Chelsea will be hosting Manchester United in what emerges as the main centre of attraction in the Premier League fixtures on Saturday.
The big news ahead of the Premier League matches this weekend is not about who will be playing but who won’t be taking part after Manchester United announced on Thursday that Cristiano Ronaldo had been dropped from the squad for Saturday’s visit to Chelsea after another display of petulance on Wednesday night.
Ronaldo’s decision to walk down the touchline and down the tunnel when it became clear he wasn’t going to get on as his side beat Tottenham 2-0.
The fact that United have been playing their best football without the Portuguese means that in terms of performance, Ronaldo probably won’t be missed in Stamford Bridge for what promises to be a thrilling match.
Chelsea have improved since the arrival of Graham Potter, while United are slowly finding their identity under Eric ten Hag.
Chelsea’s big issue for this game will be replacing Reece James, who is out with a knee injury that will see him miss the World Cup.
Saturday kicks off with Liverpool traveling to bottom-of-the-table Nottingham Forest seeking a third consecutive win, with the team aiming to get their season back on track after narrow triumphs against Manchester City and West Ham.
Manchester City travel to the south coast to face Brighton, who have continued the tradition of playing attractive football but failing to score the goals they deserve.
Wednesday was a chastening experience for Tottenham at Old Trafford and Antonio Conte has to rally his players for another difficult match on Saturday when Newcastle United visit White Hart Lane.
Richarlison is still out for Tottenham, but Emerson is back after suspension to face a rival that has climbed up to sixth with 10 points from a possible 12.
Leicester City claimed their second win of the season when they beat Leeds United on Thursday and now visit Wolves, who sit just above them in 18th place.
Aston Villa’s horrible capitulation to Fulham on Thursday cost Steven Gerrard his job as a coach and no replacement will be in the dugout for Sunday’s home game against Brentford.
Expect visiting forward Ivan Toney to give problems to the Villa defense and a well-drilled Brentford will think they have an excellent chance to take advantage of a team that is currently in chaos.
Fulham’s win over Villa lifted them to ninth and Marco Silva’s side should be confident of taking something of their visit to Elland Road, where Leeds United are in trouble after a run of seven games without a win.
That has increased the pressure on coach Jesse Marsch, especially in the wake of Thursday’s defeat to Leicester, and much may depend on how his side’s defense deal with Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
League leaders Arsenal visit Southampton, who gained some breathing space with a midweek win at Bournemouth, while Arsenal beat PSV Eindhoven in a rearranged Europa League game.
The round of matches ends on Monday, with Bournemouth at home to take on West Ham.
Manchester United informed on Thursday that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be considered for their visit to play Chelsea on Saturday.
“Cristiano will not be part of the Manchester United squad for this Saturday’s game against Chelsea. The rest of the squad is fully focused on preparing for that fixture,” read a statement from the club.
The decision was taken after the veteran striker walked down the touchline and into the players’ tunnel before the end of Wednesday’s 2-0 win at home to Tottenham.
The striker was an unused substitute in the game, which saw the United produce arguably their best performance of the season.
Coach Erik ten Hag was asked about Ronaldo’s petulant behavior in his post-game press conference and said he would “deal with” the striker.
Ronaldo’s future at Old Trafford remains uncertain, but given that he attempted to leave the club during the summer, it would be no surprise if both parties now looked for a way for him to move on when the transfer window reopens in January.
Manchester United Wednesday confirmed the signing of Argentinean international central defender, Lisandro Martinez from Ajax for a fee of €56.7 million.
The 24-year-old has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford and is reunited with Erik ten Hag, who was his coach at Ajax after signing him in 2019.
“It’s an honor to join this great football club. I’ve worked so hard to get to this moment and now that I’m here I’m going to push myself even further,” said Martinez on the Manchester United website.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be part of successful teams in my career and that’s what I want to continue at Manchester United. There will be a lot of work to get to that moment, but I firmly believe that under this manager and coaches, and together with my new teammates, we can do it,” he added.
Martinez is United’s third signing of the summer after the arrival of Christian Eriksen on a free transfer and the signing of Tyrell Malacia from Feyenood.
One player trying to leave the club is Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid in recent days.
However, Ronaldo’s hopes of a return to Spain suffered a setback on Wednesday when the club’s Union International de Penas (International group of supporters’ clubs) issued a communique saying they didn’t want the former Real Madrid man at their club.
“Given the possibility that the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo is more than just a rumor, we wish to make clear our absolute opposition to his hypothetical arrival at our club,” reads the communique.
“The player in question represents the antithesis of the values that make up the identity of our Atletico, which are the effort, generosity, straightforwardness and humility of the those who defend our colors,” it continues.
Cristiano Ronaldo could be on his way out of Manchester United after the 37-year-old Portuguese international was not included in the squad for the club’s pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.
The striker is currently training on his own at the Portuguese national team’s training base after being given additional time off due to a ‘family issue’ and will not be on Friday’s flight to Thailand.
Manchester United will play against Liverpool in their first friendly of the pre-season in Bangkok on July 12th, before flying to Melbourne, where they take on Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace.
The side coached by Erik ten Hag will finish their visit to Australia with a game against Aston Villa in Perth on July 23rd, before returning to the UK via Oslo (Norway) where they take on Atletico Madrid on July 30th.
Their only match in England before the new season is against the Spanish side, Rayo Vallecano on July 31st.
Ronaldo is reported of asking to leave Old Trafford after just a year of his second spell there because he wants to play Champions League football next season.
Although official Manchester United sources say he is still under contract, the club are thought to be willing to listen to offers, with any money from a sale used for squad rebuilding.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Juventus, becoming one of the four most expensive players of all time.
A deal worth 112m euros (£99.2m) has been reached between the two clubs that has seen the Portuguese sign a four-year deal with the Italian champions.
Ronaldo, 33, won four Champions League titles in his nine years at Real.
“The time has come to open a new stage in my life, that’s why I asked the club to accept transferring me,” he said.
The top two world record transfer fees have been paid out by Paris St-Germain – the £200m they paid Barcelona for Brazil forward Neymar last August, and the fee of around £166m for France forward Kylian Mbappe in July after a successful season on loan with PSG.
Barcelona also paid Liverpool £142m for Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho in January. For Juventus, the fee they will pay for Ronaldo is set to eclipse the £75.3m they paid for forward Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli in July 2016.
Juventus are set to play Real Madrid in a pre-season International Champions Cup tournament in the United States, with the match taking place at FedEx Field in Washington on Saturday, 4 August.
‘Real Madrid have conquered my heart’ – Ronaldo’s letter to fans
These years in Real Madrid, and in this city of Madrid, have been possibly the happiest of my life.
I only have feelings of enormous gratitude for this club, for its fans and for this city. I can only thank all of them for the love and affection I have received.
However, I believe that the time has come to open a new stage in my life and that is why I have asked the club to accept transferring me. I feel that way and I ask everyone, and especially our fans, to please understand me.
They have been absolutely wonderful for nine years. They have been nine unique years. It has been an emotional time for me, full of consideration but also hard because Real Madrid is of the highest demands, but I know very well that I will never forget that I have enjoyed football here in a unique way.
I have had fabulous team-mates on the field and in the dressing room, I have felt the warmth of an incredible crowd and together we have won three Championships in a row and four Championships in five years. And with them also, on an individual level, I have the satisfaction of having won four Gold Balls and three Gold Boots. All during my time in this immense and extraordinary club.
Real Madrid has conquered my heart, and that of my family, and that is why more than ever I want to say thank you: thanks to the club, the President, the directors, my colleagues, all the technical staff, doctors, physios and incredible workers that make everything work, that tirelessly pursue every minute detail.
Thank you infinitely once more to our fans and thanks also to Spanish Football. During these nine exciting years I have played against great players. My respect and my recognition for all of them.
I have reflected a lot and I know that the time has come for a new cycle. I’m leaving but this shirt, this badge and the Santiago Bernabeu will continue to always feel part of me wherever I am.
Thanks to all and, of course, as I said that first time in our stadium nine years ago: Go Madrid!
‘Ronaldo will always be one of the great symbols’ – Real Madrid’s reaction
Ronaldo joined Real from Manchester United for £80m in July 2009 and scored a club-record 450 goals and won the Ballon D’Or – awarded to the world’s best footballer – in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
He has helped them win the Champions League in four of the past five seasons, scoring in the 2014 and 2017 finals.
“For Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo will always be one of the great symbols,” said a club statement.
“Real Madrid wants to express its gratitude to a player who has proved to be the best in the world and who has marked one of the brightest times in the history of our club and world football.
“Real Madrid will always be your home.”
Who next for Real Madrid?
Despite their dominance in Europe’s premier club competition, Real struggled domestically, finishing 17 points behind champions Barcelona last season.
Real are keen on reshaping their team under new manager Julen Lopetegui and the 33-time La Liga winners have also been linked with a move for Paris St-Germain’s 26-year-old Brazil forward Neymar.
However, it would be a controversial move as Neymar spent four years at Real’s fierce rivals Barcelona before joining PSG in his world record transfer of £200m last summer.
Real have also been linked with a move for another PSG forward, Mbappe, the 19-year-old who has helped France reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Italian football expert James Horncastle told BBC Radio 5 live: “Real would be reluctant to lose Ronaldo without a replacement in hand. They have been linked with Neymar, who joined PSG for a world record fee last season, and their flirting with the Brazilian appears to have put Ronaldo’s nose out of joint at Madrid.
“We don’t know who is being lined up, be it Kylian Mbappe, Eden Hazard or Harry Kane.”
‘The deal of the century’ – analysis
James Horncastle, Italian football expert on BBC Radio 5 live
Juventus were made aware a few weeks ago that Ronaldo might be available on favourable terms. Ronaldo had a buyout clause worth $1bn (£886m) and Juventus were told Real Madrid were willing to accept £100m and Juventus were willing to pursue that even though it would mean restructuring their wage system.
We heard Juventus president, Andrea Agnelli, boarded a plane and then got a helicopter to see Ronaldo on holiday in Greece. They are calling it the deal of the century in Italy.
Juventus have reached the Champions League final twice in the last four years and lost both. One of those defeats was to Ronaldo’s Real Madrid. He scored in the final in Cardiff and he knocked them out in the quarters this year. They believe he is the difference and the player who could achieve the Champions League with Juventus for the first time in 23 years.
Winning the trophy has been an obsession for them. This is much more than about football it’s about them going to the next level as a business. When Deloitte ranked the 10 richest clubs in the world earlier this year, Juventus were only 10th. They believe by being able to leverage and monetising some of his followers on social media and his commercial deals, will help them close the gap financially on Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United.
The Italians are confident there could be an announcement this evening, although the finer details of the deal would take a few more days. Juventus’ share prices on the stock exchange sky-rocketed by 33%.
Ronaldo’s career in stats
450 – Ronaldo’s Real Madrid-record goal tally, in 438 games.
17 – his record goal tally for a Champions League season, in 2013-14.
105 – total Champions League goals for the club, which also included 16 in 2015-16 and 15 in the most recent campaign.
311 – goals in La Liga.
16 – major trophies with the club, including two La Ligas and four Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups and three European Super Cups.
44 – hat-tricks for Madrid including a club-record 34 in La Liga.
8 – the number of times he scored four or more goals in a Real match. That included five-goal league hauls against Granada in 2014-15 and Espanyol the following season.
61 – his most prolific season for Real came in 2014-15 with 61 goals in all competitions, including 48 in the league.
659 – career goals, including five for Sporting Lisbon, 118 for Manchester United, 451 for Real Madrid and 85 for Portugal.