Ex-Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo didn’t hold back when talking about his old teammate Harry Maguire in a recent interview, along with Ole Gunnar Solskjær too.
The former United fullback didn’t spend a lot of time playing alongside the Red Devils’ current club captain, but it seems the England international didn’t leave the greatest impression on Rojo, who spent seven years at Old Trafford.
Speaking to Argentine outlet TyC Sports earlier this week, the 33-year-old spoke of the time he went into head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s office when United were playing in the Europa League and demanded that he be put in the starting lineup over Maguire or be allowed to leave.
Rojo explained how he was enjoying a good spell in his United career (which was often derailed by injuries), and was starting to play more regularly in cup games, but after Maguire signed for the club in 2019, he grew frustrated that he was playing in the team even despite poor performances.
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“I was playing in the Europa League, but I was really angry with the coach [Ole] because he was putting Maguire [in the squad] instead of me, who thank god they finally took him out of the starting lineup for Licha [Lisandro] Martinez.
“One day I went to Solskjaer’s office to tell him to let me leave for the other club or put [me] in the starting lineup, but he told me that Maguire had to play because of the money they paid for him.”, having signed for over £80 million — a then-world record fee for a defender.
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Rojo went on to say “[Maguire] was making huge mistakes already” — having regularly come under fire for lapses in concentration, poor form and general misfortune on the pitch for a while now — and said to Solskjaer: “Son of a b***h, let me play because this guy is making huge mistakes every week”.
While the remark was undercut with laughter, it’s clear that he was just as frustrated with the Norwegian as he was with Maguire.
Now playing at Boca Juniors back in his home country, Rojo’s United career might never have hit the heights he would have hoped for after singing all the way back in 2014, but it certainly looked like he spotted some of the same issues many Reds have raised for months now.
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With Lisandro Martinez now out for the rest of the season and Raphael Varane also struggling with injury problems, Erik ten Hag hasn’t been left with much choice other than to phase Maguire back into the starting lineup and will just hoping he can finally recover some kind of form.
Many supporters also think even one of Maguire’s current teammates may not be the biggest fan either.
As a Manc colleague remarked: ‘If someone looked at me like that I’d never wanna leave the house again’. 😂https://t.co/D2TIoFgf8Y
Featured Image — Marcos Rojo (via Instagram)/Man United (via Twitter)
Sport
Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes rolls back the years and goes to work at Flat Baker in Ancoats
Danny Jones
Manchester City star Matheus Nunes has already impressed many during his short time at the Etihad so far, but he impressed a few more this weekend not with his skills on the pitch but in the kitchen after moonlighting at a popular Manchester bakery, The Flat Baker in Ancoats.
The recent Man City signing might only have the one assist to his name during his time as a Blue thus far, but he’s served up more than a baker’s dozen to local Manc residents thanks to a quick shift as a pastry chef this past weekend.
However, it was by no means his first time in the kitchen, as Nunes revealed that he used to work in a bakery during the earlier days of his footballing career.
Getting put to work on one of The Flat Baker‘s bestsellers, their unbelievably addictive pastel de natas — trust us, they’re utterly sinful these things — the bakery’s owners Débora and her husband, also called Matheus, got the City star back up to speed. You can see the full video here:
Matheus Nunes surprised a fair few locals after popping up at this beloved Manc bakery.
That being said, as you can see, the 25-year-old midfielder was a bit of a dab hand after a few goes at it; the fact he not only had prior experience but also shares the same heritage as the bakery’s founders no doubt helped.
Born in Brazil but raised in Portugal — two places where these unmistakable sweet treats are most famous — Nunes explained how he, his mother and English step-father moved to Europe for “a better life” and to help his chances of becoming a footballer.
The former Wolves player went on to explain how he “failed a lot in school” and eventually his mum gave him a choice: “give up football or school, in order to start working”.
Starting out in his godfather’s bakery, he went on to spend a fair bit of time making bread and pastries and even appeared in a similar video back in Portugal after signing for Sporting Lisbon.
Naturally, the trio did eventually touch on football a little bit, with Nunes discussing what it’s like to play under Pep Guardiola and how nice it’s been to arrive at a club where there are plenty of Portuguese-speaking players like Ederson, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and others.
Débora also joked about how he has fared getting used to ‘Rainchester’ and he was polite enough to smile it off and simply reiterated that playing for City was oppurtunity he culdn’t pass up.
So, if things don’t work out in the Premier League, he can always swap the sky blue shirt of city for a lovely chef’s apron and help out over at The Flat Baker.
Featured Image — Manchester City/Sporting Club de Portugal (via YouTube)
Sport
Tributes pour in for Manchester City legend and former chairman Franny Lee
Danny Jones
Tributes are being paid to Manchester City legend and former chairman Francis ‘Franny’ Lee CBE, who has passed away aged 79.
The ex-Man City, Bolton Wanderers, Derby County and England star is said to have passed away in the early hours on Monday morning, 2 October, following a long battle with cancer.
Speaking via a club statement, his wife Gill along with children Charlotte, Jonny and Nik said, “He will be sorely missed and would like to thank everyone for their kind words”.
Both Manchester teams led tributes to the British footballing legend, with avid City fan Liam Gallagher and countless others joining in paying their respects.
Sending our sincere condolences to the loved ones of Francis and everyone connected with Manchester City at this terribly sad time 🙏
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Francis Lee at the age of 79. Franny won 27 caps and scored ten goals for the #ThreeLions between 1968 and 1972.
Social media has been filled with tributes following news of Franny Lee’s death.
Franny Lee scored 148 goals in 330 appearances during eight-year City, helping the club win multiple honours during their first periods of success, including the old First Division title back in 1968.
Born in Lancashire and starting out elsewhere in Greater Manchester at Bolton Wanderers, he also went on to play for Derby following his time with the Blues, helping the Rams to their second-ever title in 1975.
The striker also had 27 caps for England between 1968–1972, scoring 10 goals and winning FA Cup, League Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup and the Charity Shield twice at club level during that period.
Honouring their former centre-forward who went on to serve as Chairman for four years from 1994 onwards, the club statement read, “It is with the deepest sadness and heaviest of hearts we announce the passing of former Manchester City player and Chairman Francis Lee, aged 79”, adding that flags around the Etihad Campus are flying at half-mast.
His first club, Bolton, said of the former marksman, “All at Bolton Wanderers are saddened to learn of the passing of former forward, Francis Lee. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Francis’ family, friends and loved ones at this difficult time.”
As for legacy as for his time in Blue, the club had already planned to immortalise Lee prior to his death, announcing the erection of a statue back in May 2022, the reveal date of which will no doubt be moved up following his passing.
The club has also assured that “more tributes will follow in the coming days.”
Rest in peace to a legend.
Featured Image — Manchester City/England/Bolton Wanderers (via Twitter)
Danny Jones -
30th April 2023 
