Fabrizio Romano joins Market Madness with major updates on Rodri to Barcelona, Bradley Barcola to Liverpool and Marcus Rashford’s Manchester United future. Prime Minister Andy Burnham also delivers a blunt verdict on Gianni Infantino as FIFA’s leadership crisis deepens.
Sports
Sir Alex Ferguson Named Two British Players Who Were on Ronaldo and Messi’s Level
Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager of all time. In almost 27 years spent in charge of Manchester United, the Scotsman delivered 38 trophies to Old Trafford. Among them are a record 13 Premier League titles, alongside two Champions League crowns, five FA Cups, with one of each forming part of the iconic 1999 treble.
To do all of that, he needed great players, and across three decades, he worked with some of the finest the sport has ever produced. Ferguson made a living out of coaxing the best from elite talents while making sure no individual ever felt bigger than the team.
You had the instinctive brilliance of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke up front, and the relentless Wayne Rooney. Peter Schmeichel was arguably the finest goalkeeper the Premier League ever saw, and Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic’s partnership set records that may never be beaten.
Yet for all the extraordinary talent that passed through Old Trafford during his tenure, Ferguson himself has always been quite specific about how many of those players he would truly describe as world-class. His answer, perhaps surprisingly, is just four.
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He could have signed the player for just £100,000.
Alex Ferguson’s World-Class Four
Writing in his 2015 book, Ferguson was characteristically direct on the subject: “If you read the papers or listen to the television commentators, we seem to be awash with ‘world-class’ footballers,” he wrote.
“In my book there are only two world-class players playing today: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. I don’t mean to demean or criticise any of the great or very good footballers who played for me during my 26-year career at United, but there were only four who were world-class.”
Eric Cantona’s inclusion will surprise nobody. The Frenchman arrived at Old Trafford in 1992 and transformed the club almost overnight, bringing a belief and a swagger that had been missing for years. Cantona’s tenure at United was the shortest of the players on Ferguson’s list, spending only four and a half years at Old Trafford before his shock retirement in 1997.
Sir Alex Ferguson Wanted To Sign Current Premier League Manager For Man Utd
Things could have been so different for the midfielder.
Ronaldo’s inclusion is equally straightforward. The Portuguese arrived at United as a skinny, flashy teenager from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 and left six years later as arguably the best player on the planet. Under Ferguson’s guidance, he was transformed from a player of extraordinary raw talent into a complete and devastating goal machine.
Ronaldo won three Premier League titles, a Champions League, a Ballon d’Or, scoring 118 goals in 292 appearances for the club, and a manager who put him on the map. Ferguson rating Ronaldo alongside Lionel Messi as the only two truly ‘world-class’ players of their era is a view shared by almost every football fan on earth.
But it’s the two British names on Ferguson’s list that demand particular attention. Both Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, players who came through the club’s own academy, were also elevated by Ferguson to the same level as two of the greatest footballers the sport has ever seen.
Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs: Britain’s Best
Scholes is one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, and his career numbers reflect a player oozing consistency and quality. He made over 700 appearances for the club he supported as a boy, scoring more than 150 goals, a fantastic return for a player whose primary role was to sit deep and control the tempo. He was there for an incredible 11 of United’s 13 Premier League wins.
Giggs, who clocked up almost three decades of service at the Red Devils, was a constant across every era of Ferguson’s reign. The Welshman evolved and reinvented himself across multiple generations of United teams and won every trophy Ferguson claimed during the Premier League era. Giggs holds the record for the most appearances for club, with 963. It’s a record that won’t be broken any time soon.
For Ferguson to place both men in the same category as Messi and Ronaldo is a statement that carries enormous weight. Coming from a man who spent almost 30 years working alongside the very best, it’s perhaps the greatest compliment either player could ever receive.
Sports
The Truth About Vini JR with Fabrizio Romano and Ben Jacobs
Sports
Fabrizio Romano Shares What He’s Hearing on Man Utd’s Next Signing
Manchester United are looking at signing a left-back in the remaining weeks of the transfer window, Fabrizio Romano has told GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast.
The Red Devils have prioritised a midfield rebuild all summer and completed deals for Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans for a combined £83m, from Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively. The club has also brought in Karl Darlow for their goalkeeper department, which has allowed Altay Bayindir to join Celta Vigo on loan, while young winger Tynan Thompson has also joined from Tottenham.
Reports have suggested the club are still keen to bring in at least one more midfielder during this window, having seen Casemiro join Inter Miami at the end of his contract and Manuel Ugarte suffer a serious knee injury at the World Cup, but it is not the only position the club are looking at.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Romano: Movement in Next Weeks for Man Utd Signing
Question marks remain over the future of Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee in attack, with both players linked with moves away before the September 1st deadline. That has seen the club linked with a move to bring in a new forward to ensure they aren’t short on numbers, having qualified for the Champions League.
However, left-back is a position that is reportedly featuring more prominently in discussions behind the scenes, with Newcastle United star Lewis Hall earmarked as a top target.
While appearing on the Market Madness podcast (Aug 6), Romano was asked about the business United could do in the final weeks of the window, and revealed that left-back is something they are looking at doing, although it may not end up being Hall.
“They are looking at left backs, so I think also in that position there could be some movement in the next weeks,” he said.
“It’s not easy for Lewis Hall because Newcastle now want to keep the player after making profit with Bruno Guimarães, but for sure Man United are looking at that position.”
|
Lewis Hall Premier League Defensive Stats (per 90) |
|
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
24(6) |
|
Minutes |
2181 |
|
Tackles |
1.8 |
|
Interceptions |
0.9 |
|
Clearances |
2.6 |
|
Blocks |
0.5 |
Lewis Hall Top Man Utd Target
Hall is a very highly-rated defender, and he earned the praise of Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney after Newcastle claimed a draw with Barcelona in the Champions League last season.
“First of all, I thought you were terrific tonight,” he said. “We were talking about it before the game, the challenge you had ahead of you against Yamal, and I thought you were brilliant.”
It’s been reported that Hall is the top target at Man Utd for the left-back position, but after bringing in around £240m for Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, it’s no surprise that Newcastle are not interested in selling.
But Hall, 21, is understood to be unhappy at St James’ Park after a fallout with previous manager Eddie Howe, and GMS understands he would be open to a move to Old Trafford.
Statistics courtesy of WhoScored – Correct as of 06/08/2026.
Sports
Arsenal More Keen on Ezri Konsa Than Liverpool
Arsenal and Liverpool are both keen on Aston Villa star Ezri Konsa this summer, with the Gunners holding a stronger interest, Fabrizio Romano has told GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast.
The Gunners have had a decent summer window, completing deals for Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis, while an agreement is in place with Newcastle United for midfielder Bruno Guimaraes too. But the team have been rocked by William Saliba picking up a back injury, which could see him ruled out until 2027.
That has seen the Premier League champions look at options in the market to strengthen their defence, and England international Konsa is someone who has been heavily linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium.
Romano: Arsenal and Liverpool Like Konsa
Konsa, who has been described as ‘elite’ by Breaking the Lines, emerged as a target following his performances at the World Cup, but talks with Villa saw a £60m valuation, which was seen as too high.
That reportedly opened the door to Liverpool, who are looking for a senior replacement for Ibrahima Konate after he left on a free transfer to Real Madrid this summer, and they are considering the former Watford star as an option too.
While appearing on the GIVEMESPORT Market Madness podcast, reliable transfer guru Fabrizio Romano was asked about the situation involving the 28-year-old defender, and admitted that it’s Arsenal who are pushing the hardest currently.
“They [Arsenal] will be busy for sure,” he said. “I’m sure.
“On some of the names you ask me: on Konsa, I’m told there is more interest from Arsenal than Liverpool at this stage, but let’s see.
“Still [a] long [time to go]. I think both clubs will be keen on defenders, so there will be movements from now [until] the end of the window.”
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Rogers: Konsa ‘One of the Best’ Defenders
Konsa has seen his reputation within the game grow over the last two seasons in particular, establishing himself as a regular under Unai Emery and Thomas Tuchel at the heart of their defences.
His performances for Aston Villa last season saw him make 48 appearances in all competitions, as the team finished fourth in the Premier League and ended a 30-year trophy drought by lifting the Europa League. He has also earned the respect of his teammates, with Morgan Rogers singing his praises recently.
|
Ezri Konsa Defensive Stats at World Cup 2026 (per 90) |
|
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
7(1) |
|
Minutes |
647 |
|
Tackles |
0.6 |
|
Interceptions |
1 |
|
Clearances |
2.4 |
|
Blocks |
0.5 |
“I think he’s one of the best centre-backs in football, if I’m honest.”
“I think at this World Cup, the ability that he’s got and everything that he can do as a centre-back. He never gets beaten, strong in the air, strong in the tackle, unbelievable on the ball. I honestly don’t know a flaw in his game.
“I think that [him not getting enough credit] has helped Villa in terms of nobody from a bigger club taking him in the last few years. I think that’s helped us because I honestly don’t know a problem in his game.”
Statistics courtesy of WhoScored – correct as of 06/08/2026
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