Sport

Alex Telles leaves Manchester United to join Saudi club Al-Nassr FC

He’s already linked back up with former teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 25th July 2023

Yet another European player has been swayed by the Saudi Pro League as Alex Telles officially leaves Manchester United to join Al-Nassr FC.

Telles spent less than three years at Man United, making 50 appearances, registering eight assists and scoring just one key goal in a Champions League group game, but has now departed Old Trafford after joining Al-Nassr for an undisclosed fee over the weekend.

The 30-year-old becomes the latest name from a top-flight club in Europe’s top-five leagues to make the move to the Middle East, following the growing list which includes the likes of Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino, Ruben Neves and many more.

He will also link up with former United man Cristiano Ronaldo, the Saudi league’s marquee signing who helped set this chain reaction in motion. In fact, the two have already been pictured training together and could play alongside each other in a friendly on Tuesday, 25 July.

It is unclear as to how long Telles’ contract will be.

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Issuing a farewell to the Brazilian full-back, who signed for the Reds back in October 2020 as cover for injury-prone Luke Shaw, United said: “We’d like to thank Alex for his contributions to the club over the last three years and would like to wish him all the best for the future.”

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Telles spent last season on loan at Spanish side Sevilla, who ultimately dumped his parent club out of the Europa League yet again before going on to lift the trophy for a record seventh time — in which he was allowed to play following UEFA’s rule change a few years ago.

While players over 30 making the Saudi switch has become more common over time, with those approaching their ‘twilight years’ looking for one last big payday, there are concerns throughout football regarding ‘sportwashing’ and the threat the nation’s ridiculous wealth poses to the future of the game.

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The most recent red flag to have been raised is the potential move for French superstar Kylian Mbappé, one of the best players on the planet, as PSG have apparently accepted a world-record bid for the World Cup winner.

Elsewhere, United Academy product Anthony Elanga has also bid farewell to the club he’s been at for nearly a decade after joining Nottingham Forest.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — Al-Nassr FC (via Twitter)/Alex Telles (via Instagram)

Sport

Everton manager Sean Dyche randomly pops up in the music video for Blossoms’ new single – and he’s great

Danny Jones Danny Jones Everton manager Sean Dyche in new Blossoms music video

Did anyone else think they’d ever see Sean Dyche make his acting debut in the role of a Northern crime boss in a silly little music video for the Blossoms?

No, us neither but that’s the bizarre alternate reality we’re living in, apparently.

Blossoms are currently working on the fifth studio album and have already released their lead single entitled, ‘To Do List (After The Break-Up)’, but now they have a new song out as well, with a rather amusing music video to go along with it and somehow Sean Dyche has found himself the star.

The Stockport band teased the curious collaboration in April, giving us just short glimpses of the Everton manager and former Burnley boss with very little explanation – all we know is that it looked funny and it was.

Sean Dyche stars as the boss in the music video for Blossoms’ latest single, ‘What Can I Say After I’m Sorry?’ As you do.

Dyche is still busy trying to finish the Premier League campaign as strong as possible after successfully navigating the Toffees to safety even in spite of their points deductions this season, but it sounds like keeping them up has given him enough time to moonlight as an actor.

Sending the indie five-piece on a mission to collect something of value (yes, that’s all the info we have at this point as the story is still to be continued), it looks like the Kettering-born coach has a larger role to play in whatever this narrative turns out to be.

Playing what can only be described as some kind of semi-Manc mafia figure on the hunt for a very valuable piece of art, i.e. a big giant gorilla statue – one that many Stopfordians spotted being lugged around various parts of the borough –

They also shared a little bit of BTS footage from the shoot for the music video last week. Some lovely head-bobbing and unassuming surroundings here:

How catchy is that beat alone!?

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As for the track itself, it’s a bit of stylistic change for the lads who’ve mastered their 80s-tinged indie formula over the past decade but it’s an absolute pop and is already stuck in our heads.

Revealing that they’ve collaborated with contemporary funk, disco and electronic icons Jungle on the track, it doesn’t take too long to hear the influences. Look forward to hearing it at Wythenshawe Park this summer.

You can watch the music video for ‘What Can I Say?’ and the ginger-goatee’d football manager extraordinaire in full character HERE.

He’s not the only footballing figure who’s made an entertainment crossover recently either.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Blossoms (via YouTube)/Virgin EMI

Sport

Tributes paid to former Manchester City winger Ian Mellor, dead at 74

Danny Jones Danny Jones Man City star Ian Mellor dead at 74

Tributes are pouring following the death of former Manchester City star, Ian Mellor, who has sadly passed away at the age of 74.

Mellor, from Sale in Greater Manchester, played as a left winger for Man City as well as the likes of Norwich City, Brighton, Chester, Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford.

With his family and former club confirming the death on Wednesday, 1 May, social media has been awash with people paying their respects to the seasoned ex-pro who sadly died following a long battle with amyloidosis, a rare and incurable disease which affects organs such as the heart, brains and kidneys.

Replying to his son and ex-Liverpool turned Sky Sports broadcaster, Neil Mellor, the club paid their respects to the former Blue who made 50 appearances for the club.

Ian Mellor died on Wednesday morning.

Mellor began his career just down the road at Wythenshawe Amateurs before going on to represent City from 1970 to 1973.

A boyhood fan of the club, he scored 10 goals whilst wearing Sky Blue and also went on to win the Charity Shield with them back in 1972.

Eventually nicknamed ‘Spider’ for a good chunk of his career due to his long-legged stature, he remained attached to the beautiful game for years after his retirement and went on to become a committee member for the Former Players Association at City.

Joining the likes of all his former clubs, Chester City said: “Everyone at [the club] is saddened to hear of the passing of Ian Mellor. Sending all our love to you and your family, Neil Mellor.

Arguably his greatest game for the club.
His longest tenure was for Brighton but once a blue always a blue.
Our friends over at The Sheff will be more than familiar with ‘The Spider’ too.

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His son Neil’s goodbye has touched many online too, calling his dad his “hero” and his “everything”.

He also went on to thank locally-based end-of-life care organisation and charity, St Ann’s Hospice, who have facilities all over Greater Manchester and who helped care for Ian in his final days.

Our thoughts are with his friends and family as well as those whose lives he touched through football during this difficult time.

Rest in peace.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Manchester City/Neil Mellor (via X)

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