The focus of this Wednesday’s Paper Round is Manchester United, since two players have been connected to a transfer to Al-Nassr, the team owned by Cristiano Ronaldo. It is reported that Ronaldo persuaded Casemiro to sign with the Saudi Pro League team. Karim Benzema is wanting to leave Al-Ittihad temporarily, and Newcastle has turned down Bayern Munich’s offer for Kieran Trippier.
Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr are considering a double bid for Manchester United’s Casemiro and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the Daily Mail reports. With United willing to sell a number of players, United’s football director John Murtough flew to Saudi Arabia last month to talk transfers.
And in their apparent bid to get Casemiro, who earns £375,000 a week, off the books, there could be interest from Cristiano Ronaldo’s club.
The Mail continues, “If they can recover a portion of the £70 million they paid Real Madrid for him last year, United are open to selling him this summer.” According to reports, Al-Nassr is prepared to give Casemiro a significant offer, encouraged by Cristiano Ronaldo, his former Madrid teammate.The Saudi club, who had their £20 million bid for Tottenham right-back Emerson Royal rejected last week, may make a move for Wan-Bissaka this month. Wan-Bissaka’s future at Old Trafford remains uncertain as a result of United’s decision not to extend the defender’s contract for a further year in December, which triggered a 12-month extension. “It is understood that earlier this month, the 26-year-old’s representatives held additional contract negotiations with United, but the result was unfavorable.”
Karim Benzema wants a short-term move away from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, according to AFP. The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner is training alone after being exiled from the squad for reportedly turning up 17 days late from holiday. And now the French former Real Madrid striker wants a “temporary” move away, with the player’s former club Lyon one possible destination. Marca adds: “The forward, who is linked to French club Lyon but without anything official, argued that he arrived late due to a cyclone that caught him in Mauritius, where he was on vacation “At the club, meanwhile, they argue that not only did he miss those January days, but that the former Madrid player was already absent from three training sessions prior to the end of the year, after the serious defeat against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.”