Sport

Manchester United blocked from potential first signing of the summer due to INEOS ownership

Ratcliffe has already labelled the ruling as 'unfair'.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 20th June 2024

Manchester United looked to have been blocked by UEFA from making what would have been the first signing of the summer due to their co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS Group ties to his current club.

The Red Devils had lined up Ligue 1 defender Jean-Clair Todibo to fill the boots of the recently departed Raphaël Varane as one of their targets of the summer transfer window, but it looks as though INEOS‘ existing ventures have thrown a spanner in the works.

As reported by ever-reliable transfer source Fabrizio Romano on Wednesday, UEFA has apparently blocked the move for the player due to Ratcliffe and INEOS also owning OGC Nice, as the governing body is continuing to crack down on rules around multi-club ownership.

The transfer talk has now been ultimately backed up by The Telegraph‘s James Ducker, who confirmed that the association have now blocked the move for Todibo not simply down to Ratcliffe and co.’s controlling stake in the but because United and Nice have also qualified for the same competition.

While the two clubs have both been cleared to play in the UEFA Europa League next season despite INEOS’ vested interests in both teams – due to all parties agreeing that their share of transfer fees will be put into a ‘blind trust‘ – they are not permitted to complete deals with each other.

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This essentially comes down to UEFA’s principle that no organisation or individual can exert a “decisive influence” over the running of more than one club in the same competition, something which they believe Ratcliffe could be deemed to have.

Interestingly, many have noted that Man City were able to secure a player from Girona back in February – one of their sister teams under the CFG umbrella – despite them having both qualified for the Champions League next season, though it seems his loanee status from Troyes AC led to the loophole.

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Although the Manchester side is said to have eyed up Todibo as the perfect replacement for his outgoing compatriot at CB, they are by no means the only side interested in securing 24-year-old Todibo’s services this summer.

INEOS has also been informed they are free to sell him to another Premier League club, a stipulation that is said to have frustrated Ratcliffe. He also warned the division against becoming too stringent on spending rules.

The new United co-owner fears that being blocked by UEFA and the Premier League could become a regular obstacle for English teams.

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As the piece goes on to detail, the Failsworth-born billionaire responded by saying: “They’ve said we can sell him to another Premiership club but we can’t sell to Manchester United, but that’s not fair on the player and I don’t see what that achieves.”

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That isn’t all of United’s defensive targets exhausted though, as they are also thought to have agreed on personal terms with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, though the Merseysiders have so far rejected their initial £35 million bid.

Speaking to Bloomberg‘s business column, the 71-year-old said: “We want to be where Real Madrid are today, but it’ll take time… It’ll take two or three summer windows to get to a better place.”

At least when it comes to finding a new centre-half, though, he and Erik ten Hag will have to find another alternative beyond the highly sought-after Jean-Clair Todibo.

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

Featured Images — Equipe de France de Football/Jean-Clair Todibo (via IG)/Bloomberg

Sport

Roger Espinoza, part of Wigan Athletic’s famous 2013 FA Cup-winning side, has officially retired

Danny Jones Danny Jones Roger Espinoza Wigan retirement

Another member of Wigan’s FA Cup-winning side has decided to hang up their boots as Roger Espinoza has confirmed his retirement at the age of 37.

Espinoza’s most recent club was Sporting Kansas City, who he played for nearly 400 times across two different spells, but in between those two stints, he was part of the famous Wigan team that managed to beat a then resurgent Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup final.

Now 11 years on, the former Honduran international has revealed that he is calling time on his storied career following the conclusion of the 2023 American season.

As confirmed in an official club announcement, the number 11 will be honoured with a special pre-match ceremony at the home ground of Children’s Mercy Park before their game against Austin FC, along with a fireworks show immediately following the game.

Widely considered not just a footballing veteran but a legend of the league, he goes down as the player with the second-most appearances in Sporting KC history, winning three US Open Cup titles and helping carry them to 10 Audi MLS Cup Playoff appearances.

His time in Greater Manchester, however, was relatively fleeting; the midfielder went on to become somewhat of a utility player throughout his career after joining the Latics halfway through the season but was quickly thrown into the first team through necessity.

Following injuries to Maynor Figueroa and Jean Beausejour, Espinoza was deployed as a left wing-back under Roberto Martínez in that FA Cup final over a decade ago which proved to be a big shock and remains Wigan‘s only major trophy. He played for 42 games before leaving in December 2014.

Having racked up a total of 455 appearances all told – not including his caps for Honduras (52), who represented at two World Cups and even at the Olympics – scoring 17 goals and notching 49 assists, his playing career spans two decades and has already begun the transition into coaching.

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Paying tribute to his long-standing teammate and mate nicknamed ‘Lucky Lefty’, fellow Kansas City legend Graham Zusi was one of countless who paid tribute to Espinoza on social media, writing: “What a human. Ultimate teammate, leader, competitor and friend. Congrats, hermano!”

Roger Espinoza’s retirement also means that there are now just four surviving members of that 2013 FA Cup-winning side: James McCarthy, Callum McManaman, Jordi Gómez and goalkeeper Joel Robles.

Meanwhile, then-manager Martínez is in charge of the Portuguese national team competing at Euro 2024 as we speak, and ex-Wigan talisman Shaun Maloney is still at the club only now as the head coach himself, and has been in post since January 2023.

Any excuse for the ‘Tics to watch it back, eh?

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

Featured Images — Andy Witchger (via Flickr)/Wigan Athletic (via X)

Sport

The Chester Zoo 10k returns for a crucial fundraising cause

Danny Jones Danny Jones 2024 Chester Zoo 10k run

Runners, listen up because the much-loved Chester Zoo 10k is back for 2024 and this year’s run aligns with an important national day in the world of animal conservation.

Just the second time the charity event has taken place, Chester Zoo‘s ‘Run For Nature’ proved a success in its inaugural year and is now set to welcome 2,500 racers to the world-renowned and award-winning wildlife park for one of the coolest routes to jog around you could ever ask for.

In case you were in any doubt, yes, those taking part will stomp through the 128-acre zoo, racing
past Asian elephants, the rare Rothschild’s giraffes, camels, giant otters and more – all before continuing
out into the wider Cheshire countryside and circling back to the finish line at the zoo.

Say no more, sign us up.

Most importantly, this year’s Chester Zoo 10k lands on World Rhino Day, a global moment of observance and recognition of the majestic creatures which are still sadly threatened with potential extinction.

People from all over the globe gather together every try to raise awareness and money for this important cause on 22 September every year, and now both you and the zoo can do your bit lacing up your running shoes and simply going for a jog.

There were once more than 500,000 rhinos roaming across Africa, Asia and parts of Europe; now there are just 25,000 on the entire planet, including those kept in conservation facilities like Chester’s, but the hope is that with the money generated through initiatives like this, the population can rise once again.

Runners of all abilities are being invited to take part in the main 10K and there’s even a special one-mile ‘Zoom’ fun run for kids aged 4-15, so pretty much everyone can get involved.

All participants will receive a sustainable medal on completion of the run, as well as free entry to the zoo on the day. Top fundraisers will also have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes, such as annual zoo memberships, animal adoptions and experiences, as well as bundles of other vouchers.

chester zoo charity 10k
rhinos chester zoo
Credit: Chester Zoo

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All proceeds from the 2024 Run For Nature will go towards the zoo’s efforts to protect rhinos from extinction, which include developing innovative scientific techniques – which they have been pioneering for 15+ years – such as using hormone monitoring to provide crucial insights into the health of rhinos.

For instance, just a few months ago, this technology helped 21 critically endangered black rhinos (with a baby female being born at Chester Zoo back in November 2023) be returned to an area in northern Kenya where they had previously been extinct for 50 years.

Lorraine Jubb, Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo, said: “We’re really excited to be bringing back our 10k Run For Nature event… it’s a relatively flat route and an excellent opportunity to break your PB!…

“All you have to do is sign up online and we’ll send you a registration pack in the post, which includes all of the fundraising details and your numbered bib, so you can just turn up on the day and start warming up. It’s going to be a fun-filled day that the whole family can enjoy and make a real difference for wildlife.”

So, if you want to get involved and make a contribution to animal conservation this World Rhino Day, you can sign up for Chester Zoo’s 10k Run For Nature on Sunday, 22 September HERE and we’ll see you at the finish line.

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

Featured Images — Chester Zoo (supplied)

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