Fabrizio Romano ‘100 per cent’ convinced £60m attacker wants to join Manchester United

Fabrizio Romano ‘100 per cent’ convinced £60m attacker wants to join Manchester United

Fabrizio Romano is ‘100 per cent’ convinced that Michael Olise would jump at the chance to join Manchester United from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.

When the reports emerged a few weeks ago claiming that the Frenchman is a diehard Manchester United supporter, suddenly his non-celebration back in January 2023 made that little bit more sense.

After banging a stunning free-kick past David de Gea in stoppage time – Crystal Palace snatching a late draw against Erik ten Hag’s side – Michael Olise barely even cracked a smile. Now, we know why.

The former Reading ace – Football London reports – is a Man United supporter, and would choose the Red Devils over a host of other clubs should they make a move this summer.

And all the signs suggest that, make a move, they will. According to The Standard, Ineos have identified Olise as one of United’s top priorities, with a new right-winger a priority for a club likely to listen to offers for the under-performing and increasingly seldom-seen Antony.

West Ham United v Crystal Palace – Premier League
Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Manchester United lead Michael Olise race
“I’m sure that the player would be really keen on joining Manchester United,” Romano now tells The United Stand. “That’s 100 per cent guaranteed.

“But (Man United) won’t be the only club.”

No, but they’ve certainly got an advantage over the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and co. Furthermore, with a reported release clause in his contract of around £60 million, Crystal Palace will be powerless to prevent Olise from securing a dream move if – or when – United come calling.

An Antony replacement
This may be wishful thinking, perhaps. But with United’s new decision-makers planning to attack the market from the very first minute, and with that release clause meaning no negotiations will be required with Palace, do not be too surprised to see Olise become the first signing through the door in a new era at Old Trafford.

Interestingly – and surely not coincidentally – United are also keen on the man who brought Olise to Selhurst Park for just £8 million. Palace director Dougie Freedman is a leading candidate for a recruitment role under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

 

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Pep Guardiola doesn’t want to focus on anything but his own Manchester City side this weekend – telling his players that if the Liverpool crowd at Anfield begin to influence the referee, they must simply perform better to try and win.

 

The build-up to City’s title showdown with Liverpool on Sunday has been dominated by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s claim that their successes ‘mean more’ than City’s due to the ‘financial situations’ of the side. While Guardiola opted to remain silent on the comments, Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias hit back, with Jurgen Klopp defending his player.

 

Guardiola insisted that criticism of City is normal, saying he or his players cannot control what others think of the club. “We are in a world that the people have an opinion,” he said. “What the right back from Liverpool has said, a lot of people think. It’s not new, not necessary to say much.

 

 

“It’s normal. We have a public job, the job cannot be done without opinion of external people, it’s normal – good ones and bad ones. Not a problem, we have to deal with that. Otherwise cannot be in that world. At the end, inside the ropes, we know who we are and we have to do it.”

 

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The manager had previously sought to play down the impact of the Anfield crowd and atmosphere on Friday, but was later asked whether he felt that referees can sometimes be influenced by officiating at Liverpool. Guardiola wouldn’t endorse the question, but simply told his players to ensure that any outside influence does not have a bearing on the result.

 

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“When it happens, we have to perform better. We cannot control what happens in this stadium with referees,” he said. “It is not the first time, won’t be the last, have to perform better. We have to overcome the situations. “It’s a big achievement to try to fight for four titles in a row, no club has done it ever. This is the challenge we have to face and give absolutely everything.

 

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Otherwise would be difficult to win on Sunday. But whatever happens, we should perform well and whatever happens still we have many, many games to play.

“Last Wednesday was in and out [knockout], next Saturday will be in and out of the FA Cup. This is really important game for the title challenge. Many things can happen.”