UNITED teen target Franco Mastantuono added to his glistening reputation with another stunning goal in Argentina’s biggest game.
SunSport revealed how United are considering triggering the 17-year-old’s £38million release clause from River Plate.
GettyMan Utd target Franco Mastantuono impressed for River Plate last week[/caption]
And Old Trafford fans already excited about the prospect saw further evidence as he unleashed a brilliant free-kick from outside the box in the Buenos Aires derby with Boca Juniors.
Mastantuono has been dubbed the “Argentine Phil Foden” with River Plate steeling themselves to lose him.
But there was more than an echo of Lionel Messi as his left footer swept over the Boca wall and aeced into the top corner for the opener in a 2-1 win.
No wonder United are interested but so are Manchester City and both Madrid giants.
‘REALLY NOT GOOD’
THERE has been fury behind the scenes at United’s Carrington training ground – with chief executive Omar Berrada in the line of fire this week.
Berrada turned up at the complex to tell staff who would be part of the second wave of 200 redundancies of their fates.
Omar Berrada got a grilling from Man Utd staff members at CarringtonGetty
But it turned into a grilling for the former City exec as disgruntled staff lined up to have their say.
One insider told Sun Sport: “Everything has changed since Ineos came in – and not for the better.
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“Berrada stood in front of everybody at the academy and said we had to do it.
“But someone stood up and told him ‘you said six months ago that we had to lose 250 jobs but this would be it.
“Now six months later we’re losing another 200 people. What’s to say in six months’ time it won’t be happening again?’”
“A couple of months ago we got the email about lunches being ended and Berrarda told us it would save £1m a year.
“But someone piped up ‘hang on a minute – that’s one month’s wages for Casemiro; you’re on £4m a year, so why don’t you take a £1m cut?’
“The mood is really not good. It’s got to the point where people are choosing not to go to the training ground unless they have to be there.”
HE’S A KEEPER
TOM HEATON is not planning to retire in 2025 as Man Utd are set to offer the keeper a new 12-month contract.
Rumours started last month that the 39-year-old was not only ready to leave Old Trafford when his current deal expires this summer – but also hang up his gloves.
AlamyTom Heaton is set to be handed a new contract[/caption]
But SunSport understands Heaton has no intentions of quitting the sport just yet.
The three-cap England stopper is hopeful of a fresh Red Devils contract with talks expected to ramp up between now and the end of the season.
Heaton is third choice behind Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir and in Ruben Amorim’s travelling squad for tonight’s crunch Europa League semi-final first leg away to Athletic Bilbao in Spain.
With United’s top two keepers Onana and Bayindir making high-profile errors this season to put their futures in doubt, it remains to be seen if Heaton will get a chance to make his first appearance of the season before the campaign ends.
Highly-popular Heaton has not played for United’s first team since a run-out against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup back in February 2023.
All eyes for Amorim’s men are on the Europa League with the aim of winning the competition to book a Champions League spot next season.
So could Heaton get some minutes in one of the remaining Prem fixtures against Brentford, West Ham, Chelsea or ex-club Aston Villa?
ROO WHAT?!
NOT for the first time, Man City hearts were broken by Rooney this week.
Only this time it was Wayne’s son Kai scoring a dramatic late winner against the ‘noisy neighbours’.
United’s Under 15s were 3-0 down with 12 minutes to go at City’s Joie Stadium but came back to edge it 4-3.
Amid such drama, you might have known it would be a Rooney grabbing the headlines by scoring in the 96th minute to secure the Under-15 Premier League Floodlit North Cup.
ROOM FOR ONE MORE?
UNITED fans have been enjoying the sunshine in Bilbao this week and will no doubt fancy returning to the Spanish city in three weeks for the final.
But they’d better start saving up now.
ReutersFans enjoyed their time in Bilbao ahead of United’s Europa League semi-final[/caption]
Fans in one hotel paid around £130 a night this week but were told that it will cost £800 a night to stay there for the final on May 21.
It would be a dream for Athletic Bilbao to reach the final which will be played in their own San Mames Stadium.
But at those prices, no doubt the hotel owners are secretly hoping it will be United who are back here later in the month.
BEE READY
RUBEN AMORIM took a larger squad than normal to Bilbao this week – with one eye on Sunday’s trip to Brentford.
The United boss has already indicated he plans to make wholesale changes for the clash with Thomas Frank’s side as he prioritises the Europa League.
AlamyRuben Amorim took several young players to Bilbao to prepare for Sunday’s Prem match against Brentford[/caption]
And due to the late kick off in Bilbao, the squad will stay in Spain on Thursday night and hold a training session here on Friday before flying home.
Several youngsters who were on the flight will not feature in the first leg in the San Mames.
However they will be put through their paces by the manager in Friday’s session with a view to playing against the Bees – giving the first teamers a chance to put their feet up.
WELL I NEV-ER
FORMER United skipper Gary Neville clashed with his old boss Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford last week.
But it was all good natured – as he pair went head to head in an auction for a painting of club legend Denis Law.
Times Newspapers LtdSir Alex Ferguson went head-to-head with ex-player Gary Neville for a painting in a club auction[/caption]
Neville edged out Sir Alex to secure the Stewart Beckett artwork at a function to mark the 40th anniversary of the Association of Former Manchester United Players (AFMUP).
The organisation’s future was thrown into doubt when Jim Ratcliffe slashed the funding as part of his cost cutting.
However United threw their full support behind the event and donated several items which helped raise important funds.
Neville, Andy Cole and Jonny Evans shared some stories of Fergie’s infamous ‘hairdryer’ with guests at the function.
FINE LINE
ATHLETIC BILBAO have got heavy with their own fans ahead of this game – warning them they could be hit with a £25,000 fine if they re-sell tickets for the clash with United.
The club is determined to make the most of their first meeting in 13 years though – with the club shop selling official half-and-half scarves.
GettyAthletic Bilbao fans could face a huge punishment if they re-sell tickets[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
