Bruno Fernandes has issued an apology to Jamie Carragher (Image: Pedro Porru/MB Media/Getty Images)
Manchester United are edging closer to fulfilling one of their primary objectives from the start of the Premier League campaign – securing a return to the Champions League. Michael Carrick’s side occupy third position in the table with five fixtures remaining. This season, the top five clubs are assured automatic qualification for the competition, while sixth place could also provide a Champions League berth if Aston Villa finish fifth and win the Europa League.
United will have the opportunity to bolster their standing when they resume Premier League duties on Monday, welcoming Brentford to Old Trafford. Carrick’s men secured a vital 1-0 victory at Chelsea in their most recent outing. Matheus Cunha scored the only goal that evening and will be keen to steer his colleagues to another significant triumph before the home supporters.
It won’t be long before the club’s hierarchy turn their full attention towards the summer transfer window. Although the window does not formally open until June 15, numerous players have already been linked with a switch to M16.
With that in mind, here’s a round-up of the latest developments from Old Trafford…
Bruno Fernandes ‘apology’
The United captain recounted celebrating as a youngster when Jamie Carragher’s penalty was saved by former goalkeeper Ricardo at the World Cup in 2006.
Ricardo also thwarted Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the quarter-final shootout.
During The Wayne Rooney Show, Fernandes remarked: “Obviously, 2006, everyone remembers because of Cristiano and Wayne’s little bit of fire. [It] ends up with Jamie Carragher missing the penalty.
“I had to say this – sorry, Jamie. I had to get a little bit off you, you get on me all the time. I can get on you with that penalty. When I miss a penalty, don’t say anything about it, please.”
In his Telegraph column, Carragher wrote: “Sven-Goran Eriksson summoned me and gave me one job: to dispatch a spot-kick as convincingly as I had in every practice session.
“I had not missed a penalty in six weeks. ‘You’ll take the fourth’, Eriksson told me. Not a problem. England were 2-1 down by the time I made that 40-yard walk, but I was feeling confident staring at Portugal’s No. 1 Ricardo.
“Knowing precisely where to place the ball, I struck it sweetly to the right, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way – my first touch of the game. There was a momentary sense of relief.”
Arsenal have reportedly stepped up their pursuit of Maxi Araujo (Image: GETTY)
Portuguese outlet Record reports that Arsenal have entered into discussions over Sporting left-back Maxi Araujo, with United also said to be keen.
The Uruguayan is thought to have caught the attention of Mikel Arteta during their Champions League double-header in March and April.
It’s reported that the north London club have made an ‘initial approach’ to Araujo to explore a potential summer transfer.
Sporting, meanwhile, are ‘open’ to offloading the 26-year-old but will only entertain bids exceeding €50m (£43m).
However, any agreement for Araujo looks set to be far from simple, with Arsenal facing stiff competition from United, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid.
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