- Angel Di Maria to make his first start for Manchester United.
As Manchester United take on Burnley, new signing Angel Di Maria, the attacking midfielder signed by Louis Van Gaal from Real Madrid for a British record of 59 million pounds, will make his first start for his new club. Di Maria was the star of the UEFA Champions League final, which he won for Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid, inspiring a fantastic comeback, coming back from 1-0 down, to win 4-1 in extra time. Louis Van Gaal’s side has been under great pressure after getting only 1 point from their two matches so far in the league and going down 4-0 to an unknown little club, MK Dons, in the Capital One Club. Manager Van Gaal knows that another defeat is simply unthinkable and would want Di Maria to get in the groove immediately and get a victory sealed up as quickly as possible against Burnley.
- Bayern Munich sign Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid.
Bayern Munich’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola made a potentially brilliant signing, convincing the veteran Spain international midfielder to leave Madrid after having played there for five years. Alonso is one of the greatest central midfielders of his generation, having won multiple international and club championships, including the 2010 World Cup and 2014 UEFA Champions League. Alonso passed his medicals earlier today and was effusive in his praise of his new club: “When Bayern are interested in you then you must not hesitate for a single second,” Alonso told a German TV channel. “I am looking forward to what lies ahead. I am proud at my age to have another chance to play for such a great club.” With injuries to Bastian Schweinsteiger, Javi Martínez and Thiago Alcântara in central midfield, Alonso may be a regular starter from his very first week at his new club.
- Manchester United sign Daley Blind from Ajax.
Louis Van Gaal signed one of his favourite players, Daley Blind, who he used to such great effect as the coach of the Dutch national side. Manchester United have already agreed to a transfer price of 15 million pounds with the Dutch side Ajax for Blind’s services. Blind is expected to be a Manchester United player as soon as he completes his medical successfully, which is to be held later today. Both the manager and the player know each other very well and so there shouldn’t be any problem for Blind to adjust himself to the United setup. Blind is only 24-years old and is a great utility player as he can play as a defensive midfielder, left-sided defender or as a wing-back
- Fernando Torres leaves Chelsea for AC Milan on a free transfer.
Fernando Torres left Chelsea to join Italian club AC Milan on a free transfer. He should be a Milan player soon provided he passes his medical. Torres was signed by Chelsea for a record 50 million pounds from Liverpool only three years ago. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho supported Torres on this move and wished him all the best: “Probably the move would create for him a different start. If he wants to leave, it would be because he wants to try a new life. A new club. Probably a new league. To try to be happier than he was in the last couple of years. Chelsea is a very human club in the way the club approaches this kind of situation. Any possibility would be analysed by us as a club and the best decision for him. But I don’t think his time here has been sad. He won a few things, scored a few important goals. So I don’t look at this history as being negative.”
- Mario Balotelli to make his first start for Liverpool this week.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers indicated that new signing Mario Balotelli was almost certain to start the match against Tottenham Hotspur later this Sunday. Rodgers says that he has been impressed with Balotelli’s commitment and doesn’t expect to have any trouble from the famously “difficult” player. Rodgers said Balotelli deserved a second chance at the EPL: “He wants to prove how much he loves this country. He left as a young guy a couple of years ago but he now really appreciates it.
“I have spoken at length to Mario since he has been here. He is definitely a mature boy. He is very bright. I think he now feels it is time to show the type of player he is. Everyone knows his quality and we have seen it this week in training. We have seen the sheer power and pace and the touch that he has. He wants to score goals and I think he wants to do it consistently now. That is why we are working really hard on his football. This won’t be the Mario Balotelli show every week. I will tell you that now. He is going to be treated the same as every player here, that’s for sure.”
