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William Saliba admits that he ignored Arsenal's transfer advice when he "pushed and pushed" for a loan move to Marseille.

The highly-rated defender will spend the 2021-22 campaign back in his homeland after seeing a season-long deal put in place - having spent a few months with Nice last term.

Those at Emirates Stadium had been eager to see the 20-year-old remain in England, as they look to unlock his full potential, but those pleas fell on deaf ears.

What has been said?

Saliba told La Provence after being officially unveiled at Marseille: "I had a chat with Pablo [Longoria], with the manager. 

"I knew that’s where I was going to play this season, with a stadium on fire and fans who expect a lot. For a young 20-year-old player, it can only do me good. 

"I’m the one who chose Marseille. Arsenal preferred that I go to England, but I knew that here was the right choice. I pushed and pushed for it. 

"Marseille is one of the best clubs in France, with a lot of fervour in the city and the country. You need to sweat for the shirt when you’re here."

Has Saliba played for Arsenal?

Arsenal put a £27 million ($38m) deal for Saliba in place during the summer of 2019, with it agreed that he would stay on at Saint-Etienne for another season.

Once that loan agreement came to a close, the promising Frenchman made his way to north London.

Big things were expected of him, with the Gunners needing centre-half inspiration from somewhere, but Mikel Arteta favoured other options.

Saliba is still waiting on a competitive debut for Arsenal, having only figured in U23 fixtures so far, and saw 22 outings for Nice after linking up with them in January.

He is now looking to further his development at Marseille, but he remains under contract at Emirates Stadium through to 2024 and could still make a breakthrough there at some point.

Further reading

AmaZulu chairman Sandile Zungu has claimed coach Benni McCarthy can manage ex-Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

Zungu believes the Champions League winner can fit into AmaZulu's system of play under the former Bafana Bafana striker.

Although Usuthu's top official did not categorically state whether he will table a bid for the Argentinian captain, he left everything in the open by stating "watch this space" as far as the Messi question is concerned.

"Watch the space, all I can say is watch the space," Zungu told KickOff.com. "Watch the space, you never know. Benni can coach this boy. Benni can coach Messi. That's all I can tell you. He can fit perfectly into our style of play."

He also talked about the recent players they have signed as they strengthen ahead of a season where, they will have to balance Caf Champions League and Premier Soccer League duties. 

Keagan Buchanan, Philani Zulu, Mxolisi Kunene, Tercious Malepe, Tshepang Moremi, Mattaar Ceesay and Lindani Shange have all been signed by AmaZulu.

"We did very well, the players we signed are the ones we were targeting," added Zungu.

"The core of the team is in place, which is very important. We don't sign for the sake of signing. We've strengthened where we needed strengthening, so we're good. We have also promoted a couple of youngsters who have done very well in the MDC. 

"So I'm very happy."

Meanwhile, McCarthy has expressed optimism that his side can do better than Kaizer Chiefs in the Champions League campaign.

"No disrespect to anybody, to Kaizer Chiefs or anyone, but I think if they can reach the Caf Champions League final, we can one better, why not?" said the South African tactician.

"Domestically, they have shown us what they were capable of and then internationally they have done that. We have shown what we can do domestically and now we get the opportunity to go internationally and we want to go one better.

"The players who are coming in, we think, will give us that little edge."

Usuthu will play Cape Town City in the MTN8 quarter-final on August 15 at Moses Mabhida.

Mexico are Olympic medalists in the men's football tournament for the second time in the professional era, after they beat off a late rally from hosts Japan to claim bronze at Tokyo 2020 in Saitama, winning 3-1.

Goals for Sebastian Cordova, Johan Vasquez and Alexis Vega were enough to make it a pair of podium finishes in the last three tournaments for El Tri, as they left the Samurai Blue with a mountain to climb despite Kaoru Mitoma's late response.

While Japan's wait for a medal in the men's tournament will continue for another Olympiad, 

How did Mexico claim podium finish?

An early penalty offence against the hosts allowed El Tri to impart themselves upon the scoreboard early on, with Cordova the man to convert from the spot.

The America star was at hand to help set up Vasquez's follow-up with a free-kick inside the opening half-hour, before Vega added a third just before the hour mark.

Though Mitoma offered a distant hope of a remarkable comeback with a quarter-hour on the clock, it was not enough to tip the scales in Japan's favour and the hosts were left empty-handed at the final whistle.

El Tri bounce back from Rio frustrations for medal success

Having claimed gold at London 2012 with a string of impressive performances, hopes had been high four years later when Mexico had arrived in Brazil to defend their crown.

But a 2-2 draw with Germany and a 1-0 loss to South Korea put their hopes of a second successive medal finish to bed, despite a 5-1 rout of Fiji, as they were knocked out in the group stages.

At Tokyo 2020 however, they have rebounded in style, with victories over France and South Africa in Group A sending them through to the quarter-finals in some style.

A nine-goal thriller against Korea once more made further amends for Rio before Brazil edged them out in the semi-finals with a dose of penalty shootout heartbreak.

But Jaime Lozano's side have now delivered the last laugh in Saitama, gaining some sweet revenge for their only prior regular time loss of the tournament, against the Samurai Blue in the early stages of the men's tournament.

Further reading

With news that Brighton & Hove Albion forward Percy Tau could be headed to  Al Ahly, Africans have taken to their social media pages with varying opinions.

TimesLIVE reported on Friday the South African star was headed for a reunion with former Mamelodi Sundowns boss Pitso Mosimane at the African champions and that a deal was imminent.

“The deal is expected to be wrapped up tomorrow [on Friday],” reported TimesLIVE.

However, a number of fans have given divided opinions, others feeling Tau did not deserve a move to Egypt and should have stayed in the Premier League with Brighton.

The 27-year-old began his footballing career with PSL side Mamelodi Sundowns under Mosimane where he made 100 appearances on either side of a loan to Witbank Spurs.

At Sundowns, he won the league title twice and the Caf Champions League once and was named Footballer of the Year in his final season with the club, before moving to Brighton in 2018/

Below is how Africans reacted to the news linking him to Al Ahly.

Jack Grealish finally completed his £100 million ($139m) transfer to Manchester City on August 5, with Pep Guardiola adding the 25-year-old to his incredible pool of attacking players at the Etihad Stadium. 

The England international's creativity will add another dimension to the Premier League champions and fans will undoubtedly be excited to see what sort of impact he will have in the 2021-22 campaign.

But what does it mean for Fantasy Premier League bosses? Is Grealish worth bringing in or are there better alternatives available? Goal looks at the pros and cons of selecting City's record signing.

The pros of picking Jack Grealish

Had Grealish completed his move to Manchester City before the FPL price reveal for the 2021-22 season, it's very unlikely he would've been valued at £8m.

And it's that price tag which could tempt FPL bosses in, with the former Aston Villa skipper, who scored 135 points last season, being cheaper than the likes of Jadon Sancho (£9.5m), Marcus Rashford (£9.5m) and Kai Havertz (£8.5m).

Indeed, with six goals and 12 assists - the same as Kevin De Bruyne (£12m) and just two less than Bruno Fernandes (£12m) - for Villa last season, he could be looking at a much bigger tally come the end of the 2021-22 campaign as he lines up for Guardiola's Premier League champions.

The link-up with Belgium international De Bruyne could be particularly fruitful too, with Grealish's ability to win fouls in attacking areas - he was the Premier League's most-fouled player in the final third in the last two seasons - increasing the likelihood of dead-ball-specialist De Bruyne scoring more from free-kicks.

The 25-year-old's versatility also means that, as well as being able to play as part of a midfield three, he can also be utilised in a position on the left wing cutting in on his right foot, where he has been particularly devastating for Villa.

The cons of picking Jack Grealish

Rotation at Man City. Guardiola has something of an embarrassment of riches when it comes to his attacking options for the upcoming season.

On the left, the Catalan can pick from the likes of Raheem Sterling (£11m) and Phil Foden (£8m), as well as Grealish added to the mix, while on the right he's got Riyad Mahrez (£9m), Ferran Torres (£7m) and Bernardo Silva (£7m).

According to the Athletic, Guardiola sees Grealish primarily featuring as a No.8 for City, where he'll be competing with Ilkay Gundogan (£7.5m), whose incredible form last season saw him come out as the club's top scorer with 13 goals.

As with any City player you pick on FPL - aside from perhaps Ederson (£6m), Ruben Dias (£6m) and De Bruyne - there is always the likelihood of Guardiola changing his team from week to week, and Grealish will undoubtedly play less than he would've done at Villa.

There is also the question of the added expectation of playing for City, whose fans demand them to win every game and compete on multiple trophy fronts.

Will Grealish, who has been Villa's talisman and poster boy, quickly settle in alongside City's wealth of world-class attacking players or will it take time for him to get used to the demands of playing for a Guardiola team?

What are Jack Grealish's Fantasy Premier League stats?

The verdict

At £8m, Grealish looks a hugely attractive proposition when putting your team together and he's undoubtedly up there with the top creative talents in England's top-flight league.

If you have the cash available then Grealish is definitely and advisable pick, especially when compared to players at a similar price range.

There is a word of warning, however, as Guardiola is famous for rotation and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the 25-year-old eased in, especially at the start of his City career, as he gets used to his new environment.

Would we pick him ahead of Fernandes, Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) and De Bruyne? Almost certainly not. But if you're willing to accept the odd blank here and there, Grealish will still prove a valuable FPL asset.

More fantasy football news & tips

Aston Villa have announced that they will offer shirt swaps for fans who have purchased their 2021-22 season strip with Jack Grealish's name and number on the back, following confirmation of his record-breaking move to Manchester City.

The former Villans skipper swapped the Midlands for the Premier League champions in a £100 million ($139m) move to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, signing a six-year deal.

Though Villa had hoped to stave off any potential bids with a hefty nine-figure release clause, they have now seen their captain leave and have told supporters that they will be able to trade in their tops for a new one if they so choose.

What has been said?

"Aston Villa would like to offer the opportunity of a shirt exchange to those supporters who purchased this season’s shirt printed with Jack Grealish's name and number on the back," the club confirmed in a statement on Friday .

"The exchange offer only applies to 2021-22 home and away jerseys purchased between 14 July 2021 and 5 August 2021 and only for purchases made in the official club store at Villa Park or online.

"A proof of purchase will be required and a like-for-like exchange will only be offered in exchange for a surrendered jersey."

Who is Aston Villa's new number 10?

With the exit of their captain, Villa have moved to confirm his squad replacement amid a busy transfer window, with reported record signing Emi Buendia handed Grealish's old squad number 10.

The Argentine, a double Championship winner with Norwich before his arrival at Villa Park, is the headline name of a raft of impressive captures for Dean Smith's side.

Other faces through the door include former club hero Ashley Young, returning from a Serie A-winning stint with Inter, alongside Bayer Leverkusen's Leon Bailey and Southampton's Danny Ings, moves made affordable by the hefty sum paid out for Grealish by City.

The bigger picture

Having confirmed that they never intended to replace Grealish with just one player, Villa look to have recruited shrewdly ahead of a season opener with Watford on August 14.

There will be no reunion in the Premier League with their former player until November at the earliest, but Smith will instead be looking to transition his side into potential European contenders long before then.

Grealish, meanwhile, could make his debut as early as City's FA Community Shield clash with Leicester City, though he may be made to wait for a top-flight clash with Tottenham on August 15 instead.

Further reading

Hakim Ziyech has revealed the importance of having N’Golo Kante available in the midfield at Chelsea.

The two players combined well during the friendly against Tottenham earlier this week as Kante laid the assist for Ziyech, who ran forward to score and break the deadlock at Stamford Bridge.

Ziyech scored two goals in the game against their North London rivals, who came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw.

The Moroccan midfielder has discussed what it is like to play alongside Kante, insisting without the player in the starting XI, the entire team feels his absence.

‘When you have NG behind you, you know always he’s clearing everything that’s behind you and he’s covering all the problems that we have at the back so if he doesn’t play you’re straight feeling it,” Ziyech told the club’s official website.

On his second goal, Ziyech said: "The second goal was a good combination and ended up in the net, and the first one I think they lost it and Timo made a good run and made space for me to shoot, so they were two good goals.

“It was a nice evening, from the beginning I enjoyed it, and I showed also in the performance that I was enjoying it.”

In a recent interview, Ziyech said he was feeling sharp and ready to get the Premier League campaign started.

"I’m feeling great, sharp. I think for everybody, the days off that we’ve had have been good. Right now we can show our best, we are all hungry and sharp,” Ziyech said.

"The biggest thing is getting back the rhythm again, getting back to being fit again, to get the minutes in the leg. That’s the most important thing, to get ready for the real work.

"It’s always nice for the confidence but it’s not the biggest thing in the first place.

"We are enjoying every moment on the pitch right now, especially with the crowd back in the stadiums. It was a nice evening.”

Chelsea will begin their Premier League campaign with a home game against Crystal Palace on August 14.

Kaizer Chiefs fans have called on the Premier Soccer League side to forget about interest in Lionel Messi and sign SuperSport United's Sipho Mbule instead.

Chiefs replied with the eyes emoji to the question 'Messi not renewing his contract for Barcelona, which team do you think/hope he is joining?' posed on Twitter and it is the club's reaction that generated a lot of engagement on social media.

A number of the fans reacted by pressuring Amakhosi to sign Mbule, who has been linked with a move to Naturena.

The Argentinian left Camp Nou after the Catalan club was unable to agree to a new deal with their record goal goalscorer.

Messi, a six-time Ballon d'Or winner, has been a free agent since July 1 after his contract had expired on June 30.

He was expected to sign a five-year new deal but with a 50% salary reduction, an offer that could not be met by Barcelona, who cited financial and structural obstacles as reasons as to why they could not offer the new deal.

The multiple La Liga and Champions League winner has spent the entirety of his career at the Catalan club where in 778 games, he managed to score 672 goals since his senior debut 18 years ago.

Jadon Sancho is expected to train with his Manchester United team-mates for the first time next week having had an extended holiday. 

A deal was agreed for the attacker last month but he has yet to meet up with the squad and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted it would be unlikely he starts the campaign opener against Leeds. 

The England international should be at the club’s Carrington training base after the weekend and striker Edinson Cavani is also expected back. 

What has been said? 

The squad returned from their second training camp of the summer on Thursday night but Sancho and Cavani were two notable absentees as the rest of those involved in international tournaments this summer returned to the group. 

Asked when the duo were expected back, Solskjaer told club media: “Hopefully they’ll be fit when they come back in with us. They’re due to come in after the weekend.

"There are different circumstances as to why they haven’t joined us yet, but it’s a long season and they had to have a little more time off.”

Is anyone missing from training? 

The missing international contingent, which included Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, David de Gea, Paul Pogba and Victor Lindelof, all met up with the squad in St Andrews having returned from their post-Euro 2020 holiday. 

Fred also returned having competed in the Copa America and Solskjaer said he is in good condition, commenting: “He played nine games for Brazil in the summer so the three weeks he had away from us [on holiday] will have benefited him.

“He’s not lost any fitness so he’s ready to go.”

Marcus Rashford is not with the group as he recovers from surgery on an ongoing shoulder problem which is set to rule him out until October, while Dean Henderson also stayed back in Manchester as he recovers from fatigue after contracting Covid-19 three weeks ago. 

Eric Bailly and Amad have yet to return after competing for Ivory Coast in the Olympics. Solskjaer does not know their exact return date as they are bound by UK Government quarantine restrictions having travelled in from Tokyo. 

Raphael Varane has yet to undergo his medical so is not officially a United player. But, Solskjaer is hoping the Frenchman and Sancho will be available for selection for the opening game of the new league campaign against Leeds on August 14. 

“They still haven’t trained with us and I need to see how they are,” Solskjaer said. “I can’t see them being available for Everton but hopefully they will be ready to be on the bench [against Leeds].”

Who do United play next? 

Next up for Solskjaer’s side is a friendly against Everton on Saturday. It will be the first opportunity for those players involved in international competitions this summer to feature in a pre-season game. 

Then the squad have a week to prepare for their first game of the season against Leeds. Solskjaer’s side then have a trip to Southampton the weekend after. 

Further reading

Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano has been named the June FKF Premier League coach of the month.

In the month, the veteran tactician helped the Brewers to secure the Caf Champions League slot for next season by the virtue of being at the top of the table at the June 30 deadline.

The former AFC Leopards and Sofapaka coach guided the Ruaraka-based club to win three out of the four matches played in the month and in the process saw off competition from KCB to secure continental football for next season.

Tusker begun the month with a 1-0 defeat to Posta Rangers at the Ruaraka Grounds and then recovered to beat Kariobangi Sharks 1-0 at Utalii Grounds before downing Western Stima 2-1 at Ruaraka.

What did Matano say?

Their final and most important game of the month ended in a 4-1 thumping of Ulinzi Stars at ASK Grounds in Nakuru, a win that helped them make a return to continental football for the first time since 2016.

Speaking after receiving the award, Matano said: “I am delighted with this award but credit goes to the players and the technical bench for the work we have put in, we worked hard as a unit to achieve this and we are grateful.

“Now this award will be a motivation to us for the last four games of the season and we will give our best to ensure we win our matches.”

Matano saw off competition from KCB’s Zedekiah Otieno, who came in second and immediate former Nairobi City Stars coach Sanjin Alagic, to win the accolade that comes with a cash reward of Ksh 50, 000 and a personalised trophy courtesy of the FKF Premier League.

The veteran coach becomes the sixth winner of the award this season after Francis Kimanzi of Wazito FC, Andre Casa Mbungo of Bandari, Posta Rangers’ Stanley Okumbi, and Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto, who was formerly at Gor Mahia before he left the club.

Further FKF Premier League reading 

Thomas Tuchel has admitted that he faces difficult decisions in trimming his Chelsea squad down for the upcoming campaign, but has stressed that "it is simply not possible" for him to have 42 players among his ranks.

The German, who arrived at Stamford Bridge midway through last term and led the Blues to a Champions League triumph in May, has been rotating his numbers throughout a busy pre-season schedule.

While several players look automatically destined to spend the next term away from the club, either for good or on a temporary basis, other calls remain more difficult for Tuchel - but he has admitted that he is determined to offer a fair shot to all in contention.

What has been said?

"After the [pre-season] Arsenal game we wrote [all] the names down on the sheet because Sunday was the match against Arsenal and [on] Monday the group of players from England, Italy and Brazil came back," he told the club's website in addressing his squad size.

"So we wrote the names down to acknowledge that we would have 42 players in the building and it’s simply not possible."

Tuchel further noted that his pre-season schedule is offering chances across the board, adding: "From there we had to make some decisions to provide quality and intelligent training for the three groups who have been with us for half a year, while at the same time selecting players who we want to know better."

Chelsea face reshuffle amid European defence

Having upset the odds to achieve Champions League glory over domestic rivals Manchester City in Portugal, the Blues have looked to inject further talent into their squad this summer.

While players such as Olivier Giroud and Willy Caballero have left, and Fikayo Tomori has made his loan switch to AC Milan a full-time exit, there are yet to be any serious new arrivals at Stamford Bridge.

A big-money move for former striker Romelu Lukaku looks on the cards, but Tuchel still faces tough calls over the futures of players such as Danny Drinkwater and Tammy Abraham, who may no longer have a place at the club going forward.

The bigger picture

Chelsea will get their season under way next week with a UEFA Super Cup curtain-raiser against Europa League holders Villarreal on August 11.

They then kick off their Premier League challenge three days later, when they clash with Crystal Palace on August 14.

Fans will be sat with bated breath for the Champions League draw later this month, however, as the Blues look to find out who they must face as they look to mount a successful defence of their European crown.

Further reading

Jurgen Klopp has hinted that Jordan Henderson could figure in his plans for a Premier League season opener against Norwich, with the Liverpool captain being lined up for "a few minutes" in a friendly clash with Osasuna on Monday.

The Reds will also have a team in action against Athletic Club on Sunday, with the final touches being put to preparations ahead of what promises to be another intriguing domestic and continental campaign for England and Europe's biggest clubs.

Henderson will be hoping to figure prominently in Klopp's plans, but he was late back to pre-season after helping England to the Euro 2020 final and, having seen his 2020-21 campaign ended by injury, is being eased into the fold this summer.

What has been said?

Asked by the club's official website on his plans for Henderson, Klopp said: "Hendo trained in Liverpool. 

"We have a meeting on Saturday, it's all fine and we will see if he plays a few minutes or not. 

"I didn't think about it yet and probably more likely in the second game, but if anybody is worried they choose the wrong game, I couldn't say which is Team A and which is Team B, to be honest. 

"We have only good players here and that's good. Both line-ups will go for everything, so all fine."

Who has been catching Klopp's eye?

Henderson has been a prominent figure for Liverpool over his 10 years on Merseyside, but it is a squad game for Liverpool and everybody has a role to play in that.

Some are not seeing as many minutes as they would like, but Klopp has been impressed during pre-season by the efforts of Kostas Tsimikas, Xherdan Shaqiri and Takumi Minamino as they seek to remind him of their worth.

The German added on the back of a friendly win over Bologna on Thursday: "Kostas was really, really good, I have to say. That's true. It was just 45 minutes, that's fine, Owen Beck 15 minutes and that's good as well. 

"Taki has played a good pre-season, that's true – that's really, really true. Seeing the quality of Shaqiri and all those things, that's good. 

"Having the centre-halves back, playing football, you can see Joey [Gomez] with new long balls from left to right to left, a nice little asset. It's good, we can switch the game quicker maybe. 

"Even after a long time, not with all of the guys who came late, we have to get used to each other quickly and then we have to make sure we are ready for the season. We don't prepare for Norwich, we prepare for the whole season so we have to see – who is in which situation for next week."

Further reading

AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy has boldly claimed his side can go one step further than Kaizer Chiefs did in the last Caf Champions League campaign.

Usuthu are set to make their debut appearance in the African continental competition this season after finishing second in the PSL during the 2020-21 season.

AmaZulu collected 54 points to finish second on the log, 13 fewer than champions Mamelodi Sundowns while Orlando Pirates came third on 50 points.

With a ticket to the lucrative competition secured, the former Bafana Bafana striker is confident they have what it takes to go one better than Amakhosi and win the competition.

The Soweto-giants reached their first-ever final in the last competition but were soundly beaten 3-0 by Al Ahly of Egypt, who retained the title.

What did McCarthy say?

“No disrespect to anybody, to Kaizer Chiefs or anyone, but I think if they can reach the Caf Champions League final, we can one better, why not? McCarthy posed a question as quoted by idiskitimes.

“And I’m genuinely not meaning this disrespectful to anybody but we challenge ourselves every single day and we think we’ve got what it takes and they are a great club, they are a fantastic club.

“Domestically they have shown us what they were capable of and then international they have done that. We have shown what we can do domestically and now we get the opportunity to go internationally and we want to go one better.

“The players who are coming in, we think will give us that little edge.”

McCarthy further revealed they will not be heading into the competition to fill the numbers but will go to compete and win the ultimate prize.

“The president said it; we’re not going in there to fill the numbers, to add to the numbers, we go in there because we see ourselves as contenders,” McCarthy continued.

“Because what we did last year to finish second in the league and what Kaizer Chiefs have done in the league and then finish runners-up in the Champions League, I think we’ve got a hell of a shot at even going all the way.”

On Tuesday, AmaZulu unveiled their new signings, among them Keagan Buchanan and Mxolisi Kunene, South Africa U23 captain Tercious Malepe, former Chiefs defender Philani Zulu, Gambian international Matarr Ceesay, Tshepang Moremi, and Lindani Shange.

Bruno Fernandes has picked out two Manchester United youngsters that he expects to enjoy a "brilliant future", with James Garner and Anthony Elanga catching the eye of a talismanic presence at Old Trafford.

A Portuguese playmaker is very much the main man for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with a leading role taken on within a star-studded squad since completing a move to England in January 2020.

The Red Devils are hoping to benefit from Fernandes' presence for many years to come, but long-term plans are also being drawn up and every effort is being made to ensure that a famed academy system continues to produce superstars of tomorrow.

What has been said?

Fernandes is impressed by what he has seen during pre-season training from a couple of highly-rated youngsters, with a creative midfielder and Swedish forward showcasing their talents.

Asked by United's official website to select those that are destined for big things, Fernandes has said: "I think we know some of them already. 

"Jimmy Garner, I think is a really good player, I really like him and the way he kicks the ball. He’s really aggressive off the ball too.

"Elanga was already playing with us and this pre-season he has been brilliant. He’s a nice kid, works hard and is really humble and I think he’s deserving of everything that’s happening to him. 

"I see a brilliant future for him and Jimmy too, and also for all the other kids."

The bigger picture

Loan deals are expected to be sanctioned for a number of United youngsters this season, with the likes of Tahith Chong and Facundo Pellistri already seeing moves put in place.

Those left behind in Manchester will be expected to challenge for major silverware in 2021-22, after five trophyless years, and Fernandes admits that any prize will do as the Red Devils look to get back into a winning habit.

He added: "Last season we didn’t start well and then by January we were first in the league. 

"Of course with the six points we lost straightaway we could be a little bit closer to the first place and still be first in February, so it’s always good to start winning games as it gives you that push and confidence you need to go game-by-game to try to win every one. 

"It’s time to take the next step and we know we can do it; we believe in that and we want to do that. 

"I hope everyone knows, of course, what we want to do. No player at this club doesn’t want to win trophies, that’s for sure and sometimes things go well and other times not, but we will keep fighting to win every trophy we can. 

"It doesn’t matter which trophy it is, when you play for a club like Manchester United you have to win every competition you are in."

United are due to open their 2021-22 Premier League campaign at home to old adversaries Leeds on August 14.

Further reading

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed the Manchester United staff will hold further talks with the players about getting the Covid-19 vaccination. 

The Norwegian also spoke about the strict measures his side must abide by in order to protect them from losing groups of players through the campaign due to isolation. 

The United manager also confirmed that some of his team are double vaccinated, but he admitted some of them have doubts over getting the jab. 

What has been said? 

“Yeah, we’ve informed them and some of them are already fully vaccinated, some are not sure,” said Solskjaer when asked if the club had held conversations with the players about getting the vaccine.

“But we’re going to have a bigger session with them now because I think it’s important that everyone knows what it’s about.”

The United manager also spoke about the precautions his side need to take to ensure next season runs smoothly. 

“That [Preston friendly being called off] I think was a testing mistake because all nine tested positive and then, next day when we did a proper PCR test, they were negative so if that happened the day before the first league game that would be a problem. That’s not our fault what happened but it’s cost us preparation time, it’s cost us a couple of days away from the training ground,” Solskjaer explained.

“So, when you say the summer has been perfect, it’s not been perfect because the world is not perfect, it’s not an ideal world. We live in a world where the rates are still high. 

“Footballers have been privileged because when the world has been closed we’ve been able to play football, now the rest of it has opened, but we have to be really careful because if they spend too long in a place then they might catch something so we’ve got to be really careful. But it’s a sacrifice we’ve got to make to play football. 

“As I said, we are privileged, but it’s a difficult situation because their life is not normal. I think it’s been easier for us because we’ve been able to come into work, train together, play games and, yeah we’ve had to live in a bubble, but other people have had to stay inside and not be able to go outside and see anyone. 

“We’ve been privileged but at the moment our day is different to anyone else’s because signing autographs for the kids, taking pictures, yeah we want to do it but we can’t. That’s hard for us. For the Leeds game, Old Trafford will be full, fans will be outside, we want to engage with them but we can’t really because you think if I catch something here it’s a four-game ban. Literally. So it’s such a difficult one.” 

What are the rules around testing and vaccinations? 

At the moment players and staff are tested twice a week and rigorous testing will continue into the new season to stop the spread of the virus. 

However, it has been suggested the government is considering bringing in a Covid Pass from October 1 which would require all players, staff and supporters to be doubly vaccinated to attend games. 

Goal has learned the Premier League will not be bringing in their own mandate on vaccinations but will be following government guidelines. 

How has Covid affected pre-season? 

A number of clubs, including Manchester United, have seen their pre-season plans disrupted due to Covid. United had a friendly called off against Preston North End after they returned nine positive lateral flow results after their draw with Brentford last week. 

The club called off the friendly as a precaution due to the ‘suspected positive cases’ meaning Solskjaer’s side missed out on another preparation game. Those positive tests came back negative when PCR tests were completed the next day, meaning everyone could return to training. 

Manchester City had to cancel plans to allow fans to watch one of their pre-season games and a friendly against Troyes had to be cancelled due to the travel restrictions. Their training ground was also forced into a partial shutdown due to the virus. 

Arsenal saw their pre-season tour to America cancelled due to a number of positive cases and Chelsea are another club who have recorded positive cases in the last few weeks. 

Further reading 

AFC Leopards head coach Patrick Aussems has explained why he is not frustrated by the recent string of defeats in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League.
 
In the last four games, Ingwe have lost to Tusker, Western Stima, and Nairobi City Stars coupled with a 2-2 draw against Nzoia Sugar.

Aussems has stressed the main problem is individual mistakes and a lack of efficiency, which have massively contributed to the poor results.

"I am disappointed, of course, because when you lose every week, it is a disappointment. As I keep saying, we produce good football but we lack efficiency and we make individual mistakes and I am frustrated about that," Aussems told the media.
 
"I am not frustrated about losing because these things happen. We are conceding in all the games and it is not that we are out of those games and all that comes because of individual mistakes."
 
Aussems also admitted that his focus is now on the 2021/22 campaign after failing to win a trophy in the current season.

"To be honest with you, we are looking forward to next season and that is why I am trying some things with the team," he added.
 
"We have already forgotten this season, but let me not talk too much, but we need to be careful because if they [top treams] drop points, we might get them. I am disappointed for the players because they have tried their best and, unfortunately, they have not been rewarded with results unfortunately.
 
"Talking about next season is a clear indication that I am staying despite some offers that I have got in the last 48 hours. We have some guarantees for next season and I would like to help AFC Leopards to become the biggest club in Kenya again as I did with Simba."

Vihiga United and Ulinzi Stars are AFC Leopards' next two opponents.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Mutiu Adepoju is philosophical over Lionel Messi’s Barcelona exit, claiming that his departure from Camp Nou would be no catastrophe for La Liga.

A statement from the Blaugrana confirmed that the Argentina international would leave the Catalan outfit after negotiations over a new deal fell apart on Thursday.

The 34-year-old was set to accept a deal that would see his wage slashed by 50 per cent as his previous contract expired this summer.

Nonetheless, the 26-time Spanish kings' financial status made it a near-impossible mission for them to register him for the 2021-22 campaign without reducing their wage bill significantly.

This news of his departure has become a major talking point in football circles as some have suggested that it will have an adverse effect on the Spanish elite division, a claim the former Nigeria international and La Liga ambassador disagrees with.

“Just like every other big player that has left La Liga, Messi’s departure would really be felt. However, that will never be the end of the league,” Adepoju told Goal.

“As you know, several great players have come and gone, yet La Liga remains and the quality was never affected.

“When [Cristiano] Ronaldo left, everybody missed him but the Spanish top flight continued because there are several big stars in the league."

“Looking at this objectively, you will see that there has been a huge economic loss because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Probably that is the angle where Barcelona are coming from.

“He is the club’s highest-paid player and meeting his financial demands might be very difficult during this period. Messi has achieved a lot with the club and if everything was okay, they would have wanted him to stay.

“It is just unfortunate, and his departure is a big loss to Barcelona.”

During his 21-year stay at Barcelona, Messi won 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, seven Copa del Rey diadems among several other honours.

Adepoju is also upbeat that Ronald Koeman's team will unearth another football great.

“There are so many young players coming up and I believe that another great player would be thrown into the limelight soon,” he added.

“Barcelona are famous for their ability to discover and develop talents, so, getting a replacement [for Messi] may not be a problem.

“Whether we like it or not, Messi would retire one day and other players would definitely step in.”

Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow has admitted that the club "hoped" a £100 million ($139m) release clause in Jack Grealish's contract would be enough to fend off any suitors, but Manchester City have flexed their financial muscles again to complete a British record transfer.

After many months of intense speculation surrounding the future of the enigmatic England international playmaker, a big-money deal has been done that takes the talented 24-year-old away from his boyhood club and onto the books of the reigning Premier League champions.

A nine-figure sum was required to get that agreement over the line, with City smashing the previous record for the biggest fee seen in English football, and Purslow concedes that there was nothing Villa could do once the "unique value" of their prized asset was recognised.

What has been made?

Purslow has told Villa's official website on why a deal for Grealish was done, with an exit clause written into his terms back in September 2020: "It was a highly emotional moment when he told me his decision.

"Jack wanted to be certain that if at any point a Champions League club came in for him and Aston Villa were not in the competition we would not stand in his way - for that reason we agreed to incorporate a so-called release clause into his contract.

"Our board set this clause at a value of £100m knowing that would be, by some way, a record price for a British footballer and also a record fee for any player bought by a Premier League club.

"We set the value at a level we hoped would not be met, but which would reflect his truly unique value to Aston Villa.

"Ultimately, he said it boiled down to wanting to play Champions League football now."

What next for Villa?

Grealish is now part of Villa's past, with a six-year contract committed to at the Etihad Stadium as he takes City's No.10 shirt.

His departure leaves an obvious void in Dean Smith's squad, but efforts have already been made to counter the absence of their talismanic captain.

Emi Buendia, Danny Ings and Leon Bailey have been snapped up by Villa this summer, adding goals and creativity to their ranks, with Purslow pointing out that the intention was always to invest in multiple players once it became clear that Grealish could move on.

He added: "We knew this day might come.

"It was never our intention to replace Jack with one footballer; our strategy was to analyse and break down Jack's key attributes - his creativity, his assists and goals - and find those qualities and others in three forward players.

"We believe we have achieved this key objective. And in doing so have also reduced an overdependence on one brilliant footballer."

Villa are due to open their 2021-22 campaign away at newly-promoted Watford on August 14, with a first reunion with Grealish at City set to take place on November 30.

Further reading

Gor Mahia assistant coach Sammy Omollo insists Sydney Ochieng is not an automatic heir to Kenneth Muguna in the club's midfield.

The latter left financially crippled K'Ogalo for the Tanzania Mainland League outfit recently. Many believe it is an opportunity for the former Tusker FC man to show his ability by pulling strings from that department. On Wednesday, he scored a beautiful curler from a free-kick to hand his team a 1-0 win over Kakamega Homeboyz in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League.

However, the ex-Harambee Star has explained why the creative midfielder is not guaranteed a start in the team.

'Ochieng has to earn' his place 

"I have to admit he is a good player who is talented and everyone was impressed with the way he played on Wednesday against Homeboyz," Omollo told Goal on Thursday.

"But remember in the same position we have Karim [Nikiema] and [John] Macharia. Just like other players, Ochieng has to earn a starting berth in the team. It will be a battle and whoever wins, will definitely get that chance.

"Even the coach [Mark Harrison] was impressed with the way Ochieng played, but it does not mean it is a direct ticket to inherit Muguna's role."

After Homeboyz win, what next for Gor Mahia?

The win for Gor Mahia was welcome considering the team had gone seven league matches without a win. Their next assignment will be against leaders KCB who are aiming at winning their maiden league title.

"The win against Homeboyz, to be honest, was a confidence booster to us," Omollo continued.

"We are now preparing to play KCB in our next match, they have been doing well and they are leading. But the motivation is there, we have the psych and I believe we have what it takes to win that match.

"The main thing is to ensure we finish the season on high as we prepare for the new one."

Gor Mahia are currently on 40 points and are targeting at least a top-five finish.