MANCHESTER UNITED'S pre-season fixture against Aston Villa has become chaotic with the pitch being labelled 'barely playable'.
The ground in Perth has been heavily affected by torrential rain which could be seen as a hazard to the players.
Meanwhile, Anthony Martial is set to remain at the club after Erik ten Hag reportedly decided the French international is not for sale.
And Cristiano Ronaldo's future is still up in the air with reports now suggesting that the Portuguese icon could be in for a shocking move to Atletico Madrid.
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Stay up to date with all the latest from Old Trafford…
- Justin Lawrence
More on torrential rain game
More insight has been given on United's game against Villa that will go ahead despite the horrendous weather Down Under.
BBC Sport reporter Simon Stone tweeted: "Told by someone who has been down there that pitch 'barely playable'."
An official statement then added: "After a final pitch inspection, organisers have confirmed that tonight’s match will go ahead on time with kick off as planned at 1745."
- Justin Lawrence
Torrential rain puts match at risk
Man United's clash with Aston Villa will go ahead despite torrential rain making the pitch "barely playable".
Groundstaff were pictured seemingly using leaf blowers to desperately try and get rid of the water from the surface like giant hairdryers.
The two Premier League sides will kick-off in two hours' time – at 10.45am UK time – in Perth on the west coast of Australia.
However, more downpours Down Under means the field at the Optus Stadium has been waterlogged.
- Justin Lawrence
Sancho backed to find form
Man United hero Lee Sharpe has backed Jadon Sancho to be a "great player" under Erik ten Hag.
Sharpe, speaking on behalf of 888sport, said: "It was a little bit unfortunate for him last season, he came in as a big signing, we knew the club had been chasing him for a year or two at least.
"To come in with a big price tag, and to come in to a team that was struggling a little bit and under huge pressure, I don’t think the tempo of the team was high enough for Sancho to produce his best.
"He’s got unbelievable ability, great feet, good decision making, can score goals as well as create them. He’s got an amazing gift and I think he’s going to be a great player for United."
- Justin Lawrence
De Gea on United's season
David De Gea says Manchester United must never repeat last season’s ‘embarrassing mess’.
Spaniard De Gea said: “For me and everyone it was a very tough season, embarrassing sometimes.
“Some games were a mess, a disaster.
“So we should learn from last season that that cannot happen again because it was tough, it was painful to be there.
“We were not capable to win games and losing games 4-0 or 5-0, it was unacceptable.
“But sometimes you have to feel pain to get up and keep going.”
- Alex Cole
More from Schreuder on Ajax shutdown
Asked about a club-imposed deadline for sales, Schreuder added: “No, we did not discuss that. But we do talk to each other daily.
“I assume that no one is leaving. If we sell one more key player, it wouldn’t be good for us.”
Antony was heavily linked with United as soon as Ten Hag accepted the job.
But Ajax demanded a whopping £68million transfer fee to let the 22-year-old nine-cap Brazil international leave.
It is understood a £51m bid was rejected earlier in July before Antony's representative reportedly travelled to Manchester for talks this week.
- Alex Cole
Ajax boss says Antony NOT for sale despite agent talks
Man Utd have seemingly been dealt a final blow to end their transfer pursuit of Antony, just hours after his agent was said to be in the North-West discussing a deal.
New Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag is keen to be reunited with the winger at Old Trafford.
However, Ajax are refusing to budge and instead confirmed their star is staying put in Amsterdam.
Ten Hag's successor Alfred Schreuder told ESPN, as reported by Fabrizio Romano: "Afraid that Antony could leave? No, no.
“I really think he will stay. Of course, we have sold a lot of players now. That has not happened in recent years.
“I am expecting nobody else to leave.
"It would be bad for us if we would lose another starting player.”
- Alex Cole
Ajax star Antony’s agent in Manchester
A representative for Ajax winger Antony is reportedly in Manchester to discuss a potential move to Manchester United.
The Red Devils have been linked with the Brazilian winger throughout the summer window.
And now one of his agents is in the North West to hold discussions with United, according to The Times.
Dutch champions Ajax are claimed to be holding out for £68million for the 22-year-old attacker.
United are thought to have had a £51m bid for Antony rejected earlier this month.
But boss Erik ten Hag remains keen to get a deal over the line.
- Alex Cole
ICYMI – Lingard signs with Forest
Nottingham Forest have landed former Manchester United ace Jesse Lingard on a one-year deal.
SunSport understand that Lingard, 29, has put pen to paper on a contract that will see him bag £115,000 per week, plus add-ons.
- Alex Cole
Ronaldo odds on to stay at Man Utd
Cristiano Ronaldo is looking increasingly more likely to STAY at Manchester United than leave this summer.
That's according to Sky Bet, who also continue to shorten the odds of the Portuguese ace joining Atletico Madrid.
Reports that Ronaldo was ready to quit Old Trafford meant bookies were forced to cut the odds of his next destination.
Ronaldo scored 24 goals and provided three assists in 37 appearances last season – finishing as the club's top scorer.
But the five-time Ballon d'Or winner told officials that he would like to leave if an acceptable offer arrived.
It now looks to be between United and Atletico for where Ronaldo will be playing his football next year.
- Alex Cole
Ronaldo’s retirement plans revealed
Cristiano Ronaldo will play until he’s 40 – but will retire as soon as his body slows down, according to Portugal boss Fernando Santos.
Santos has revealed Ronaldo will keep on playing until his physical level finally drops.
In 2020, Santos told TVI24: “Cristiano is ready to play until he’s 40, but he doesn’t know if it will happen.
“At some point he may feel that he no longer has the same conditions.
“He’s not a player who will lower his level, when he feels like he can’t be Ronaldo, he won’t.”
- Alex Cole
ICYMI – Rashford book to boost kids’ self-belief
Marcus Rashford’s new book 'You Can Do It' is now out in shops and online.
The Manchester United hero wrote inspiring debut 'You are a Champion' last year – selling more than 220,000 copies in the UK.
Rashford’s latest title, co-written with Carl Anka, is aimed at 10-14-year-olds and is intended to inspire people to find their voice, while celebrating being different.
The title also aims to encourage its readers to be kind to themselves and others, while using their voices to inspire positive change.
Rashford, 24, who was awarded an MBE for his fearless work helping the disadvantaged, is passionate about giving kids more opportunities to read.
Via the Marcus Rashford Book Club, the generous England international has donated 250,000 books to kids across the country that need them most.
Through an initiative with WHSmith, one book will be gifted to a disadvantaged child for every copy bought at the retailer.
- Alex Cole
Martinez welcomed by Maguire
Raphael Varane is relishing the competition new Man United signing Lisandro Martinez will provide to him and Harry Maguire in defence.
He said: “Competition is good for the team. Harry [Maguire] is a very important player for us.
“He’s the captain and obviously he has a lot of good qualities. The team will always be better with this competition. This is normal. Every great club is like this.
“If everyone wants to fight for the team, that’s a good thing.”
- Alex Cole
More Fernandes on Ten Hag
Fernandes went on to add: "He brings discipline but he also gives players the freedom to make choices. He has his own rules we have to follow, but he also wants to give some responsibility to the older ones.
"He's strict, he's tough, but at the same time, he's a nice and easy guy to chat to.
"If the team is successful every one of us will be [successful] individually anyway. Some will get more goals, some will get more assists, some more blocks."
- Alex Cole
Fernandes predicts success at Old Trafford
Bruno Fernandes is confident Manchester United will be successful if the players follow Erik ten Hag's instructions.
In an interview with Sky Sports News Fernandes said: "For me it's about following the rules that he wants, doing what he demands and my game will come naturally.
"He wants his rules, he demands a lot from us and he wants everyone on the same page doing the same things.
"So the main thing is following what he wants because I think he has a straight line that he wants to have with the team and I want to follow that straight line because I think we can be successful at that way."
- Alex Cole
ICYMI – Ajax star Antony's agent in Manchester
A representative for Ajax winger Antony is reportedly in Manchester to discuss a potential move to Manchester United.
The Red Devils have been linked with the Brazilian winger throughout the summer window.
And now one of his agents is in the North West to hold discussions with United, according to The Times.
Dutch champions Ajax are claimed to be holding out for £68million for the 22-year-old attacker.
United are thought to have had a £51m bid for Antony rejected earlier this month.
But boss Erik ten Hag remains keen to get a deal over the line.
- Alex Cole
De Gea reflects on United's 'embarrassing' season
David De Gea has revealed that Man United’s form last season was embarrassing at times.
He told Mail Plus when reflecting on the previous campaign: “Yeah, for me and for everyone, it was a very tough season, embarrassing sometimes.
“Some games were a mess, a disaster. So we should learn from last season that it cannot happen again because it was tough. I hope everyone reflects.
“It was painful to be there and we are not capable of winning games. Losing 4-0 or 5-0, it was unacceptable. Sometimes you have to feel pain to go up and keep going.”
- Alex Cole
Sancho on Ten Hag’s impact
Jadon Sancho has revealed that Erik ten Hag is keen on team bonding.
Sancho said: “This pre-season, we have the same players but it just looks like a whole different team and I do think that’s something we’re working on and I feel like we’re getting better.
“The manager is big on team-bonding and having fun together and doing things like team dinners and things like that.
“So, yeah, it’s helping.”
- Alex Cole
Ronaldo 'tore us apart', says Silvestre
In his autobiography, Ferguson wrote that John O'Shea "ended up with a migraine" when the Irishman was trying to mark Cristiano Ronaldo at left-back.
And the Scot boss told his kit man to go up to the directors' box and get Peter Kenyon down at half-time.
Fergie recalls adding: "We're not leaving this ground until we've got that boy signed".
Ferdinand's central defensive partner that evening, former French international Mikael Silvestre claimed: "It was an incredible performance that night.
"This kid nobody knew tore us apart for the whole game.
"No one could get near him, he was amazing.
"At the start, no one had even heard of Ronaldo, but by the end, everyone knew about him."
- Alex Cole
United defenders begged club to sign teenage Ronaldo
Manchester United were 'torn apart' as an 18-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo ran the show for Sporting Lisbon.
Six days later, Ronaldo officially became a United player.
It was supposed to be a routine pre-season friendly in August 2003 to celebrate the opening of the new Jose Alvalade Stadium.
But centre-back Rio Ferdinand told SunSport years later that Ron pulled them apart so much in the 3-1 defeat, the squad begged Alex Ferguson to sign him.
Ferdinand said: "We were on the bus for ages afterwards waiting for the boss [Ferguson] and chief executive [Peter Kenyon].
"We were just willing them to sign Ronaldo. Within a week he was our player."
- Alex Cole
Ronaldo wants to share responsibilty
Cristiano Ronaldo wants to join a club where the burden doesn't rest solely on his shoulders.
Ronaldo had to pluck Man United out of trouble on several occasions last season.
And he doesn’t want a recurrence when he moves away from Old Trafford.
That’s according to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs, who tweeted: “Sources close to Ronaldo say he’s keen to not only play #UCL but join a club where he feels [the] burden of output isn’t solely on him.”
- Alex Cole
Man Utd shouldn't be bothered whether Ronaldo stays, says Sharpe
Lee Sharpe reckons it's a "win-win situation" for Manchester United regarding Cristiano Ronaldo future.
Sharpe, speaking on behalf of 888sport said: "Obviously he brings goals which is the main thing in a football match and he’s been proving over the years that he’s one of the best in the business at doing that.
"Other than goals, the way the manager seems to want to play I’m not sure whether a 37-year-old can play the high tempo, high pressing game that the manager wants to play.
"Also does he scupper young lads’ chances of playing and the lads that are in the team is he holding them back a little bit?
"Is he a little bit too good if you like for people that they sort of step back and don’t allow their full potential to come through because he’s at the club?
"I think it’s a win-win situation. I think if he stays then United have got goals. I don’t think he’ll play every week like he wants to."
- Alex Cole
United target signs for Ajax
Ajax have re-signed striker Brian Brobbey from RB Leipzig for an initial £13.9million.
Manchester United were linked with Brobbey earlier in the transfer window, with boss Erik ten Hag interested in linking up with the 20-year-old for a third time.
The Red Devils have missed out, however, with the Dutchman opting to make his return to his hometown team a permanent one.
Brobbey joined Ajax's academy as an eight-year-old, rising through the ranks before making his first team bow.
Ten Hag spotted the forward's talent, giving him his debut in October 2020.
- Alex Cole
Ronaldo absence doesn’t bother boss
Erik ten Hag isn’t worried by Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from Man United training.
He’s focusing on the players who are present until Ronaldo decides to show up.
Ten Hag explained when asked about Ronaldo’s absence: “Of course. But concerning is maybe not the right word.
“I focus on the players who are there and they are doing really well. They are in good shape and I will further focus on that and develop that.
“I cannot wait for him coming in, then we will integrate him.”
- Alex Cole
United favourites to sign Pavard
Manchester United are the favourites to sign Bayern Munich's World Cup winning defender Benjamin Pavard.
New United boss Erik ten Hag is hoping to add to the three summer signings that he has made already.
The 26-year-old is a defender that has spent most of his career as a right back but is believed to want to spend more time playing centre back in the future.
United have already signed a centre-back this window in Lisandro Martinez, and their two current right backs, Aaron Wan Bissaka and Diogo Dalot haven't been very convincing of late.
The France international is priced at 11/4 with Betfair to make the move to Old Trafford this summer.
- Manchester United – 11/4
- Chelsea – 5/1
- Juventus – 8/1
- Atletico Madrid – 10/1
Fernandes relishes Eriksen opportunity
Bruno Fernandes can’t wait to play alongside Christian Eriksen next season.
He told the Times: “I always learn from players who play similar positions as me. I think Christian has been an amazing player in the past and even last season when he played for Brentford, he was amazing for them.
“He’s such a good quality player for us and I’m looking forward to playing alongside him because I think the best players make you play better.”
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