As another long, dull international break winds down, we move closer to Manchester United’s next fixture, a Saturday matinee which sees the Red Devils hosting Newcastle United. Let’s take a look at what news topics are currently circulating within the Man United internet universe and Twitter community right now.
For part one of our Man United news links, go here.
We start with United’s two Belgians in the forward unit.
There have been a lot of rumors swirling about the long term future of Marouane Fellaini at the club. There has been talk that he could reach an agreement in principle with an overseas club come January, and then leave when his contract expires in the summer.
ESPN writes that: “Marouane Fellaini will not be sold in January even if that means Manchester United lose the midfielder on a free transfer in the summer.”
Fellaini has been linked with potential moves to at least one club in both Italy and Turkey.
-Moving on to Romelu Lukaku, he broke out of his goal scoring drought by bagging a brace this past weekend for Belgium. This moved him into a tie for the all time Belgian scoring record, which is even more impressive when you realize that he’s just 24.
Unfortunately, FIFA refuses to recognize it. Why exactly? Here’s the Daily Mail with an explanation:
“That is because football’s governing body do not acknowledge one of the matches which helped him reach the total. In 2014 a friendly took place between Belgium and Luxembourg prior to the World Cup, with Lukaku bagging a hat-trick in a comfortable 5-1 victory.”
Finally, Anthony Martial has opened up on his relationship with Jose Mourinho, and he discusses how the Portugese is very hard on his team, and that’s why it’s a good thing. Sounds like a “tough love” kind of scenario.
Here’s more, via the Manchester Evening News:
“He’s hard with all of us and he is hard with me, there is no question,” Martial told Premier League TV. “But I know that it’s for my benefit. But I also know that he really likes me as a person, so there’s no issue about the discipline being for the wrong reasons.”
“But the objective, of course, is to have all of us in good condition, and being fit to play every match and that is what I’m hoping to do.
“At the beginning we didn’t know each other too well, but over time we have got to know each other better. He knows my strengths and my weaknesses, such as they are, but the outcome is that we are learning to give everything in the right way.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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