Sport

Manchester United confirm double signing of former Ajax defensive duo as Wan-Bissaka departs

The Dutch connection continues.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 13th August 2024

Manchester United have completed some more important business in this year’s summer transfer window after confirming the double signing of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui as well as the departure of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

The defensive duo both played under Erik ten Hag during his time in charge of the impressive young team from 2019 and were heavily linked with an estimated £60 million joint-move from German giants Bayern Munich to Man United last week.

With injuries to fellow new signing Leny Yoro, who is now set to be out for up to three months, the club had little choice but to re-bolster their backline with another centre-back and full-back, especially given the extensive list of players that ended up on the physio table last season.

As a result, it looks as though new sporting director Dan Ashworth and co have moved quickly ahead of the 2024/25 campaign getting underway this Friday, 13 August and pulled the trigger on both defenders, with de Ligt and Mazraoui unveiled as new United players virtually in tandem on Tuesday night.

Then their youngest-ever captain, de Ligt was one of the most admired players in the aforementioned Ajax squad that ten Hag led to the Champions League semi-finals. He was one of several rising stars snapped up as the promising side was raided by big teams around Europe over the months following.

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After lifting the latest in a long line of Dutch titles that year, he then joined Juventus for around £65m, where he also won the league and a Coppa Italia, before joining Bayern in 2022 and winning a domestic double there too.

However, despite winning everywhere he’s been so far, the 25-year-old struggled to find his best form in Serie A and dropped out of the line starting XI as Munich conceded the Bundesliga trophy to Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023/24 campaign.

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While club legend Paul Scholes has expressed concerns over de Ligt’s recent lack of playing time and the fact that former Spurs star Eric Dier’s introduction into the back four has rendered him a “second-rate” defender, the hope is clearly that he will once again shine under his previous coach.

As for Mazraoui, the 26-year-old Morrocan right-back is effectively set to replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has been in and out of the United squad with injuries and simply falling second fiddle to the more attacking wing-back talents of Diogo Dalot.

Having now officially unveiled both new signings, they pair mark a total of 11 transfers that ten Hag has made involving a player either from the Netherlands or who has represented a team in the Eredivisie since arriving at Old Trafford.

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Wan-Bissaka officially joined West Ham on Tuesday, 13 August in a deal reportedly worth around £15m, a full £30m less than what they paid for him back in 2019.

He made nearly 200 appearances for the Red Devils.

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Having already brought in two players in Yoro and another Dutch connection with Joshua Zirkzee, de Ligt and Mazraoui are the third and fourth signings of the summer, as well as the new INEOS era.

Speaking on the move, de Ligt said: “Erik ten Hag shaped the early stages of my career, so he knows how to get the best out of me and I cannot wait to work with him again. I know what it takes to succeed at the highest level, and I’m determined to continue that record at this special club.”

Adding similar in his own welcome statement, Ashworth described Mazraoui as “a dynamic, attacking full-back who can play on both the right and left side of defence”, adding, “His experience and versatility will make him an excellent addition to our squad.

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Meanwhile, there has been little update on United’s potential deal for Manuel Ugarte after terms between the club and the player were said to have been agreed.

Elsewhere over in the blue half of the city, Premier League champions and freshly-crowned Community Shield holders Manchester City have bid goodbye to striker Julián Álvarez after they reached a club-record deal with Atlético Madrid.

Atlético Madrid agree record fee with Manchester City to sign Julián Álvarez

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Featured Images — Bayern Munich (via IG)/West Ham/Nawfel Ajari (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sport

Tributes paid as Curzon Ashton FC founder Harry Twamley dies following a ‘long illness’

Danny Jones Danny Jones Curzon Ashton founder dies after long illness

Tributes are pouring as local team Curzon Ashton FC have confirmed that club founder Harry Twamley BEM has sadly passed away at the age of 82.

Based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, the National League North side shared the news on Wednesday morning, with fans across the region as well as up and down the English footballing pyramid paying their respects.

Posting on social media, the Curzon Ashton official accounts wrote: “It is with deep regret that we announce that Harry Twamley (BEM) passed away after a long illness.”

“Our condolences are expressed to Richard and Jayne and to the rest of his family at this time.”

While they explained that a full statement will be shared online in the coming days, the initial announcement on the club website featured heartfelt words from former club chairman Wayne Salkeld, who took over from Twamley back in the 2018/19 season, spending five years at the helm.

Salkeld said: “It’s a sad day for everyone at the club. I was honoured when Harry asked me to become chairman in 2018/19 and I will never forget that day.

“I’m going to miss our phone calls which were every day. Thanks for the memories and we will work hard to keep your legacy going.”

Curzon Ashton director Oliver Newall also shared a touching tribute to the club founder, who set up the club back in 1963, adding: “What an incredible man. Someone who brought Curzon Ashton into the world and whom without we would not have had so many amazing moments and memories.

“The word legend gets thrown around too often… Harry Twamley was a legend and he will be missed so much.” He was joined by numerous fans and other clubs in offering their condolences.

By all accounts, one of the loveliest men in football. (Credit: Screenshots via X)

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Other teams paying tribute included Salford City, Saddleworth Cricket Club and nearby non-league outfit, FC United of Manchester.

The lattermost wrote: “From all at FC United, we would like to pay our respects to a legend of the game in Greater Manchester, we ground-shared at Curzon Ashton and saw first-hand what an immense character Harry was.”

Twamley was named in Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honours list back in 2017 and awarded an Order of the British Empire medal for his services to amateur football. Our thoughts go out to his friends, family, The Nash and their supporters.

Rest in peace to an important local figure and treasured champion of the grassroots game.

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

Featured Images — Curzon Ashton FC (via X)

Sport

Manchester City is looking for ‘diehard fans’ to be part of a new documentary series

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester City is looking for some diehard fans to be part of a new documentary series by sharing their love for the club.

The Sky Blues are no stranger to a documentary, having had several successful series and feature-length shows air on Amazon Prime, Netflix, and the club’s own online TV platform CITY+, over the past couple of years – drawing in millions of viewers across the globe each time.

But now, it sounds like there’s another one in the works… and you could be a part of it.

The football club is looking for families with four generations of supporters to share their special memories of following Manchester City down the years.

On top of this, the club is also keen to find fan videos that can help take documentary viewers into the stands from a City fan’s perspective, and is asking that people get in touch and send footage that they’ve taken of some of the club’s most famous moments from over the years – including reactions to Sergio Aguero’s famous goal against QPR in 2012, and the Treble-winning season.

Footage could also be submitted from other important milestones such as the 1999 play off final, or from things like random away days in the 1980s, or even City-themed kids’ birthday parties from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.

No matter whether the footage was taken on a mobile phone, old-school video camera, or something similar, it could come in useful.

Manchester City is looking for ‘diehard fans’ to be part of a new documentary series / Credit: Manchester City

The only condition is that all footage submitted by fans must be their own, and not recordings from commercial media, or copied from YouTube or any other media/social media outlets.

Keen to be a part of the production then?

If you would like you and your family to be considered for the documentary, then you can email [email protected] with your details and stories about supporting City.

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All footage to be considered for inclusion in the documentary can be emailed to [email protected].

Featured Image – Manchester City

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