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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Manchester United v Real Madrid: International Champions Cup – live! | Manchester United v Real Madrid: International Champions Cup – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.36pm BST | |
| 21:36 | |
| The ICC | |
| The ICC has become something of a fixture in the American soccer calendar (always to be confused with the American football calendar), and whatever you make of the competitive merits of the competition taking place at this time of year, the organizers do seem to gather the top teams in Europe each year and to put together a pretty convincing set of clashes on paper. | |
| That paper has a habit of being scribbled on extensively of course, as these teams scramble to move players on and bring players in, with occasional awkward conversations ensuing. Just this week, one-time United target Alvaro Morata became the most expensive Spanish player ever when he was transferred to Chelsea; David de Gea remains a target for Madrid, even as Mourinho insists he’s going nowhere etc. | |
| Other teams in the tournament are rumored to be doing big business too. I was in New Jersey last night to watch Neymar torch Juventus in the first half of Barcelona’s clash with them, and if the reports of an imminent transfer to PSG are true, that could be the last time he’s seen in a Barça shirt. Juventus will be happy to see the back of him mind, after he did this... | |
| ...actually scratch that. Juve play PSG in the ICC on Friday... Barcelona meanwhile will be up against both of today’s two teams in the coming days — with the first Clasico outside of Spain in 32 years taking place in Miami next Saturday. | |
| 9.21pm BST | |
| 21:21 | |
| Preamble | |
| If you like football, you’ll love a “summer of football”. Like football, but sweatier, and with more subs. | |
| Welcome then, to the latest installment in 2017’s “summer of football” — as Manchester United take on Real Madrid for the ultimate prize: | |
| David de Gea | |
| International Champions Cup points. | |
| These points are a treasured commodity which can be collected and exchanged for prizes like “pre-season bragging rights” and “full functioning fax machines”. And Manchester United already have three of them, thanks to beating Manchester City the other day, in their opening game in the ICC — with Romelu Lukaku leading the way with a typically bullish charge-and-wallop goal to endear himself to his new fans. | |
| Madrid in the meantime have no ICC points, and no David de Gea, as Jose Mourinho was keen to emphasize yesterday. They do have Cristiano Ronaldo though, who has offered a fairly predictable end to his coy flirtation with the exit door, by deciding to close it and walk sniffily back into position. | |
| The game is taking place in the Bay Area, at Levi’s Stadium, by the way, which may explain why Zinedine Zidane chose to refer to the “good vibes” he was feeling from his team this week. Or it may just be because he hasn’t had to watch them actually play anyone yet. Summers of football can be cruelly indifferent to the dreams of seasons to come. | |
| Anyway, I’ll be with you for all of the action, 97 substitutions, incomprehensible jazz-fusion formations and fleeting appearances by players destined to become future pub quiz questions. Send me your tweets to @KidWeil, your emails to graham.parker@theguardian.com and your transfer requests to The Guardian. | |
| 2.04pm BST | 2.04pm BST |
| 14:04 | 14:04 |
| Graham will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s what José Mourinho had to say about David de Gea’s future: | Graham will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s what José Mourinho had to say about David de Gea’s future: |
| José Mourinho has guaranteed “100%” that David de Gea will not be sold by Manchester United to Real Madrid or any other club for the coming season. | José Mourinho has guaranteed “100%” that David de Gea will not be sold by Manchester United to Real Madrid or any other club for the coming season. |
| The manager was speaking in California’s Palo Alto before Sunday’s tour meeting with Real in San Jose. De Gea nearly moved to the Spanish club two years ago before the transfer collapse on the final day of the 2015 summer window. | The manager was speaking in California’s Palo Alto before Sunday’s tour meeting with Real in San Jose. De Gea nearly moved to the Spanish club two years ago before the transfer collapse on the final day of the 2015 summer window. |
| United are bracing themselves for a further bid so Mourinho’s statement could be a message intended for Real. | United are bracing themselves for a further bid so Mourinho’s statement could be a message intended for Real. |
| “I can guarantee that he’s not going this season, that I can, and my feeling is it will be very difficult for him to go. Because he’s a very honest boy, very straight,” he said. | “I can guarantee that he’s not going this season, that I can, and my feeling is it will be very difficult for him to go. Because he’s a very honest boy, very straight,” he said. |
| Mourinho suggested United allowed De Gea, who has two years left on his terms, the choice of whether to move to Real. | Mourinho suggested United allowed De Gea, who has two years left on his terms, the choice of whether to move to Real. |
| “He was contacted for a long time [by Real],” the 54-year-old said. “The club was close, then we open because I always have this feeling of when a player has a desire to go I don’t like to stop players to go because in the end you don’t get what you expect from them if they want to move and they don’t. | “He was contacted for a long time [by Real],” the 54-year-old said. “The club was close, then we open because I always have this feeling of when a player has a desire to go I don’t like to stop players to go because in the end you don’t get what you expect from them if they want to move and they don’t. |
| “I don’t think the feeling from him [towards Real] is very good. I see him very happy and focused and working better than ever so for me 100% he stays with us.” | “I don’t think the feeling from him [towards Real] is very good. I see him very happy and focused and working better than ever so for me 100% he stays with us.” |
| You can read the rest of the article here: | You can read the rest of the article here: |