the FA Cup in 2015/16, and the League Cup and Europa League in 2016/17.

The Englishman joined Roma on a season-long loan in August 2019 before completing a permanent transfer in October 2020 for an initial €15 million. He made 155 appearances, scored 10 goals and helped the Italian side win the 2021/22 Europa Conference League.

Smalling moved to Al-Fayha in September 2024 and recorded 67 appearances and four goals for the Saudi club. He returned to European football with Porto following his departure as a free agent in 2026.

A return towards the end of November is now the realistic target, provided Smalling’s treatment progresses in line with Porto’s initial expectations.

Final Thoughts

Smalling suffered a medial collateral ligament injury on his competitive Porto debut.
The former United defender is expected to be unavailable for around one month.
He has begun treatment and is likely to target a return late in November.

Chris smalling

career totals

Team	Loan	Years	From	To	Scope	Apps/Caps	Goals
Maidstone United	–	2007–2008	2007	2008	All competitions	16	1
Fulham	–	2008–2010	2008	2010	All competitions	19	0
Manchester United	–	2010–2020	2010	2020	All competitions	323	18
Roma	loan	2019–2020	2019	2020	All competitions	37	3
Roma	–	2020–2024	2020	2024	All competitions	118	7
Al-Fayha	–	2024–2026	2024	2026	All competitions	67	4
Porto	–	2026–	2026	–	League only	0	0
England	–	2011–2017	2011	2017	Senior internationals	31	1

Source: Wikipedia

Featured image by Yasser Bakhsh via Getty Images

Win a Mystery Football Shirt Box from Mystique Jerseys!

Just choose your size and leave the surprise to us.

Simply predict the score of the Chelsea game in the comments below

Special offer: Get 10% off any Mystique Jerseys order! Use code UNITED10 at checkout.

Tell us which teams to avoid and you won't receive a shirt from those teams, guaranteed.

online polls

The post Unlucky Chris Smalling suffers bad injury on FC Porto debut appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Mason Greenwood makes unusual person request to manager Dirk Kuyt

2026-10-30T21:46:08Z

Former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood is said to have asked interim Fenerbahçe head coach Dirk Kuyt to use him as a number 10, with the Dutchman receptive to the idea.

Greenwood arrived before head coach İsmail Kartal’s October exit

Fenerbahçe signed Greenwood from Marseille for €39 million on 14 July, handing him a four-year contract after Atlético Madrid withdrew their offer for the forward.

Kuyt had returned to the Turkish club in June as assistant coach to Kartal. Fenerbahçe initially retained Kartal when he offered to resign following September’s Champions League draw with Roma, but the parties separated by mutual agreement on 27 October after a 2-1 defeat to Galatasaray.

Kuyt was placed in interim charge the following day, with matches against Göztepe and Liverpool among his immediate assignments. Fenerbahçe have also been linked with former Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann as a permanent option, potentially putting them in competition with United.

Kuyt considers a central role with fewer defensive duties

Greenwood conveyed his belief that he can be more effective behind the striker, while Kuyt reportedly “welcomed Greenwood’s request” (via A Spor, citing Sabah).

Greenwood received one opportunity in that position under Kartal before being returned to the right wing. Kuyt is now considering restoring him to the central role rather than keeping him exclusively on the flank.

The proposed tactical change would give the 25-year-old greater freedom in attacking areas and reduce his defensive workload. Kuyt wants Greenwood to focus his energy on finding pockets between opposition defenders and contributing more heavily to Fenerbahçe’s attacking organisation.

The forward has already supplied four goals and two assists across his opening nine Süper Lig appearances of the season.

From United academy graduate to Turkey

Greenwood entered United’s academy at around seven years old after playing for Bradford grassroots side Idle Juniors. He won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award for 2018/19 and made his senior debut at the age of 17 against Paris Saint-Germain on 6 March 2019.

He scored 35 goals in 129 senior appearances for the Red Devils. Greenwood joined Getafe on loan in September 2023, registering 10 goals and six assists in 36 matches during his season in Spain.

United sold him to Marseille for a fee worth up to €31.6 million in July 2024, having previously decided by mutual agreement that he should continue his career away from Old Trafford. He subsequently produced 37 goals and 12 assists in 66 Ligue 1 appearances for the French club.

Given Kuyt’s reported receptiveness, Greenwood is likely to get another opportunity at number 10 against Göztepe, although a return to the right remains an option if the change does not work.

Final Thoughts

Greenwood has asked Kuyt to deploy him behind the striker.
Kuyt is considering granting him more attacking freedom and fewer defensive duties.
The Göztepe fixture could provide the first test of the positional change.

Featured image by Ahmad Mora via Getty Images

Win a Mystery Football Shirt Box from Mystique Jerseys!

Just choose your size and leave the surprise to us.

Simply predict the score of the Chelsea game in the comments below

Special offer: Get 10% off any Mystique Jerseys order! Use code UNITED10 at checkout.

Tell us which teams to avoid and you won't receive a shirt from those teams, guaranteed.

online polls

The post Mason Greenwood makes unusual person request to manager Dirk Kuyt appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Andrea Cambiaso: Man United join the race for Juventus ace as INEOS look to reinforce key position in January

2026-10-30T21:57:28Z

One area that Manchester United need to reinforce as early as possible is at left-back, where Michael Carrick is short on specialist options.

Luke Shaw may have started every Premier League game last season, but the Englishman’s injury troubles have returned to haunt him.

The 31-year-old has already missed seven games this season, leaving the head coach to utilise centre-back Ayden Heaven and right-backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui as stop-gap options on the left.

Everyone knew it would be a risk not to sign a left-sided full-back in the summer, but the Red Devils’ single-minded focus on midfielders meant Lewis Hall remained at Newcastle.

Andrea Cambiaso on United’s radar

The England international is unlikely to make the jump in the middle of the current campaign, which is why INEOS are now widening their search.

442 have revealed that Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso is on United’s radar, and while the Bianconeri would prefer to keep the Italian, an offer in the region of €30-40 million could be enough to sign him as early as January.

“The Juventus player is contractually bound to the Turin club until 2029. Club officials have so far rejected all offers and inquiries. The bosses are demanding a transfer fee in the range of 30 to 40 million euros.”

The 20-time English league champions will not find it easy to sign the 26-year-old, given the interest of clubs such as Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester City.

Far from an easy pursuit

Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan and Napoli are also monitoring the situation, further complicating matters.

“According to information from 4-4-2.ch, clubs are lining up for the versatile player. FC Barcelona could make a move for him if Alejandro Balde can be sold as planned. The Catalan club is even preparing an offer of 20 to 25 million euros. A player swap is also a possibility.

“Arsenal and Manchester City, in particular, are closely monitoring the situation surrounding Cambiaso in the Premier League. Both clubs are currently remaining silent, but this could change in January.

“Other interested parties include Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan and Napoli.”

INEOS need to decide their left-back plans soon

Andrea Cambiaso is not only accomplished as a left-back, but he can also play further forward as well as on the opposite flank.

It will be interesting to see if INEOS cough up the money in January or if they opt to keep their powder dry in their hopes of signing Hall next summer.

Feature image Simone Arveda via Getty Images

Win a Mystery Football Shirt Box from Mystique Jerseys!

Just choose your size and leave the surprise to us.

Simply predict the score of the Chelsea game in the comments below

Special offer: Get 10% off any Mystique Jerseys order! Use code UNITED10 at checkout.

Tell us which teams to avoid and you won't receive a shirt from those teams, guaranteed.

online polls

The post Andrea Cambiaso: Man United join the race for Juventus ace as INEOS look to reinforce key position in January appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.