Latest news with #ex-InterMilan
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Sir Jim Ratcliffe warned Man Utd's McTominay mistake on the brink of repeating
After Scott McTominay enjoyed the season of his life at Napoli, Paul Ince warned Sir Jim Ratcliffe against allowing other stars to depart Manchester United Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince has cautioned Sir Jim Ratcliffe about hastily selling Rasmus Hojlund, advising a loan spell might be more beneficial based on Scott McTominay's experience. The Red Devils had a dreadful season, finishing an abysmal 15th and succumbing to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final. Meanwhile, McTominay flourished with Napoli and was named Serie A's Most Valuable Player. For Antonio Conte's side, he has proven to be a bargain at £25million. Against this backdrop, £72m man Hojlund struggled this season and looked equally at sea under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. However, Ince is convinced there is a top striker in Hojlund waiting to be unleashed. The ex-Inter Milan man urged Ratcliffe to loan the 22-year-old, perhaps to another team in Serie A, so he can find his confidence and return to United as a more well-rounded and experienced forward. United lost out on the opportunity to do this with McTominay, as they sold him to the Serie A champions permanently. Speaking on behalf of bet365, Ince told the Manchester Evening News: "He (Hojlund) is still a young lad. He's got a lot to learn. I'd like to see him go on loan somewhere, let him go find his feet, get a bit of confidence. "It's a tough place at United with the expectations, that are required from you. He might need someone to play next to him, maybe a senior centre-forward, to take him under his wing. "It looks like he is playing every game on his own. I know Zirkzee has come from Bologna, but that has not really worked out in this moment of time. As a striker, you need someone to lean on and take the pressure off you, but he has not had that all season. It looks like it is affecting his game. "There is a very good player in there, believe me, a very good player. Maybe a little loan spell, out in Italy, somewhere like that, get some goals for a few months, get some confidence and then come back in. "United look like they are about to sign (Matheus) Cunha, who is a very good player, but even someone like Ollie Watkins would be a very good player. "Maybe Hojlund could come back after that, work underneath, play a certain amount of games where the pressure would not be on him too much? At the minute, there is a lot of pressure." Despite arriving from Atalanta with a hefty £72m price tag in the summer of 2023, Hojlund has struggled to live up to expectations at Old Trafford, managing just four Premier League goals this season amidst a challenging campaign. United were understood to be plotting a move for Liam Delap, but the Ipswich Town hitman looks to be on his way to Chelsea. Amorim has looked seemingly unimpressed by Hojlund's efforts. However, Ince points to McTominay's successful stint in Naples as an example of how a move could jumpstart his fortunes. He said: "It's funny because some players fit certain teams and environments. "When you look at Scott McTominay, you think, 'How the hell did they let him go?' Sometimes, it's the manager, what is going on at the club. You look at Antony, he's been great at Real Betis and played in a cup final. "You look at these two players, who could not perform the way they are performing now. Is it them, is it the coach, is it the environment, the pressures and expectations of playing for Manchester United? "As a midfield player, I've always loved McTominay, I always thought he was one of the few who was actually trying to make things happen at Manchester United. But I'm so pleased he's managed to go there, because he will be a god there. I know what those fans are like and Antony the same." Paul Ince was speaking on behalf of bet365, the official global partner of the UEFA Champions League, which is hosting its Big Ticket Giveaway Game this Friday 30th May in Munich from 4pm, where fans have the chance to win tickets to the UEFA Champions League final. Full Terms and Conditions apply. Gamble Responsibly. Full interview can be found at bet365 News. Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I was idolised by Inter's ultras – they smashed fan's nose when he touched me'
The ultras in Italian football are some of the most unique supporters in the game, as one ex-Inter Milan star can attest to after his shocking first-hand experience Italy is known for romance, but a punch in the face was the Inter Milan ultras' way of expressing their love for Paul Ince. Fortunately for the ex-Manchester United and Liverpool star, he was not the one left tasting iron. In 1995, Ince departed Old Trafford and moved to the San Siro, where he shared a dressing room with the likes of Roberto Carlos, Ivan Zamorano, Nicola Berti and many others. It didn't take long for Ince to establish himself in Serie A. He dominated the midfield while wearing the No. 8 shirt of the Nerazzurri, and their iconic fan base took him in as one of their own - quite literally on one occasion. Like their most extreme supporters, who light up the stands with flares as their drums and megaphones radiate chaos around stadiums in Europe, Ince will be willing Inter on in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Italian clubs have their own unique way of showing their love for players, as Ince found out during his time in the capital. Yet, the endearment they paid to him had unfortunate and painful ramifications for one poor ultra. In an exclusive interview with Mirror Football, while speaking on behalf of bet365, Ince recalled a time he joined the ultras in the stands. As a reminiscing smile stretched across his face, Ince said: "I'll tell you a story, alright? "I got sent off against someone, unlike me. I missed a couple of games. We were playing against some team, I think it was Sampdoria or someone like that. I said to my best mate, who played for Inter, 'I'm going to spend a game upstairs with the ultras.' Watch our full Champions League final interview with Paul Ince and Claude Makelele here "I spoke to the ultras and this bossman came down with two of his sidekicks and took me all the way up to where all the ultras are. Some geezer went to grab me to say, 'Ah, Paul Ince.' "The ultra turned around and smashed him straight in the nose. This poor geezer's nose was like that (mimicking a nose that has been flattened). I thought, 'Wow.' They were like, 'Don't touch Paul Ince, nobody touches Paul Ince.'" Seeing a man take a huge hook to the nose would normally be anybody's cue to leave the area, but the blue and black lions den that is the Internazionale ultras is no normal place. Ince continued to follow the head ultra, while other fans in the area cleared a path and maybe avoided looking at the Englishman. While that supporter was left tasting their own blood, the ex-England international was hooked on the adrenaline rush of being with the fanbase - and nearly 30 years later, there's only one thing Ince wants to do. He added: "They took me right to the front, right up to the nets and they were singing and chanting, it was the best atmosphere ever. To this day, I want to do it again, I'd love to do it again. I did not get many red cards in the Premier League. But in Italy, it was different. Players were rolling over, feigning injuries. "I got sent off about three times, which was very rare for me. I was a strong tackler, but in Italy, I got sent off a lot. I think the fans loved me because of that. The fans were devastated when I left. The fans still love me and still idolise me, so it was great.' He would go on to leave Inter and return to Liverpool after two seasons, in a move that broke the hearts of the Italian giants and their ultras. Family reasons is what drove Ince back to England. Despite his exit, he is still admired by fans at the club to this day, so it's hard to imagine he'd struggle to secure another invite from the ultras.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Coach hails youngsters as Kawasaki reach first Champions League final
Kawasaki Frontale coach Shigetoshi Hasebe hailed his young players after they "stepped up" to reach the AFC Champions League final by stunning Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr. Frontale will play another Saudi side, Al Ahli, in Saturday's final after prevailing 3-2 in a fierce test against Al Nassr three days after being taken to extra time in their quarter-final. Advertisement Despite having only 25 percent possession on Wednesday night Frontale went 3-1 up in the 76th minute and were holding on comfortably until Ayman Yahya pulled one back three minutes from time. Al Nassr, who also had former Premier League strikers Sadio Mane and Jhon Duran in their ranks, and ex-Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, threw everything at the tiring Kawasaki players in search of an equaliser. The 40-year-old Ronaldo could not convert three chances in the dying moments, leaving his hopes of adding the Asian crown to his five UEFA Champions League victories in tatters. Hasebe said fatigue after Kawasaki's 3-2 extra-time win against Qatar's Al Sadd had led him to turn to the fresh legs of 19-year-old Soma Kanda and Yuto Ozeki, 20, who ran their hearts out before being substituted at half-time. Advertisement "We went 120 minutes just three days ago so I had to make some tough decisions," said Hasebe, whose bold selection was rewarded as Ozeki scored Kawasaki's second goal in the 41st minute. "Some players were close to cramping and we had to make changes, but thankfully there were no injuries. That tells me the plan worked well. "Our two young players stepped up. Their main job was to contain Brozovic but they also contributed well going forward," he added. It will be Kawasaki's first Champions League final and they will face Al Ahli at their home King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah. Advertisement "We want to deliver another surprise in the final," said Hasebe. "I'm proud we upset the expectations tonight." Al Nassr coach Stefano Pioli said Frontale's intensity was pivotal. "Kawasaki surprised us with their level," said the Italian. "Our biggest issue was a lack of discipline and too many mistakes, we didn't play to our potential. "We knew the opponents' style but we just weren't good enough." bur-dh/pst
The Sun
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Man Utd Champions League winner, 59, tells Andre Onana ‘you need to shut up at times' after wild Lyon scenes
MANCHESTER UNITED legend Teddy Sheringham advised goalkeeper Andre Onana to "shut up at times" after his wild Lyon celebrations. Onana, 29, split opinion two weeks ago in the Europa League during a dramatic quarter-final second leg at Old Trafford that saw United going through after an intense 5-4 win on extra time. 2 2 The goalkeeper, whose two blunders led to a 2-2 draw in the first leg, was booed by the French fans across both meetings after saying Man Utd are better than the Ligue 1 giants. That led to a fiery response from ex-United star Nemanja Matic, who currently plays for Lyon, as he labelled the Cameroon international "one of the worst goalkeepers in the club's history". Onana endured a turbulent week after all that drama and was dropped from Ruben Amorim's squad for the following trip to Newcastle in order to cool off. And the ex-Inter Milan star couldn't hold his emotion after Manuel Ugarte's early opener at Old Trafford as he celebrated in front of the travelling Lyon fans. The former Ajax keeper ran over in front of the visiting end and performed a jumping, dancing jig, nodding his head in delight. Sheringham watched Onana 's antics and even though he is "all for the passion" he is adamant the player needs to learn to "button his lip" sometimes. The 1999 Treble winner, though, understands what provoked that reaction as players are often under tremendous pressure. Sheringham told CasinoHawks: "With Andre Onana, I'm all for the passion but it's not about what's happened in the past and it's not about saying what you're going to do, it's all about results and performances on the pitch. "You need to shut up at times and just button your lip and just hold your tongue if you can. "But I fully understand the pressure these people are under."
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roma Legend Hits Back At Ex Inter Milan President: 'Didn't Like What He Said'
Roma icon Francesco Totti replied to Massimo Moratti after the ex-Inter Milan president declared he refused to sign him back in the day. Speaking to Viva El Futbol via FCInterNews, Totti shed light on the matter, admitting he never considered leaving the Stadio Olimpico. Totti's loyalty was never a subject of debate. However, former Roma president Franco Sensi had to deal with substantial financial problems during his tenure. Therefore, offloading Totti – the club's most prized asset at the time – was a reluctant option for the Giallorossi. During his recent interview with Corriere della Sera, Massimo Moratti stated he had a chance to sign the Roma legend. Moratti claimed that Sensi offered him Totti in tears, but he rejected the proposal out of respect for the capital-based club. However, Moratti's statement didn't sit well with Il Pupone as he opened up on the situation. 'Berlusconi wanted me at Milan? Let's also say Moratti,' Totti said. 'He is a gentleman, one of the greatest in football. 'But I didn't really like his statements against the Sensi family. 'Sensi never wanted to sell me, he wouldn't hear of it: he was always adamant. 'So, if anything, it was the opposite – Moratti and Inter wanted me at all costs, but Sensi always said no to them. 'It was important to clarify this,' Totti concluded. Francesco Totti spent his entire playing career at Roma, cementing his status as one of the club's all-time greats. However, he was also one of Europe's most in-demand forwards. Despite generating interest from many top clubs, he never turned his back on the Giallorossi. Joining Inter would've likely been a wise decision, considering he only won one Scudetto with Roma.
