EPL
Eden Hazard’s One Problem That Saw Barcelona “Reject” Him
Bojan Krkić recently opened up about why he advised against Barcelona signing Eden Hazard during the Belgian’s early career.
Hazard, who was one of Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez’s high-profile signings, struggled to make a lasting impact at Madrid.
The Belgian winger began his senior career at Lille in France, where he caught the attention of top European clubs before ultimately moving to Chelsea.
Concerns Over Hazard’s Professionalism
In a recent interview on Cadena Ser’s “Què T’hi Jugues” program, Bojan, now Barcelona’s football coordinator, revealed his reservations about Hazard’s professionalism when scouting him for Barcelona.
“I first saw him at the Under-17 European Championship, where my son was also competing. Belgium reached the final but lost to Spain. Hazard was excellent throughout the tournament, though not as impressive in the final,” Bojan shared.
Later, Bojan attended a Lille match against Montpellier to watch Hazard in action. “It was August, and during the warm-up, I noticed everyone else was in short sleeves, while Hazard wore a tracksuit and warmed up separately from the team. While others stretched, he seemed distracted, watching the stands instead,” Bojan said. “Though he played well, his attitude raised red flags.”
A few days later, he observed Hazard again against Angers. “Hazard was on the bench, and while other substitutes warmed up, he seemed disengaged, merely walking around and watching the game. I marked him as ‘rejected’ in my report.”
Reflecting on his experience, Bojan added, “Players like Hazard, with undeniable skill, often don’t deliver results due to attitude. I’ve seen this with former teammates and players I scouted. My report highlighted his technical and tactical quality but ruled him out due to issues with attitude and personality.”
A Missed Opportunity for Barça?
Hazard’s attitude was a major point of criticism during his time at Real Madrid, compounded by injuries that limited his impact.
Despite his talent, Barcelona ultimately decided against pursuing him, largely due to concerns about his commitment. In hindsight, the decision may have saved the club from facing similar challenges Madrid did with the once-promising winger.
EPL
‘I’m Not Naive’, Says Amorim As He Relishes ‘Difficult’ Man Utd Challenge
Ruben Amorim is stepping into his role as Manchester United’s new head coach with a realistic outlook, acknowledging the “challenging” journey ahead.
After overseeing his final match as Sporting CP’s manager—a 4-2 victory over Braga to preserve their flawless start to the Primeira Liga season—Amorim wrapped up his successful tenure with a remarkable record.
The 39-year-old achieved 164 wins in 231 games (D34 L33), leaving with a club-best 71% win rate.
Amorim joins United after an encouraging stint by interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who remained unbeaten in four games. Despite the boost from recent results, Amorim is aware of the scale of the challenge awaiting him at Old Trafford.
“I’m ready for this new challenge,” Amorim shared with reporters after his final Sporting match. “But I’m not naive; I understand this will be very different and very demanding. I’m at peace now, able to focus fully on what lies ahead, and I’m excited to start tomorrow.”
Though hopeful about the fresh opportunity, he also acknowledged the unique pressures of his new role: “I know it will be hard to replicate what I had here, but there are other places with their own exposure and intensity.”
The club has yet to officially confirm Amorim’s backroom team, leaving it unclear if Van Nistelrooy will remain. The former United striker rejoined the club over the summer as an assistant to Erik ten Hag, signing a two-year contract. “I’ll speak with him [on Monday],” Amorim noted. “I’ll be straightforward. Let’s see where we stand.”
With 13 days before United’s next game, an away match against Ipswich Town on November 24, Amorim has the international break to prepare. He will make his Old Trafford debut shortly after, on November 28, in a Europa League clash against Bodo/Glimt.
EPL
Ruud van Nistelrooy Brutally Axed By Amorim In New Manager’s First Decision On Day One
Ruud van Nistelrooy will not continue with Manchester United, following a swift decision by new manager Ruben Amorim to release him from his role.
Van Nistelrooy, who initially returned to Old Trafford over the summer to work under Erik ten Hag, stepped into the interim manager role after Ten Hag’s departure on October 28.
Despite leading United to an unbeaten four-match streak, culminating in a 3-0 victory over Leicester City, this marked his final game with the club, as Amorim decided not to retain him.
Although Amorim’s coaching staff lineup has yet to be officially announced, it is confirmed that Van Nistelrooy will not be part of it.
Amorim, who managed Sporting Lisbon prior to his move to United, secured a win in his final game in Portugal just a day before his arrival in Manchester earlier today.
Before taking his flight from Beja International Airport, Amorim indicated he would discuss Van Nistelrooy’s future with him on Monday.
The flight, a private jet, became the most tracked journey worldwide on Flightradar24, sparking intense fan interest and speculation as Amorim prepares to shape his new team.
EPL
Chelsea Get Hug Victor Osimhen Transfer Discount As Enzo Maresca Maps Path To Dream Signing
Victor Osimhen is once again showing why he carries such a hefty price tag, delivering standout performances that highlight what clubs may have missed out on when he faced Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League.
The Nigerian striker joined Galatasaray on loan this summer after no club was willing to meet his substantial €130 million (£108 million) release clause. Since moving to Turkey, however, Osimhen has reminded Europe of his value.
In just five Super Lig games, he’s tallied four goals and two assists. In the Europa League, he’s added two goals and two assists, including a brace against Spurs on Thursday night.
Against Tottenham, Osimhen was relentless. He took seven shots, five of which were on target, and constantly troubled their defense. So far this season, he’s only gone without a goal contribution once, proving nearly impossible to contain.
This impressive form may have Chelsea regretting their decision to pass on him, as they were in the market for a forward but weren’t prepared to pay his high asking price over the summer.
Now, with his outstanding performances at Galatasaray, Chelsea and other clubs might consider making a move for him in January or next summer — and at a significantly reduced fee.
When Osimhen moved to Turkey, he renegotiated his contract with Napoli, where he was sidelined by new manager Antonio Conte. The revised contract includes a lower release clause, dropping to €90 million (£75 million) in January and further decreasing to €75 million (£62 million) in summer 2025.
Interestingly, Osimhen’s loan agreement with Galatasaray allows him to end his loan early if one of 10 unnamed clubs makes an offer for a permanent transfer in January.
This unique clause could make him an even more attractive option for top clubs, including Chelsea, who may find his new, lower release fee hard to resist. Given his stellar displays in Turkey and the Europa League, it’s likely Osimhen will be a hot commodity in the upcoming transfer windows.
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