Former Aston Villa winger Jack Grealish took to social media to post about a Manchester United star during their 3-1 win over Unai Emery’s side on Sunday afternoon. The Red Devils extended their unbeaten run to 12 Premier League games at Old Trafford to move into third place in the table.
Casemiro’s fine header opened the scoring just before the hour mark, and while Ross Barkley responded with an equaliser soon after, a quickfire double from Matheus Cunha and in-form Benjamin Sesko gave the hosts some breathing room as they cemented their place in the Champions League qualification spots.
It was arguably one of United’s best performances of the season – so much so that Grealish’s attention was caught by one player in particular, prompting him to hop on Instagram and wax lyrical. It’s safe to say his old supporters might not be too pleased with his comments, though.
In the history of football, which 15 wingers have gone for the highest transfer fees around the world?
Jack Grealish Raves about Man United Player During Aston Villa Win
Jack Grealish rose to prominence during his time at Aston Villa, where he made 213 appearances, scoring 32 goals and producing 43 assists. Once seen as a hometown hero at Villa Park, his departure in 2021 was a bitter pill for many supporters to swallow. He was loudly booed when he sealed a move to Manchester City, even though the deal brought the club a then-British record transfer fee of £100 million.
Ever since that move, he has been a divisive figure among sections of the Villa fanbase. Now at Everton, he has hardly helped mend those bridges with his boyhood club after choosing to hail Bruno Fernandes on social media this weekend. Taking to Instagram, he wrote (see below):
“Bruno [Fernandes] is an absolutely unbelievable footballer man.”
By all intents and purposes, Grealish still has a strong affection for Aston Villa, the club he has supported his whole life and played for for 19 years. Some may read his latest post the wrong way, but a look at the United captain’s season can go a long way in realising just how justified the praise was.
Bruno Fernandes Still in Hunt for Record-Breaking Season
In the past, Bruno Fernandes has sometimes been dubbed a bit of a Roy of the Rovers figure – capable of the spectacular, but often forced to do it alone. Now, with those around him finally pulling their weight, the 31-year-old is putting together a season for the history books. After registering two more assists on Sunday afternoon, his tally for the campaign stands at 16 in the Premier League, leaving him just four shy of Thierry Henry’s single-season record of 20.
Across all competitions, the United skipper has seven goals and 17 assists in just 29 appearances, numbers that place him firmly among the best players in world football right now.
With form like that, it’s little wonder he’s drawing rave reviews at the minute – especially from fellow professionals chasing the gold standard he has set.
The UFC world was left stunned last weekend as Ilia Topuria suffered the very first defeat of his professional MMA career, losing via TKO against Justin Gaethje at the UFC Freedom 250 event in Washington D.C.
The ex-lightweight world champion was pulled out by his corner after the fourth round of the headlining event at the White House as he failed to recover from a devastating left-right combination from the veteran American that left him bloodied in the third.
Gaethje’s explosive display was full of hard-hitting punches plus knees and uppercuts. Topuria’s inability to deal with the constant physical beat down meant an upset occurred and the challenger snatched away the lightweight crown to become a first-time undisputed champion in the UFC.
Topuria, who has also held the belt at featherweight, now has to deal with a fight fallout and feeling which he has never experienced as a professional, which is responding to and coping with a loss.
Ilia Topuria’s Close Friend Opens Up About Fighter’s Reaction
Amber Searls via Imagn Images
In the days since the 31-year-old’s brutal defeat in the American capital, a close friend of his, Pablo Motos, has spoken out to reveal the kind of emotions the fighter is currently experiencing and what his current state of mind is.
Speaking on his ‘El Hormiguero’ chat show, Motos touched on a recent conversation he had with Topuria, stating: “We were talking about something we’re going to do this summer, making jokes, and then he said a phrase I loved.
A lot has been said about Topuria’s health after his war with Justin Gaethje, but a close friend probably knows best, and he’s spoken out.
“He looks at me with his eyes closed and says, ‘Champions, when we fall, we fall hard.’”
Motos then revealed what Topuria’s intentions are in the Octagon and how he wants to go about avenging his world title loss to Gaethje, saying: “They’re already looking toward the future. He was telling me, ‘I’d love to do the rematch in Spain with Gaethje.'”
What Next For Ilia Topuria
Topuria’s desire to jump into a rematch demonstrates that he is keen to rectify his shortcomings against his most recent opponent and reclaim his spot at the top of the lightweight division.
Topuria, who is of Georgian and Spanish descent, has not fought in Spain since the very early days of his professional MMA career, with his last bout in the country coming in a 2016 featherweight title triumph over Jhon Guarin at Mix Fight Events 28 in Valencia.
It remains to be seen what Gaethje intends to do moving forward after achieving his career-long dream of becoming an undisputed UFC champion at 37.
Should Topuria get his wish and get another crack at Gaethje in his home country, it would surely be one of the most anticipated UFC events of recent times.
Arsenal have placed an official bid to sign wonderkid Jeremy Monga from Leicester City, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The Gunners have been linked with a move for the 16-year-old for some time now, with reports of an offer emerging as early as last month.
Monga, who has been compared to Ousmane Dembele and described as a ‘deadly’ finisher, is expected to leave the Foxes this summer following their relegation to League One, despite having broken into the first-team as a 15-year-old.
And Arsenal have shown the keenest interest in him, with talks progressing over the last few weeks between the Gunners and his representatives over a move to the Emirates Stadium.
Now, according to Romano, Arsenal have lodged an official bid to sign the 16-year-old winger. He tweeted: “Arsenal sent official bid to Leicester City to get Jeremy Monga deal done. 16-year-old winger keen on joining #AFC and deal moving quickly now with optimism to sign #LCFC talent, seen as huge prospect for the future.”
Newcastle were hoping to land the young talent, but while they were trying to lower his fee, the Reds stormed in to agree to his £34.6million release clause, and the deal is as good as done. When Muñoz will agree personal terms remains to be seen, given he is busy at the World Cup with Spain, but Liverpool will be confident of striking a deal, especially with a Spanish boss now in place.
Liverpool are not done there
Ken Blaze (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
It was unclear how bold Liverpool would be in this transfer window, given their huge spend and lack of return last summer, but the questions are now being answered. The Reds are already closing in on an exciting young talent in Muñoz, and that is only going to be the start of their business, according to a fresh report.
Football Insider claim Muñoz will be the first of five new signings this summer, with a central midfielder, centre-back, right-back and right-winger all required by Iraola.
The right-winger and centre-back signings will come as no surprise, given the exits of Ibrahima Konate and Mohamed Salah this summer. Meanwhile, many have called for more options in the middle of the park, while Conor Bradley battling his way back from a serious injury issue looks to be forcing the Reds to add more depth at right-back.
Muñoz can play on the right-wing, and he is a right-footer, but he has traditionally played on the left, liking to cut inside.
Shearer’s Reds warning
Speaking to Betfair last week, Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer warned that Liverpool need to recruit heavily in this summer’s transfer window. “Liverpool are going to have to go again in the transfer market,” he said. “Mohamed Salah’s gone, so they obviously need someone to replace him.
“They’ve also got Rio Ngumoha, who’s obviously a great talent, but for the future.So Liverpool need several players, I think, if they want to compete again at the very top. And certainly, in wide positions, they’re going to have to strengthen.
“I’m not surprised with who they’re being linked with, like Diomande and Barcola. I guess it’s only a matter of time before that, that would be the position that they announce.”
