Manchester United have reached a deal with Eredivisie champions Ajax Amsterdam to sign Argentine central defender Lisandro Martinez for 45 million pounds ($53 million), the BBC reported on Saturday.
The report added that Martinez has flown to Manchester to undergo a medical prior to his move.
The 24-year-old, who can also play in midfield, would be manager Erik ten Hag’s third signing following the arrivals of Dutch left back Tyrell Malacia and Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen. Read full storyRead full story
He was a key figure for Ajax last season, making 36 appearances in all competitions and helping them to the league title and a runners-up finish in the Dutch Cup.
Ten Hag managed Martinez for three seasons at Ajax after the player moved to the Netherlands from Argentine side Defensa y Justicia in May 2019. Martinez made 118 appearances in all for the Dutch club.
Capped seven times by Argentina, he would bolster United’s defence, which conceded 57 goals last term – the most among the top six.
He could also give the manager an extra option in midfield after the departures of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic.
United, currently on their pre-season tour in Australia, finished sixth last season. They open the new campaign at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Aug. 7.
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski is on the verge of signing for Barcelona according to reports in the Spanish media.
TVE reported that the deal was all but done while La Vanguardia said the Poland international will fly directly to the United States to join up with his new team mates.
Neither Barcelona or Bayern Munich have confirmed the deal.
Lewandowski said in May, while on international duty, that his story with Bayern Munich was over and he could not imagine staying on with the German champions.
The 33-year-old joined Bayern from Borussia Dortmund in 2014 and has won the Bundesliga every year since then as well as the Champions League in 2020.
Manchester United revealed their new away shirt and kit for the 2022-23 season on Saturday.
The club said the kit was inspired by Man Utd’s philosophy of youth, courage and success. It said the white shirt with black piping and black-red shoulder stripes also drew on kits of the past, with the colour white now iconic for the team on the road.
Man Utd also drew attention to the black club crest, which it said lent a historic look to the shirt and provided “more depth” to the fabric.
The shirt comes in both authentic and replica versions, priced at 100 pounds (about 4,350 baht) and 70 pounds respectively.
“We approached this kit that the club will wear in opponent’s stadiums around the world with a fresh perspective, aiming to capture an indisputable sense of collective conviction and common purpose,” said Adidas’s design director Inigo Turner.
“Wherever the club goes, we wanted it to carry its philosophy of youth, courage and success, proudly woven into the fabric of the kit for players and fans alike to wear together.”
The away shirt will be worn for the first time against Crystal Palace on Tuesday (July 19) in Melbourne.
The team launched its 2022/23 home kit in the 4-0 win against Liverpool at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Tuesday.
World Taekwondo (WT) has threatened to ban nations that send athletes to participate in North Korean-style taekwondo at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
Thailand has responded by saying it will not send its taekwondo athletes to the Games.
Thai taekwondo athlete Panipak “Tennis” Wongpattanakit is the current Olympic champion at 49kg.
Cambodia has said that the North Korean form of taekwondo will be among 39 sports disciplines featured at next year’s SEA Games.
Meanwhile, news that the Games will not feature futsal, rugby, shooting, archery or rowing has sparked more controversy. Cambodia explained that it lacks either athletes, facilities or both to organise competitions in these sports.
However, the host is likely to include the North Korean style of taekwondo under ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) rules.
The WT uses different rules for its taekwondo competitions, though the kicks are the same.
ITF taekwondo is geared more towards self-defence while WT taekwondo is geared more towards sparring.
ITF taekwondo has never been included at the SEA Games, Asian Games or Olympics.
Chaipak Siriwat, vice president of the Olympic Committee of Thailand, said Thailand will not send any athletes to compete in this sport, while it was up to other nations to consider whether they would send athletes.
He said that WT would ban nations from the 2022 Asian Games if they sent athletes to compete in ITF taekwondo competitions.
Chelsea have completed the signing of Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli on a four-year contract, the Premier League club said on Saturday (July 16).
British media reported that Chelsea paid a fee in the region of 32 million pounds ($37.93 million) for the 31-year-old, who becomes the London side’s second summer signing after Raheem Sterling. Read full story
“I’m very happy to be here with this team at Chelsea,” Koulibaly said in a statement. “It’s a big team in the world and my dream was always to play in the Premier League.
“Chelsea came first to get me in 2016 but we didn’t make it. Now when they came to me I accepted it because they really wanted me to come to the Premier League to play for them.”
Chelsea lost centre backs Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen earlier in the close season, and Koulibaly’s addition will come as a boost for Thomas Tuchel’s side as they look to close the gap on Manchester City and Liverpool.
Koulibaly made 317 appearances for Napoli after joining from Belgian club Genk in 2014, winning two trophies and cementing his place among some of the top defenders in Italy.
He was included in the Serie A Team of the Year four times and named the league’s best defender in 2018-19.
Koulibaly also spoke out against racism during his time at Napoli after he was subjected to abuse by crowds on several occasions.
“Kalidou Koulibaly is one of the world’s elite defenders and we are delighted to be welcoming him to Chelsea,” said new Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly.
“A great leader and an exemplary team player, Kalidou brings a wealth of experience and attributes that will benefit our squad and the club as a whole.”
Chelsea, who finished third last season, are currently in the United States on a pre-season tour. They kick off the new campaign with a trip to Everton on Aug. 6.
The organiser of the Manchester United-Liverpool match in Bangkok said he does not care if he loses THB100 million from the event as his priority was to make the match happen.
Fresh Air Festival CEO Vinij Lertratanachai held a press conference at STB Academy on Friday following controversy over ticket pricing for Tuesday’s match, with the cheapest seats costing 5,000 baht and the most expensive, 25,000 baht. Tickets were also resold and then offered at a discount, angering fans who had paid the full price.
Vinij said the balance sheet for “The Match Bangkok Century Cup 2022” had not been finalised but said he was not concerned about profit or loss as he only wanted the match to take place. Manchester Utd won the clash 4-0.
Vinij said the response to the event in Thailand and foreign countries had been very positive, adding that both clubs praised his team’s organisation of the match.
Club executives and legends, as well as foreign journalists were impressed by the event and likely to return to Thailand, he said.
Meanwhile, several organisations had contacted Fresh Air Festival about holding another large event in Thailand following the success of the match, Vinij said.
He also responded to controversy over the trophy, explaining that executives of both clubs had praised the design. The trophy was mocked by some fans and media for its design of flashing lights mounted on a miniature replica stadium. It was left behind in the dressing room by Manchester United. Vinij said it cost around 200,000 baht and would be delivered to the club in a few weeks, once the case was finished.
He added that it took a month and a half to prepare STB Academy as Manchester United’s training facility in Thailand. The training area had to meet conditions in the contract and was ready two days before the team arrived in Thailand.
He mentioned that the club’s captain Harry Maguire had trained there even though he was slightly injured. Also, United staff had been kind enough to share details of their team preparation methods, including sports nutrition and sports science.
He added that it cost about seven million baht to renovate Rajamangala Stadium for the match, which was organised by the private sector. He urged more help from the public sector for future large events.
Vinij said fans could tour STB Academy over the next three days – Saturday to Monday – to see the trophy, buses, Manchester Utd’s training pitch and locker room, and taste what the players ate at WH Café. Tours can be booked at http://bit.ly/3uPHu2N.
Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in Singapore as Jurgen Klopp’s side continue to click through the gears in preseason but there are some injury concerns.
Following their 4-0 defeat to Manchester United in Bangkok earlier this week, Liverpool looked sharper and slicker as Jordan Henderson scored in the first half and Mohamed Salah grabbed a trademark goal in the second.
Fabio Carvalho went close to adding a third and Liverpool were too strong for an understrength Palace, as Patrick Vieira had to leave several of his key players (Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze, Christian Benteke and Marc Guehi among them) at home due to fitness issues and that they ‘did not meet the entry requirements when travel arrangements were made.’
Liverpool now head to Germany and Austria to play against RB Leizpig and RB Salzburg respectively, while Crystal Palace will fly to Australia to play against Manchester United in Melbourne and Leeds in Perth.
Reaction from Jurgen Klopp Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was very happy with the outing from his side, as he continues to rotate the lineup but the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez were all given longer runs out this time.
“We were much more compact today. We still played really good football – which we did against United as well. We scored twice, which we didn’t do. It was a clear step in the right direction and that makes me really happy,” Klopp said.
“It’s our second game and we have to work a lot in the next four weeks, I would say especially, to prepare the rest of the season. There are already Premier League games but anyway we have to use the time because from mid-September on we will not have time to train anymore because we just play then every three days.”
“That’s why it’s so important that we get through these kind of things; that some players had 45 minutes, it was right for them, others 30 minutes. They might have been able to play a little bit longer as well but I really wanted to give the young boys an opportunity as well to play in this incredible atmosphere because they do everything with us, they are constantly with us and then in the moment like this where it’s really enjoyable to play football, we would leave them out? I didn’t want to have that, that’s why they came on. So far, so OK.”
Injury updates However, there are a few injury concerns to key players as Diogo Jota, Joe Gomez and Alisson were all missing for the victory against Palace, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came off with an injury in the first half.
“Diogo is a concern. With Diogo it’s a muscle again,” Klopp told LFC TV in Singapore. “Joe, no. Joe is just a precaution and not any kind of risk-taking is worth it. He is really good in the pre-season so far; he felt a little bit here and there so we said, ‘OK, then he is out.’ Ali is not cool as well; it will not be too long but each day Ali is not involved is already too long, to be honest.”
After the game Klopp added the following update.
“Of course it’s very disappointing for us because Oxlade trained all the time really well since the pre-season started,” Klopp said. “It happened obviously with Ox in the past when it gets more intense and something can happen. Now this is just a muscle thing and that’s OK. We had worse situations, so I’m OK with it. I don’t know exactly how long it will take but he will be back and then it’s all fine. He is obviously a top-class player and he can help us.”
“Ali, he feels a muscle, abdominal. It’s nothing serious but, again, we prepare a full season. So he can train but just not like before, so he should not play in the moment. Not normal goalie training but he has a pre-season, so he doesn’t lose time,” Klopp said. “But yeah, these kind of things happen. The boys have to travel a lot and train and you never know exactly. It’s only little things, nothing serious but we have to be careful because the rest of the season is much longer than the start.”
The issues to Jota and Alisson are a little worrying for Liverpool and Klopp will be keen to wrap his stars in cotton wool over the coming weeks as they prepare for another title push both in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League in 2022-23.
Manchester United have signed Christian Eriksen on a free transfer with the Danish playmaker signing a three-year deal, the Premier League club announced on Friday (July 14).
Eriksen, who needed life-saving treatment on the pitch last year when he suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest in a European Championship match against Finland in June, returned to action with Brentford after signing a short-term deal in January.
Eriksen is United’s second recruit in the close season under new Dutch manager Erik ten Hag after the club signed Dutch left back Tyrell Malacia. Read full story
“Manchester United is a special club and I cannot wait to get started. I have had the privilege of playing at Old Trafford many times but to do it in the red shirt of United will be an amazing feeling,” Eriksen said in a statement.
“I have seen Erik’s work at Ajax and know the level of detail and preparation that he and his staff put into every day. It is clear that he is a fantastic coach.
“Having spoken with him and learned more about his vision and the way he wants the team to play, I am even more excited for the future.”
Eriksen was an Inter Milan player when he collapsed and underwent surgery to be fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) device — which is not permitted in the Italian Serie A — leading to the termination of his contract.
After signing for Brentford, he made 11 league appearances under Danish coach Thomas Frank, scoring a goal and providing four assists as Brentford finished 13th in their first season in the Premier League.
He is no stranger to the Premier League, however, having spent nearly seven seasons with Tottenham Hotspur, making more than 300 appearances in all competitions for the London side.
He also resumed his Denmark career, scoring against Serbia on his return to the Parken Stadium where he had collapsed.
“I still have major ambitions in the game, there is a huge amount that I know I can achieve, and this is the perfect place to continue my journey,” Eriksen added.
United, who finished sixth last season and failed to qualify for the Champions League, kick off the new Premier League season with a home game against Brighton & Hove Albion on Aug. 7.
Manchester United made it two wins from two games on Tour 22, as Erik ten Hag’s side came from behind to defeat Melbourne Victory by four goals to one.
The hosts took a surprise lead with just four minutes played, as Ben Folami found space down the right flank and smartly picked out Christopher Ikonomidis in the box. The 27-year-old was on hand to roll the ball past Tom Heaton, as the Reds were asked defensive questions early on.
Harry Maguire then went close with a header, before McTominay made it third time lucky, following two previous efforts, as his deflected effort looped over Paul Izzo and into the back of the net.
Then, just moments before the break, the Reds went ahead. A clever passing move was delightfully finished by Anthony Martial, after Diogo Dalot’s cross from the right found its way to the Frenchman. The ball was well-controlled by our no.9, who then calmly finished to notch his second goal of pre-season so far.
As the second half rolled around, Ten Hag opted to make 10 changes, with Donny van de Beek, Marcus Rashford and new summer signing Tyrell Malacia all introduced prior to the restart.
Zidane Iqbal showcased his talents with a superb piece of skill, as the Reds continued to dominate possession.
With 15 minutes to go, United had a third, as Eric Bailly burst forward to feed Rashford. The England international nudged his effort beyond Izzo, and opened his Tour 22 account in the process. Former Reds winger Nani was then introduced with just a few minutes to go, making his debut for the hosts seven years after his departure from Old Trafford.
The scoring was then completed with just minutes remaining, when Edmond Lupancu diverted a Tahith Chong cross into his own net to make it 4-1, ensuring a second pre-season win for new manager.
Reaction From Erik ten Hag
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says his side ‘got their reward’ after coming from behind to overcome Melbourne Victory by four goals to one.
The Reds conceded after just four minutes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with unmarked Christopher Ikonomidis beating Tom Heaton from inside the area.
But Ten Hag’s side hit back just before the interval, with Scott McTominay’s deflected effort restoring parity. Anthony Martial then notched his second goal of pre-season, following some superb link-up play, to hand United a deserved lead.
Marcus Rashford added a third with just over 10 minutes remaining, after another powerful forward run by defender Eric Bailly. Edmond Lupancu then put through his own net to round off the scoring late on.
IMPRESSED WITH THE REACTION
“It was clear that it was going to be a compact opponent, who started really far back waiting for us, and it was difficult for us to create chances. Also, when we went down in the first minute, the team reacted really good and especially over the right side we created a lot of really good chances before half-time. We then got our reward with the turnaround.”
FOOTBALLING ACUMEN
“I would say against opponents who want to come forward it is easier – the spaces are bigger. When opponents are dead [far] back, you have to invest in more running and more opposite running, more ball control and especially with your decisions, you need intelligence in order to create something.”
YOUTH SHINING THROUGH
“This is why we brought them. I want to make an impression on all the players and they got the chance to show what they are capable of – if they can contribute immediately to Man United or whether or not they need a loan period [and] that could be better. There is also other possibilities, but it is good that United has so many talents. They also need improvement and development.”
Patcharajutar Kongkraphan celebrated her first crown on the Thai WPGA Tour following a convincing five-stroke victory over Ornnicha Konsunthea in the Bt2.5 Million SAT-TWT Open Road To World Ranking circuit 4 at the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course in Prachuab Khiri Khan on Friday.
The former LPGA player, also the leader in round 1 and 2, shot three birdies and one eagle on the 11th hole against two bogeys on the third and 10th holes to end the final round with a 69 and on 10 under-par-206.
The wire-to-wire victory also served up as a good psychological booster for PK who had to bear with the second place finish three times in another domestic tour this year (at Watermill Golf Club and Resort in Nakhon Nayok, Narai Hill Golf Resort and Country Club in Lopburi and at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club).
“I was a bit scared at the beginning after finishing runner-up in three tournaments. But if I let that demon (of losing three finals) in my head, I would never win. So I tried to give it a fight out there,” said the 30-year-old whose her previous title occurred at the Grand Prix Golf Club in Kanchanaburi (12 months ago). She has won a total of 12 professional events up to date.
“I’m really proud of myself for never giving up. As long as you keep fighting, you will finally pull it off. If it doesn’t happen today, it will one day,” added Patcharajutar who won the winner’s cheque of Bt367,500.
The gap between the two front runners was reduced to only two shots when PK bogeyed on the 10th hole while Ornnicha birdied to trail at 4-6. But the gutsy PK surged ahead with a 15-foot eagle on the following hole and never looked back.
“From then on I was confident that I was going to win. I hope to keep playing consistently like this for the rest of the season,” she said.
Ornnicha, 25 from Lopburi, with two birdies and one bogey, was unable to catch up with the overnight leader as she settled with a 71 and on five under-par-211.
“I really pushed her to the test to fall just two strokes at one point. But she was really on the top of her game and gave my no chance,” said Ornnicha whose runner-up position at the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course also matched her best professional finish after losing a playoff in a Taiwan LPGA Tour in 2019.
“At least I proved mentally tough under a tense situation. That’s one positive aspect that I feel good about my game leaving this tournament. I hope that my first win will come one day,” said Ornnicha who won Bt223,440 as a runner-up.
Kultida Pramphun shot a 70 and a total one under-par-215 to land at joint third alongside Unyamanee Wongaroon who finished with a 71. The next SAT-TWT Open, the fifth leg, is due between July 27-29 at the lake View Resort and Golf Club in Prachuab Khiri Khan.
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