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- ✍️ United's new CEO
✍️ United's new CEO
Plus: Arsenal's corner conspiracy
GM football fans. Route One here, cutting through the world of football news like butter.
It’s Monday so let’s get straight into it.
Today’s briefing is a ~3 min read:
United’s new CEO ✍️
Arsenal’s corner conspiracy 🧦
The most unaffordable club in the league 🍕
Morning Brief 🗞️
Newcastle skipper Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson will not make a move away from St James’ Park during the January transfer window. This follows Bayern Munich’s bid for Trippier and Athletico Madrid’s loan request for Wilson over the weekend.
But… reports from The Times suggest Trippier is keen to join Bayern this January if they can agree a deal.
Jose Mourinho has been in talks with Saudi club Al-Shabab about taking over as their manager following his sacking from Roma.
Mo Salah could return to Liverpool following the muscle injury he picked up at AFCON.
Bayern Munich fall seven points behind leaders Leverkusen after their 1-0 loss to Werder Bremen, setting back Harry Kane’s hopes of a first career league title.
UNITED’S NEW CEO ✍️
The Premier League’s ’traitor’ list is growing.
Let’s remind ourselves of who makes the cut…
Ashley Cole
Carlos Teves
Robin van Persie
And of course… Sol Campbell
Omar Berrada is the latest addition to the list.
Why? Because Berrada was lined up to be Manchester City’s next sporting director…
… but he has now been appointed Manchester United’s CEO.
Here’s everything we’ve learned about United’s future from this move:
1/ Glazer’s control is waning
Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe burst onto the scene, the Glazers have had less control of key decisions - and Berrada’s appointment proves that.
Joel and Avram Glazer were introduced to Berrada… but ultimately Ratcliffe’s INEOS was the main driving force of the decision.
2/ Changing fortunes?
Look, it’s no secret that United - uh - haven’t been at their best for over a decade.
But Berrada might be their best recruitment since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2012.
Berrada has an excellent ‘football’ track record…
Brokering the deal for Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish at City.
Generating record revenue from the City Academy… by selling Cole Palmer, James Trafford and Romeo Lavia.
Leading Barcelona’s business development between 2004 and 2011 - a successful era for the club.
The best part? His appointment at United shows INEOS’s focus is on football… not just commercials.
3/ Better business…
… and shrewd operations.
That’s the name of the game. And United should be hopeful that Berrada will bring composure to the club’s dealings on and off the pitch.
Here’s a clip showing how he operates.
Even City’s rivals will admit they’re a well-run club… and Berrada was a big part of that.
Is it now time that United are too?
ARSENAL CORNER CONSPIRACY 🧦
Arsenal 🤝 corners.
The Gunners are the best corner-takers in the league this season:
They’ve scored 10 goals from corners…
… that’s nearly ¼ of all their goals this season.
And they’ve averaged the most corners (7.81) per match.
But there’s a new conspiracy making the rounds.
Apart from tactical brilliance - like Trossard’s position to block the opposition…
… what else can explain Arsenal’s corner dominance?
Well, Match of the Day presenter Ashley Williams says that Ødegaard’s socks might have something to do with it.
Yup, that’s right. He points to the Arsenal skipper adjusting his socks to signal to the corner taker where to deliver the ball.
To be honest, it is something Arteta would do… or it’s just a coincidence.
EXTRA-TIME ⏱️
Ivan Toney’s freekick marked his return to Brentford on Saturday. But there was controversy as he moved the ball just before kicking… gamesmanship or semantics?
Talking of free kicks… Bebe just scored an insane one in the AFCON.
Cristiano Ronaldo speaks very openly about the Saudi League. He says that the Saudi League is better than Ligue 1 and that he’s outscoring ‘young lions like Haaland’… whilst the Norweigan was watching.
The debate dividing opinions: Martin Tyler or Pete Drury? It’s safe to say, Prime Tyler produced some unforgettable moments.
Tottenham has been ranked as the least affordable club to support in the Premier League. It’s bad news for London clubs as six sides make it into the top ten most expensive.
MEME 😆
Source: @fpl_trolls
Source: @elsdawg
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