Bayern Munich 'wanted me to leave' – Kingsley Coman explains why he ditched Bundesliga champions for Al-Nassr despite Vincent Kompany 'loving' French winger

Kingsley Coman’s sudden exit from Bayern Munich after years of loyalty shocked fans and raised questions inside the club. The French winger has now broken his silence revealing that not everyone in Munich wanted him to stay, despite manager Vincent Kompany’s support. His move to Al-Nassr was the result of a fractured Bayern board and financial strain behind the scenes.

Coman sale was to ease Bayern's financial struggle

Bayern’s internal tensions reached a boiling point this summer when sporting director Max Eberl sanctioned Coman’s sale to Al-Nassr. The board was reportedly angered that Eberl approved the €35 million (£30m/$40m) deal without having a replacement ready, later returning to request funds to find one.

Coman, who spent 10 seasons at Bayern and won nine Bundesliga titles, three DFB-Pokals and the 2020 Champions League, became a casualty of the club's cost-cutting drive. With a salary of €17m (£14m/$19m), his departure was seen as a financial fix rather than a footballing decision. But the internal split it caused within the club’s leadership reflected a growing disconnect between Bayern’s sporting ambitions and its financial pressures.

AdvertisementAFPKingsley Coman opens up on Bayern exit

Opening up on his summer move to Riyadh in an interview with , Coman admitted: "At the very end of the transfer, there were some things – which I don't want to go into detail – that complicated the situation. I wasn't pressured to leave, but I was told that the club was open to a departure due to its financial situation. I had the love of the coach, the fans, some people in the club management – but not everyone. Part of the club wanted me to leave. And that part bothered me a lot."

His strong form since joining Al-Nassr has also earned him a recall to the French national team, with Didier Deschamps calling him up to replace the injured Ousmane Dembele ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.

Adjusting to the Saudi Pro League

Coman’s new chapter in Saudi Arabia has begun brightly. In just nine appearances for Al-Nassr, he’s scored three goals and provided five assists, forming a dynamic partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo on the wings. His pace, creativity, and defensive discipline have added balance and energy to the side, earning praise for how seamlessly he’s adapted to the Saudi Pro League’s tempo.

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AFPComan speaks on playing for France in World Cup 2026

Reflecting on his future, Coman has shown humility beyond the pitch stating that he would rather prefer a young talent to thrive in the upcoming World Cup.

“I would prefer not to go to the World Cup and instead give a young player a chance if I can’t truly contribute,” he said.

His departure left a visible gap at Bayern, which they they eventually filled by signing Luis Diaz from Liverpool, but for Coman, the move was about peace, not pay. Coman now eyes glory in the Saudi Pro League and has his mind set on guiding the next generation of France’s wingers.

"I'm a massive fan" – Taylor Fritz compares himself to "cocky" Man Utd icon

Tennis star Taylor Fritz has now revealed he is a “massive fan” of a Manchester United and Premier League legend.

Fritz gearing up for the Laver Cup

The eighth edition of the Laver Cup is set to get underway at San Francisco’s Chase Center this Friday, with Team Europe looking to retain their title, after defeating Team World in a thrilling encounter on home soil in Berlin last year.

Team Europe seemingly have a good chance of getting a sixth Laver Cup victory on the board, given that ATP World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz will be heading out to the USA, alongside Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, Jakub Mensik and Flavio Cobolli.

However, it must be noted that Team World also have a strong line-up, which features Reilly Opelka, Joao Fonseca, Alex Michelsen, Francisco Cerundolo, Alex de Minaur and Fritz.

With a current ATP ranking of No.4, the American is undoubtedly the stand-out player for Team World, and he heads into the competition off the back of a relatively strong showing in the most recent singles Grand Slam, reaching the quarter-finals of the US Open.

The 27-year-old is yet to win a Grand Slam, coming closest in the 2024 edition of the US Open, when he was defeated by Jannik Sinner in straight sets in the final.

Not only is the 2024 US Open finalist one of the best tennis players in the world, but he is also a big football fan, and he has previously named Manchester United and Premier League legend Cristiano Ronaldo as one of his inspirations.

"Massive fan" – Gerrard has named Man Utd legend among his "favourite players"

Steven Gerrard has made it clear he is a huge admirer of a former Manchester United star.

ByDominic Lund Sep 16, 2025 Fritz right to take inspiration from Ronaldo

As pointed out by the tennis star, Ronaldo has faced accusations of arrogance throughout his career, but his mentality has led to great success, winning five Ballon d’Ors, three Premier League titles and five Champions Leagues.

The 40-year-old is also way out in front as the top goalscorer in Champions League history, scoring almost double the amount of Raul, who is fifth on the all-time list.

Player

All-time Champions League goals

Cristiano Ronaldo

141

Lionel Messi

129

Robert Lewandowski

105

Karim Benzema

90

Raul

71

The Portuguese forward is showing no signs of slowing down, scoring 95 goals in 109 games for Al-Nassr, and Fritz will be well-positioned to lead Team World to Laver Cup glory if he is able to replicate Ronaldo’s mentality.

Kohli: 'Applied ourselves well after three average games at home'

After they won their first home game of IPL 2025, Kohli felt RCB were finally getting to grips with their batting template at the Chinnaswamy

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Apr-20251:28

Rayudu: ‘This is the exact template RCB would love Kohli to play’

After three consecutive home defeats featuring underwhelming batting displays, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally posted a total north of 200 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to set up a thrilling win over Rajasthan Royals (RR). Virat Kohli, who top-scored with 70, said the batting unit had discussed what they needed to do differently, and on Thursday they were able to apply themselves and find a template that worked.”We’ve had three pretty average games at home and we discussed a few things in the batting unit that we need to get right and I think we applied ourselves well enough today to get that total on the board,” Kohli told the host broadcaster after RCB’s first home win of IPL 2025. “We felt like the pitch wasn’t as flat as the score displayed on the scoreboard.”Unlike in their previous three home games, where they lost at least three wickets in the powerplay trying to take on the bowlers, RCB got through the first six overs against RR with all their wickets intact. And after Phil Salt became the first batter to be dismissed in the seventh over, Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal put on a 95-run stand to set up a grand finish.Related

RCB finally get the 'monkey off their back' as RR's season continues to go nowhere

RCB have the (Hazle)wood on their opponents now

Kohli and Hazlewood break RCB's home duck as RR botch another chase

Parag: We didn't show enough intent against the spinners

“I think the template is simple, you know, one of the guys to kind of bat through and the others to kind of attack around him,” Kohli said. “So I have that responsibility. I know this pitch very well, so does Devdutt. So yeah, that was basically the plan. Let Salty do his thing and then once we have a couple of wickets down, then really capitalise and rebuild and yeah, today it paid off.”On the eve of the match, RCB captain Rajat Patidar had called on the batters to focus on their shot selection, and Kohli underlined the change in approach that helped them on Thursday.”There’s pace and bounce in the first three-four overs with the new ball, especially in the first innings. So I think we were trying to force the shots a bit too much in the last three games.”Today, we kind of let the ball come to us and, you know, really time the ball into the gaps and I think that was the adjustment and the application that I spoke about to assess the pitch and then find our options and then hopefully put enough pressure on the opposition for them to keep giving us boundary balls, which was the case today and we were able to capitalise on those.”Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli put on a 95-run stand•Associated PressRCB posted 205 for 5, a total that RR fell 11 runs short of despite looking comfortable for large parts of their chase. That RCB prevailed was thanks largely to Josh Hazlewood’s excellent spell at the death.”[205] was enough in the end, but at one stage, I thought maybe [we needed] a few more,” Kohli said. “That’s the tricky part right now. We’ve figured out a way to bat now, so [the batters] have more confidence.”So heading into the last three more home games, I think we should be in a better position to try and get those 25-30 extra runs.”Kohli highlighted the importance of the toss in Bengaluru, citing dew as an important factor helping chasing teams. For the fourth home game in a row, Patidar lost the toss on Thursday.”I think the first challenge is to win the toss, to be honest, because the first half and second half … the second half you kind of have a look at the pitch,” Kohli said. “Also, the dew comes in, so it becomes a bit of an advantage. So we’ve been fighting hard to kind of get the total on the board in the first innings. We’ve fallen short by 25-30.”Today, we were able to get past 200, so that always kept us in the game.”

Corinthians x São Paulo: onde assistir ao vivo, horário e escalações do jogo pela Copa do Brasil

MatériaMais Notícias

Dois rivais paulistas se enfrentam nesta terça-feira (25), de olho em uma vaga para a final da Copa do Brasil. Às 21h30, Corinthians e São Paulo protagonizam o clássico Majestoso na Neo Química Arena, pela partida de ida da semifinal da competição nacional.

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+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

O Timão vive seu melhor momento na temporada e vem de cinco partidas consecutivas sem perder. Ainda, o Corinthians defende um tabu de jamais ter sido derrotado pelo São Paulo na Neo Química Arena. São 17 jogos entre os clubes desde que o Majestoso começou a ser disputado em Itaquera, com dez vitórias corintianas e sete empates.

Luxemburgo decidiu fazer mistério e escondeu os relacionados para o clássicos. A principal dúvida envolve Matías Rojas, que sofreu uma entorse no pé esquerdo no empate do Timão com o Bahia, pelo Brasileirão.

Após quatro empates consecutivos nos últimos jogos em Itaquera, o Tricolor busca levar vantagem para o duelo no Morumbi. O técnico Dorival Jr terá o retorno de Rafinha, desfalque na derrota do final de semana, contra o Cuiabá, por ter sido autorizado a viajar à Alemanha para acompanhar o amistoso comemorativo promovido pelo Bayern de Munique.

Para chegar à semifinal, o Corinthians eliminou Remo, Atlético-MG e América-MG. Já o São Paulo passou pelo Ituano, Sport, Palmeiras.

+ Timão ou Tricolor? Veja datas e horários das semifinais da Copa do Brasil

CORINTHIANS X SÃO PAULO
COPA DO BRASIL – SEMIFINAL – JOGO DE IDA

Local:Neo Química Arena, São Paulo (SP)
Data e hora:25 de julho de 2023, às 21h30 (horário de Brasília)
Árbitro:Wilton Pereira Sampaio (FIFA-GO)
Assistentes:Bruno Raphael Pires (FIFA-GO) e Nailton Junior de Sousa Oliveira (FIFA-CE)
Árbitro de vídeo:Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira do Amaral (FIFA-SP)
Onde assistir:SporTV, Premiere e Prime Video e no tempo real doLance!

CORINTHIANS

Cássio; Fagner, Gil, Murillo e Fábio Santos; Giuliano, Fausto Vera, Ruan Oliveira (Rojas) e Renato Augusto; Róger Guedes e Yuri Alberto. Técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

Desfalques: Gabriel Moscardo (cirurgia de apendicite), Rafael Ramos (lesão no joelho direito), Mosquito (transição física) e Paulinho (recuperação de cirurgia no joelho esquerdo)
Pendurados: Adson, Moscardo, Fagner, Fábio Santos, Matheus Bidu e Yuri Alberto

SÃO PAULO

Rafael; Rafinha, Arboleda, Diego Costa e Caio; Pablo Maia, Alisson e Michel Araújo; Wellington Rato, Luciano e Calleri.Técnico:Dorival Jr.

Desfalques:Galoppo, Ferraresi, Gabriel Neves e Igor Vinicius (lesionados)
Pendurados:Rafinha, Rato, Luan, Luciano e Nestor

Sold for £1m: Arsenal thought they had Foden 2.0 in Hale End's "best ever"

When it comes to producing top-quality players, it’s hard to think of many Premier League teams with a better track record than Arsenal.

On top of numbers, Hale End has also produced a string of players who look destined for the very top of the game.

However, for every player who does make it to the pinnacle of the sport, there are plenty who fall by the wayside.

Unfortunately, that has been the case for one such talent, who was at one point compared to Phil Foden.

Arsenal's Hale End hotstreak

It would be fair to say that this current run of Hale Enders making it into the Arsenal team truly started with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.

Granted, the latter was eventually sold, but his impact in the two and a bit years he was fit under Arteta cannot be overstated, and well, when it comes to the former, what else is there to say?

The regular England international has only just turned 24 and has already made 266 appearances for the club, in which he’s scored 71 goals and provided 71 assists.

The next two academy graduates to make an impact at the club were Ethan Nwaneri and Myles-Lewis Skelly.

The former became the youngest player in Premier League history in 2022 and ended last season with an impressive tally of nine goals and two assists in just 37 appearances.

Lewis-Skelly, however, arguably made an even bigger impact, cementing himself as the manager’s first-choice left-back for some time and scoring on his debut for the senior national team.

Finally, the latest uber-talented teen to make their way out of Hale End looks to be Max Dowman, who has impressed every time he’s made it onto the pitch since his debut in pre-season.

However, a few years ago, many would have expected another name on this list, a player who was compared to Foden.

The Hale Ender compared to Foden

So, to be compared to a player as talented as Foden, the Arsenal youngster must have been looked at as a special prospect.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

While it seems a long time ago now, that is exactly how people perceived Charlie Patino.

For example, in October 2021, Jack Wilshere, who knows a thing or two about being a wonderkid, told the press that the youngster was “going to make a name for himself in the future” and that he was “one who everyone at the training ground is talking about.”

On top of that, scout Brian Stappleton claimed that fellow Arsenal scout Sean O’Connor told him Patino was “the best player who has ever walked through the doors at Hale End.”

Then came the comparison to the Man City star, which stemmed from his attacking ability during his time at youth level and was then highlighted in an article by the Times’ Gary Jacob.

All the excitement around the youngster came to a head when he scored on his competitive debut for the club in a Carabao Cup game against Sunderland in October 2021.

However, as we now know, all the hype around him and the comparisons to players like Foden were soon to be proven to be overblown, as two underwhelming loans to Blackpool and Swansea City began to cast doubt over his true potential.

Team

Blackpool

Swansea

Appearances

37

35

Goals

3

4

Assists

4

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.18

0.22

Moreover, his representatives then told the club that he wanted to leave for more guaranteed game time, but after two middling years in the Championship, there was very little interest in his services.

Eventually, with little other option, the North Londoners agreed to sell the Hale Ender to Segunda División side Deportivo La Coruna for £1m, where he made just eight appearances last season.

However, while he didn’t live up to the expectations placed upon him, there is reason to be hopeful that the youngster can still have a successful career, as so far this season, he has six appearances for the Spanish outfit.

Ultimately, Arsenal have produced exciting talent after exciting talent from Hale End over the last few years, but Patino just wasn’t quite at the level required to become one of those who made it in North London.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 22, 2025

Not Ange: Levy's worst error was axing "genius" who's "too good" for Spurs

The Daniel Levy era at Tottenham Hotspur has come to an end.

On Thursday, it was confirmed that the 63-year-old would step down as Executive Chairman after 25 years in charge, with the ownership believing change was needed to bring greater sporting success.

Appointed in March 2001, Levy was the longest-serving chairman in Premier League history and a divisive figure throughout his tenure.

Regularly the subject of supporter protests, his reputation was split between financial prudence and a failure to translate infrastructure into silverware.

Levy’s final months brought a rare high and an equally stark low. Spurs won the Europa League in May, ending a 17-year wait for a trophy.

Yet the triumph was underpinned by a disastrous league campaign that saw them finish 17th in the Premier League.

He will nevertheless be remembered for delivering the £1bn Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a multi-purpose venue that transformed the club’s commercial revenues.

Hosting NFL games, concerts and boxing events, the stadium has become a global landmark.

On the pitch, however, Levy’s managerial decisions often defined Spurs’ fortunes more than infrastructure ever could.

This summer’s spending spree, with marquee signings like Mohamed Kudus and Xavi Simons, hinted at ambition, though Spurs missed out on Eberechi Eze to rivals Arsenal.

Vinai Venkatesham, appointed Chief Executive in April, now must take the reins and implement a new vision while the search for Levy’s replacement is ongoing.

Ange and the many Managers of Levy’s Spurs

Few chairmen have hired and fired as many notable managers as Levy.

Ange Postecoglou, adored at times by supporters for his bold attacking football, was the latest casualty.

TottenhamHotspur managerAngePostecoglu applauds fans after the match

Sacked just weeks after lifting the Europa League, his dismissal came amid dire league form – 22 top-flight losses in 2024/25 – underlining Levy’s reputation for ruthless decision-making.

Thomas Frank has since arrived from Brentford to steady the ship. Postecoglou’s departure was far from Levy’s only high-profile axing.

José Mourinho was dismissed just a week before Spurs faced Manchester City in the 2021 Carabao Cup final, a move that baffled many supporters.

Ryan Mason stepped in as caretaker manager, but Spurs ultimately lost the final.

Antonio Conte’s short but combustible tenure saw him openly question his players’ mentality, though he did guide them to Champions League qualification in 2021/22.

Levy also experimented with Nuno Espírito Santo, a project that fizzled out within months, and was also known to turn to well-known figures like Harry Redknapp and Tim Sherwood in the past.

Yet one name defined Levy’s Spurs more than any other, both in success and in the bitterness of his departure.

Sacking Pochettino was Levy's biggest mistale

Mauricio Pochettino’s time in North London was transformative.

Appointed in May 2014 as Spurs’ tenth manager in just 12 years, he brought stability, style and belief.

Over five years, he nurtured talents like Harry Kane and Dele Alli, built a fearless team around high pressing and rapid transitions, and took Spurs closer to glory than they had been in decades.

The pinnacle came in 2019 when Spurs reached the Champions League final.

Their run included an unforgettable semi-final comeback against Ajax, capped by Lucas Moura’s last-minute hat-trick strike.

Though they fell 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid, it was a defining achievement.

In the league, Pochettino’s side finished second in 2016/17 with 86 points – their best finish since 1963 – only seven points behind champions Chelsea.

And yet, just months after that Champions League final, Levy made his most infamous call. With Spurs struggling at the start of the 2019/20 season, Pochettino was sacked.

Matches

499

Wins

240

Draws

113

Losses

146

Points

833

It was a decision even more brutal than the one that ended Postecoglou’s reign. As journalist Alex Keble described him, Pochettino was a “genius” and a “very rare example of a manager genuinely being too good for a club.”

The Argentine later admitted he was shocked by Levy’s departure this week, reflecting fondly on their “very good” relationship.

After leaving Spurs, he managed PSG and then Chelsea, before taking charge of the US men’s national team.

His tactical philosophy remains consistent: a 4-2-3-1 built on pressing, playing out from the back, and suffocating opponents with relentless energy.

Pochettino gave Spurs an identity that carried them to the edge of greatness. Levy’s decision to sack him months after their greatest modern achievement left scars that arguably linger to this day.

MauricioPochettinocoach of U.S. during the match

It is unclear where Spurs go from here, but they undoubtedly have the commercial base to become something new altogether.

The ENIC plan that "weakened" Levy before he was "pushed" out of Tottenham

The Lilywhites chief announced his shock exit on Thursday.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 5, 2025

Vincent Kompany 'acts like a 60-year-old!' – Bayern Munich are 'untouchable' as ex-Man City captain credited with making them Europe's best team

Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich are drawing plaudits across Europe after a flawless start to the season. Former Germany star Matthias Sammer hailed the ex-Manchester City captain for his calm authority and leadership, saying Bayern have become “untouchable” under his guidance, echoing similar praise from Philipp Lahm recently, crediting Kompany for restoring stability and dominance at the club.

  • Kompany’s Bayern dominate Europe

    The Belgian coach Kompany’s impact at Bayern has been nothing short of transformative, and since taking charge in the summer of 2024, the Belgian tactician has silenced all doubters by guiding the Bavarians to 10 consecutive wins across all competitions this season. Bayern have scored 38 goals and conceded just eight, with Harry Kane in record-breaking form. Their ruthless attacking rhythm and tactical discipline have made them the most formidable team in Europe, firmly putting Kompany among the continent’s elite coaches.

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    Kompany 'acts like a 60-year-old' says Matthias

    Former Germany and Bayern sporting director Sammer heaped praise on Kompany in a recent appearance, highlighting his maturity and influence. 

    “He acts like a 55- or 60-year-old, calm, confident, and clear. This is how he conveys stability to his team on and off the field," Sammer said. "Their game plan and individual quality make them untouchable; they're in top shape, with speed, creativity, and technique. They've gotten even better, even off the ball. Now they have to compensate for that over the next few months. At some point, that might not work so well. Then it's all about winning a game with personality and aura on a bad day. For me, the symbiosis of coach and team is currently the number one in Europe." 

  • Calm Restored at Bayern

    Former Bayern captain Philipp Lahm also credited Kompany for restoring order and direction at Bayern after a turbulent few seasons marked by managerial instability. 

    “He has brought calm to the club. That wasn’t the case before. There were many managerial changes, and it’s difficult to establish stability at a club like Bayern. Now that has been achieved,” Lahm recently said. 

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    Dortmund clash and European ambitions

    After the international break, Bayern return to Bundesliga action against their possibly the toughest competition in the league, Borussia Dortmund in what promises to be a decisive top-of-the-table clash. With Kompany’s men already flying high domestically and in Europe, expectations are soaring. Another statement win could cement Bayern’s claim as Europe’s best team, and further vindicate the club’s bold gamble to appoint a coach once written off after his Burnley stint.

لامين يامال ليس الوحيد.. موفيستار تكشف عن صدام جديد بين فينيسيوس وأحد لاعبي برشلونة في الكلاسيكو

كشفت كاميرا موفيستار خلال الساعات الماضية، عن صدام جديد حدث بين نجم نادي ريال مدريد، فينيسيوس جونيور، وأحد لاعبي برشلونة خلال لقاء الكلاسيكو يوم أمس الأحد بالدوري الإسباني.

ريال مدريد تمكن من تحقيق الفوز على برشلونة بهدفين مقابل هدف واحد يوم أمس الأحد، في قمة الجولة العاشرة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى والمعروفة باسم الكلاسيكو.

وقدم فينيسيوس مباراة كبيرة وساعد ريال مدريد في تحقيق الفوز على برشلونة، ليوسع الفريق الملكي الفارق مع البارسا إلى خمس نقاط في ترتيب الدوري الإسباني.

لكن فينيسيوس كعادته أثار الجدل بدخوله في خلاف مع لاعبي الفريق المنافس ومع التحكيم، حيث دخل اللاعب في مشادة كلامية مع لامين يامال، جناح برشلونة، عقب نهاية المباراة.

اقرأ أيضًا .. “من الأفضل أن أرحل”.. تفاصيل صادمة في واقعة غضب فينيسيوس بـ الكلاسيكو

ولم يكتفي فينيسيوس بيامال فقط، وإنما دخل كذلك في صدام مع لاعب خط وسط برشلونة، بيدري.

والتطقت عدسات موفيستار، فينيسيوس وهو يتحدث إلى حكم المباراة، سيزار سوتو جرادو، حيث قال له: ”بيدري ليس القائد، ليس من حقه الاعتراض أو يمكنني الاعتراض أيضًا”.

وتحدث فينيسيوس مرة أخرى للحكم وأضاف: “هو ليس القائد، هل يمكنني التحدث؟ هو دائمًا يتحدث، تحدث معي هنا”.

وأعاق بيدري فينيسيوس في شوط المباراة الثاني ليحصل على بطاقة صفراء، قبل أن يتعرض الدولي الإسباني لإنذار ثان ويطرد في نهاية اللقاء.

واعترض فينيسيوس كذلك بشدة على استبداله في شوط المباراة الثاني ولم يصافح مدرب ريال مدريد، تشابي ألونسو، حيث دخل رودريجو بدلًا من ابن الـ25 عامًا في آخر 20 دقيقة من اللقاء.

Man Utd talent who left the club for £0 has been outscoring Sesko & Mbeumo

Manchester United fans have been blessed with numerous elite-level strikers over the years, with many capturing the hearts of the supporters during their respective stints at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney spent 13 years with the Red Devils, joining them as a youngster from Everton and going on to exceed everyone’s expectations upon his arrival.

The Englishman netted 253 goals in his 559 outings – a tally to this day which remains the most in the club’s history after he overtook Sir Bobby Charlton’s record back in 2017.

He often starred alongside the likes of Robin van Persie and Dimitar Berbatov – subsequently playing a huge role in their record-breaking 13 Premier League title triumphs.

However, in the present day, boss Ruben Amorim is hunting for his own talisman to try and end the decade-long wait for another league trophy at the Theatre of Dreams.

What Sesko & Mbeumo will bring to Man Utd

After scoring just 44 league goals in 2024/25, Amorim made it clear that he wanted a new centre-forward in the summer window – with the board backing him with a deal to land Benjamin Sesko.

The deal to land the Slovenian international cost upwards of £70m, with the former RB Leipzig talisman able to be an immediate and long-term solution to their problems, given his tender age of 22.

However, he’s already showcased his quality in the Bundesliga, racking up 27 league goals in the last two years – a tally higher than any player in the Red Devils’ current first-team squad.

He’s going to be aided in his attempts by fellow new addition Bryan Mbeumo, after the Cameroonian international also joined Amorim’s men in a deal worth a total of £71m.

Like Sesko, the 26-year-old has thrived in front of goal over recent times, scoring 20 times in the Premier League throughout the 2024/25 campaign – subsequently leading to his big-money transfer.

However, despite the talents of the aforementioned talents, one former Red Devil star has thrived since leaving the club and once again demonstrated his incredible goalscoring nouse.

The former United star who’s outscoring Sesko & Mbeumo

Securing deals for experienced attackers isn’t unfamiliar to United after securing the signature of legendary forward Zlatan Ibrahimović back in the summer of 2016 after his release from PSG.

The Swede moved to Manchester at the age of 34, but that didn’t stop him from making a huge impact within the club’s first-team during the 2016/17 campaign.

He’s registered a staggering 28 goals in his 46 outings across all competitions – helping the side win the Europa League and Carabao Cup under José Mourinho.

Zlatan wasn’t the only experienced option landed by the hierarchy in recent years, with Edinson Cavani also following a similar pattern after also joining from the French giants.

Such a move occurred four years after his former teammate, also moving at a similar age, given that the Uruguayan was 33 at the time of his free transfer to join the Red Devils.

Cavani would spend two years at Old Trafford, racking up 59 appearances and managing to find the back of the net on 19 separate occasions – including an outrageous long-range against Fulham.

Given he was entering the back end of his career at the top level, he would leave in the summer of 2022 – departing on a free transfer to join Spanish side Valencia.

Fast-forward to the present day, the 38-year-old is still plying his trade for Argentine outfit Boca Juniors, but is still managing to find the back of the net on a consistent basis.

Edinson Cavani’s Man Utd time in numbers

Statistics

Tally

Games played

59

Goals scored

19

Assists

7

Minutes played

3094

Yellow cards

6

Minutes per goal

163

Minutes per assist

442

Stats via Transfermarkt

Cavani, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has scored 24 goals since the start of the 2024/25 campaign – a simply remarkable tally given his age.

Such a figure is also higher than new additions, Sesko (21) and Mbeumo (22), subsequently highlighting the attacking threat he still carries to this day.

There’s no denying that the hierarchy made the right choice in allowing him to depart United, but it’s great to see a former fans’ favourite still thriving like he did at Old Trafford.

If the two new additions can make a similar impact to the Uruguayan at the Theatre of Dreams, there’s no reason why the club can’t be competing at the top end of the table once again in the years ahead.

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David Lloyd finds form as Derbyshire stand firm

Derbyshire opener David Lloyd emerged from a poor start to the season before Middlesex fought back on the opening day of the Rothesay County Championship Division Two match at Derby.Lloyd made 93 from 197 balls, his highest innings since September 2022, and shared a second-wicket stand of 156 with Harry Came who scored 73 after the hosts had been put in to bat.Although the in-form Caleb Jewell was out for a duck, there was little in the pitch for the Middlesex bowlers until late in the day when the second new ball did the trick. Toby Roland-Jones bowled Wayne Madsen for 49 to finish with figures of 2 for 47 from 20 overs as Derbyshire closed on 267 for 5.Lloyd came into the game under pressure to deliver after a run of low scores in his first six innings of the season.That would have increased after his opening partner Jewell registered a rare failure when he fell to Roland-Jones in the third over of an overcast morning. The Tasmanian had scored five half-centuries in the first three matches but was still looking for his first run when he edged Roland-Jones low to second slip.Perhaps the overhead conditions and a green-tinged pitch had persuaded Middlesex to bowl first but their bowlers found there was not much to encourage them.Although the bowling was disciplined, there was hardly any seam movement or swing to trouble Lloyd and Came who showed good judgement to bat through to lunch. They added 85 from 182 balls which showed how hard they had to work for the runs and it got no easier after the interval.In the first 10 overs of the afternoon session, there were only seven scoring shots and three of those were edges to the vacant third man boundary. The pair faced 73 dot balls in the first hour until Lloyd relieved some of the tension by cutting and pulling Ryan Higgins for two fours.Lloyd passed his previous best score for Derbyshire of 73 but had an escape when he edged Zahar Gohar just past Higgins who should have got a hand to it.A century looked there for the taking until he was drawn into pulling a shot ball from Higgins to long leg where Blake Cullen dived forward to take the catch.Lloyd’s body language showed that he had thrown away a great opportunity and Came also lost patience after tea when he came down the pitch to Gohar but failed to clear deep mid-off where Stephen Eskinazi took a good catch above his head.Middlesex took the second new ball as soon as it became available and the breakthrough they badly needed arrived when Dane Paterson beat Brooke Guest’s defensive push.With no addition to the total, Roland-Jones got the big wicket of Madsen who was bowled by one that moved away to shave the off stump which brought his average for the season down below 88.

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