MANCHESTER UNITED boss Erik Ten Hag has slammed his side's 'unacceptable' defeat against Spanish outfit Cadiz.
The Red Devils participated in their first warm-weather friendly but it didn't go to plan having lost 4-2.
Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes has defended Cristiano Ronaldo after his former teammate was dropped for Portugal's emphatic World Cup win over Switzerland.
Fernandes said: "Cristiano is doing his job, he’s doing his part, he’s happy with the result because the goal for everyone is to go as far as possible.
"When Cristiano plays and the team loses, everyone talks. [He is] the most famous player in the world. No one is more famous than Cristiano in sports, not in football, in sports."
And Cody Gakpo has dropped a huge transfer hint as Holland star eyes £65million transfer to Old Trafford.
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Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes could have represented another country other than Portugal if his dad had his way.
Fernandes' father Jose wanted his family to leave Portugal but his son refused aged just 12.
The attacking midfielder wanted to stay in his homeland because he thought the standard of football was better there and he stood an improved chance of making it as a professional.
But his father, who also was a footballer, was keen for his family to emigrate to Switzerland, according to Blick.
If the Portugal international did make the move he would have then been eligible to play for the Swiss team
Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham will seal a move to Manchester City over any of their rivals, according to Rio Ferdinand.
Speaking on FIVE, Ferdinand said: “Pep Guardiola’s signed a new deal, if they don’t win the Champions League this year, he goes there with a mindset, ‘I am going to be the man that brings you the Champions League.’
“That’s how I think he’s moving, that’s how I think he rolls. I think he will [go to City], I think he’ll say he’s got a couple of mates there, England boys, ‘I can go to [Real] Madrid in five years’.
“I think he thinks, ‘listen man, I’m a superstar, I want to go win the league and the Premier League because I’m an English-born boy and then I’ll go Madrid and do the same there in a couple of years’.
“The mad thing is he’s got the chance, the great thing is he has the absolute choice and pick of what he does. There will be clubs queuing up”
Despite Manchester United legend Patrice Evra’s confidence in France’s ability to beat England, he warned Les Bleus against underestimating Gareth Southgate’s men.
Evra said: “With England, the star is the team. It’s not just one player.
“This is the best English side, as a team, not as a group of individuals. England look more of a unit than France.
“But [Jude] Bellingham will be by far the best midfielder England have ever had.
“What a joy it is to see him play. He is a complete player. It’s scary he’s only 19”
Manchester United legend Patrice Evra reckons both England and France are capable of lifting the World Cup next Sunday if they both get past their “biggest test of the tournament”.
But the 41-year-old reckons Didier Deschamps’ side could embarrass the Three Lions on the biggest stage.
Evra told Betfair: “I am confident, but not arrogant. I’m happy with what France are doing. It’s a big mix. I feel like France are going to smash England.
“France will face an angry, strong team. If they play with the attitude that they are stronger and more confident than England, France can smash them.
“Playing against England is always special as a French player. It’s always an amazing game. It’s a nice rivalry, it’s not bitter. We’re jealous of each other in a nice way”
John Stones and Manchester United ace Harry Maguire will find it nearly impossible to deal with Kylian Mbappe, according to Red Devils legend Patrice Evra.
Evra said: “[Kyle] Walker is going to block Mbappe, he did it against Neymar very well in the Champions League for Manchester City.
“He can be confident and say he’s got him because he’s fast and strong, but Mbappe will find a way to escape. He will move into the centre.
“I hope he does because Stones and Maguire won’t be able to deal with him. It will be difficult for them to stop him.
“To stop Mbappe when he’s in the centre, you have to be close to him every time, frustrate him, foul him – he doesn’t like to be fouled.
“Maguire and Stones will love playing against [Olivier] Giroud though, he’s not fast, he’s strong and that is the jackpot for them”
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford is the latest England star to take on the gauntlet that is Bukayo Saka's "spelling school."
A host of other Three Lions stars including Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Declan Rice have all tried and failed to pass Saka's tricky spelling bees.
After realising he was being filmed Rashford burst into laughter, as the winger revealed his word was "embarrassed."
After a moment's thought the forward gave it his best shot, and was so close to becoming the first person to pass Saka's spelling school.
However, Rashford went with just one r, when of course he needed two.
To signal Rashford's wrong answer, Saka made an attempt at a Britain's Got Talent style buzzer before bursting out into laughter and yelling : "You're wrong"
Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo has been warned by Tyson Fury about how time catches up to everyone.
Boxer Fury, who is a United fan, has weighed in and warned Ronaldo that his time at the top is coming to an end.
The Gypsy King told talkSPORT: "At the time [beating Wladimir Klitschko] was the Everest. I was the heavy underdog, people thought I was going to get smashed to pieces, and he was the unified champion for like 11 years and at some point thought he was unbeatable, but I went over to Germany and beat him.
"In this game it’s not about how much better somebody is than the other person, a lot of it has to do with natural stuff, like age, and at 38-years old you are on the decline, whether you want to admit it or not.
"If you look at Cristiano Ronaldo, he’s 37 years old, he’s had the best doctors, the best physiotherapists, he’s lived like an egg in Mr Kipling’s cake.
"But even Ronaldo is on the slide now, so even someone who has looked after himself like that, it catches up to you… so imagine a boxer who has been punched to pieces for the last 20 years.
"The age factor will not wait for anybody, no matter how you’ve lived. Whether you’ve never had a drink in your life, if you’ve never run on any hard surfaces, no matter who you are, age will get you eventually"
Brazil manager Tite has hit back at Roy Keane after the Manchester United legend labelled his players' dancing celebrations as "disrespectful".
The Brazilian tactician said: “If I'm asked to dance, I'll dance. It's not my team.
"It is the Brazilian national team, for which I have the responsibility of being a coach.
“I'm sorry and I won't talk about those who don't know the history and culture of Brazil”
Manchester United are keen to sign Borussia Monchengladbach star Yann Sommer on a free transfer.
Sommer can leave the German club on a free transfer when is Gladbach contract expires in the summer.
According to ESPN, United are currently working on the deal during the 2022 World Cup break.
The goalkeeper’s arrival could mean that David de Gea will soon be shown the exit door at Old Trafford
Manchester United are tracking KS Samara starlet Sergey Pinyaev, 18, who became the youngest player for the Russian national team when he made his debut in November.
Pinyaev is considered to be one of the most exciting prospects to come out of the country.
The winger has already become an important member of Samara, having scored four goals and assisted four more this campaign.
Manager Igor Osinkin has already suggested that the Red Devils are scouting the youngster.
Osinkin told sports.ru: "The fact that Manchester is watching him is controlled by his progress — which is good. These are additional incentives for him.
"But we must honestly admit that much more work needs to be done to reach the level of such a club"
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has admitted he is keen to sign Manchester United star Marcus Rashford.
Al-Khelaifi said: "He’s another player who’s amazing and for free? To have Rashford for free, every club will run after him.
"Definitely, we spoke before and interest, but the moment was not a good moment for both sides.
"Maybe summer, why not? If he is a free agent, we can talk to him directly.
"But we are not going to talk to him now and let him focus on the World Cup.
"In January, hopefully, we would be interested in talking to him"
PSV Eindhoven star Cody Gakpo says he would consider joining Manchester United in January.
That is after United snubbed a summer deal for Gakpo after opting to buy Antony for £85.5million instead.
The Netherlands international said about his failed move to Old Trafford: “That was a tough period. I learned from that. I’m going to do it differently. What comes, that comes.
“I thought about Manchester United, but when that didn’t happen, I couldn’t remember. And I started to doubt. Leeds United did come. Should I go there?
“Now I wait for everything. I haven’t heard from Manchester United yet. When they come, I’ll think about it. I also seek the help of God in these decisions”
Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has backed ex-Red Devils team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo after he was dropped by Portugal.
Fernandes said: “Do you think anyone likes to be on the bench? I don’t think Cristiano would be happy.
“If the manager put me on the bench in the next game, I would be angry.
“Cristiano is doing his job, he’s doing his part, he’s happy with the result because the goal for everyone is to go as far as possible”
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag slammed his players after a 4-2 friendly defeat to Cadiz.
Ten Hag told MUTV: "We prepared them. [We knew] They are a threat in transition and we have seen the second goal. It can't happen.
"You are not awake. Especially in the midfield, we got run off, this is not possible. Unacceptable.
"The first goal was as well. A set play, bad organisation and bad discipline in the organisation, and you concede a goal"
Manchester United suffered a 4-2 defeat to Cadiz on Wednesday during a mid-season friendly at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla.
Carlos Garcia-Die Sanchez and Anthony Lozano put the hosts ahead in the first half.
Anthony Martial and Kobbie Mainoo managed to equalise with a comeback.
But Cadiz picked up the victory following goals by Ruben Sobrino and Tomas Alarcon
Marcus Rashford is the latest England star to take on the gauntlet that is Bukayo Saka's "spelling school."
A host of other Three Lions stars including Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Declan Rice have all tried and failed to pass Saka's tricky spelling tests.
And Manchester United ace Rashford became the latest cornered England star.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
Man Utd are nearing a free transfer for Switzerland goalie Yann Sommer.
The Gladbach goalie is out of contract next summer.
And ESPN says United are well advanced in talks over a pre-agreement from January onwards.
Sommer would likely replace Newcastle loanee Martin Dubravka, with Tom Heaton also likely to leave.
Bruno Fernandes has backed ex-Man Utd teammate Cristiano Ronaldo after the veteran was dropped by Portugal.
Fernandes said: “Do you think anyone likes to be on the bench? I don’t think Cristiano would be happy.
“If the manager put me on the bench in the next game, I would be angry.
“Cristiano is doing his job, he’s doing his part, he’s happy with the result because the goal for everyone is to go as far as possible.”
Zidane Iqbal had Manchester United fans raving after his impressive performance in a 4-2 drubbing at the hands of Cadiz.
A fan tweeted: "Bro Zidane Iqbal is too good. Should be kept at all cost. And Garnacho too."
Another said: "Iqbal should be starting, wonderful player."
A third raved: "I love Zidane Iqbal. What a talent!"
Prem clubs are beginning to emerge from their enforced winter hibernation.
Qatar 2022 brought an unprecedented pre-conceived six week shutdown half-way through the campaign.
But with bosses now starting to gear up through a series of friendlies for the Boxing Day return to Prem arms, the big question is how the World Cup will impact the domestic agenda.
SunSport looks at the 20 Prem teams to work out the likely winners and losers from a situation none of them will want to see repeated…
SEE OUR WINNERS & LOSERS
Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly threatened to leave Portugal’s World Cup squad.
That’s after being dropped for the 6-1 thrashing of Switzerland.
Record claims the ex-Man Utd man made a threat to quit camp after finding he was on the bench.
But the Portuguese FA have categorically denied the reports.
Rio Ferdinand has warned old side Man Utd to forget about signing Jude Bellingham – as he will go to rivals City instead.
Ferdinand said: "Pep Guardiola's signed a new deal, if they don't win the Champions League this year, he goes there with a mindset, 'I am going to be the man that brings you the Champions League.'
"That's how I think he's moving, that's how I think he rolls. I think he will (go to City), I think he'll say he's got a couple of mates there, England boys, 'I can go to (Real) Madrid in five years'.
"I think he thinks, 'listen man, I'm a superstar, I want to go win the league and the Premier League because I'm an English-born boy and then I'll go Madrid and do the same there in a couple of years’.”
Erik ten Hag slammed his Man Utd flops after a 4-2 friendly defeat to Cadiz.
He told MUTV: "We prepared them. (We knew) They are a threat in transition and we have seen the second goal. It can't happen.
"You are not awake. Especially in the midfield, we got run off, this is not possible. Unacceptable.
"The first goal was as well. A set play, bad organisation and bad discipline in the organisation, and you concede a goal."
Manchester United lost in their return to action in a mid-season friendly to Cadiz 4-2.
Anthony Martial scored from the penalty spot and youngster Kobbie Mainoo got the other goal.
Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham is not expected to sign for Man Utd, according to reports in Germany.
But they could need a new striker as Cristiano Ronaldo has left the club.
He was left out of Portugal's starting XI as they demolished Switzerland 6-1.
And manager Fernando Santos has claimed his axing was tactical and not personal after Ronaldo appeared to sulk when he was subbed off against South Korea.
Santos admitted he was not happy with Ronaldo but denied a fall out.
United could go in for Cody Gakpo. The PSV winger has impressed at this year's World Cup netting three goals and he has admitted that would consider a move to Old Trafford but said he is yet to hear from them.
Jude Bellingham will seal a transfer to Manchester City over any of their rivals, according to Rio Ferdinand.
Speaking on FIVE, he said: "Pep Guardiola's signed a new deal, if they don't win the Champions League this year, he goes there with a mindset, 'I am going to be the man that brings you the Champions League.'
"That's how I think he's moving, that's how I think he rolls.
"I think he will (go to City), I think he'll say he's got a couple of mates there, England boys, 'I can go to (Real) Madrid in five years'."
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