Barcelona have moved decisively to secure the long-term future of Egyptian sensation Hamza Abdelkarim, handing the teenager a bumper new contract just months after his permanent arrival at Camp Nou. The 18-year-old, who has earned the lofty nickname "Haaland of the Nile," is now tied to the Catalan giants until 2030.
Norway head coach Stale Solbakken has travelled to Manchester for a summit with the City manager Enzo Maresca to discuss the management of star striker Erling Haaland. The meeting, held at the City Football Academy, marks the first face-to-face encounter between the two tacticians as they look to navigate a congested fixture schedule for the prolific forward.
Erling Haaland has cemented his status as a Manchester City legend by becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League era of the Manchester derby. The Norwegian striker admitted he was well aware of the milestone before his decisive strike at Old Trafford, helping Enzo Maresca’s side to a gritty victory.
Bruno Fernandes has become a pantomime villain in Premier League circles, but Michael Owen has told GOAL why some of the Manchester United captain’s “histrionics” may be putting new and old supporters off. The Portuguese playmaker has generated more lively debate following a controversial derby date with ‘noisy neighbours’ City at Old Trafford.
Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has launched a scathing attack on the use of VAR in the Premier League, demanding the technology be scrapped entirely. The former goalkeeper's outburst follows a controversial Manchester derby where Manchester City secured a 1-0 win thanks to an Erling Haaland goal that officials later admitted should not have stood.
Michael Owen was left stunned by the huge VAR error which determined the outcome of a controversial Manchester derby clash between arch-rivals United and City, with the visitors to Old Trafford benefitting from a bizarre decision. Erling Haaland turned the ball home, but Enzo Fernandez flung himself at it from an offside position, with Owen saying to GOAL: “What is more obvious than a diving header?!”
Enzo Maresca outfoxed Michael Carrick at Old Trafford on Sunday despite seeing his team reduced to 10 men, and brought a familiar feeling back to the city
Erling Haaland etched his name into Manchester derby history as 10-man Manchester City maintained their flawless start to the latest Premier League season. An incredibly controversial VAR decision helped secure all three points for Enzo Maresca's side at Manchester United's Old Trafford, overcoming the massive hurdle of Phil Foden's early red card.
Manchester City may have secured the local bragging rights with a gritty 1-0 victory over Manchester United, but the fallout from a heated derby at the Etihad is only just beginning. Former City defender Micah Richards led the criticism against the officiating, branding the afternoon a "bad day for referees" following a string of high-profile VAR interventions.
