Cristiano Ronaldo’s past comments praising a former Manchester United team-mate have been backed up by a current star of the squad

Benjamin Sesko is hard at work attempting to follow in Cristiano Ronaldo’s footsteps by lifting Manchester United to greatness. And it seems the two are somewhat kindred spirits after each taking a liking to the same personalities at Old Trafford.

More specifically, Sesko has taken after Ronaldo by developing a close bond with United defender Diogo Dalot. Aside from both being from Portugal, Ronaldo spoke highly of his countryman’s characteristics when discussing players he admired.

It was towards the tail end of Ronaldo’s second stint at Old Trafford that he infamously appeared on Piers Morgan’s TalkTV show. And when pressed on which team-mates or opponents he held respect for, Dalot came out atop the list regarding United comrades.

“In Manchester United I can mention Dalot,” said the five-time Ballon d’Or-winner. “He’s young, but very professional [and] I don’t doubt that he’s going to have longevity in football because he’s young, he’s smart, intelligent and he’s very professional. Probably [Lisandro] Martinez, Casemiro is in his 30s, but I will say Dalot.”

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Fast-forward to the present day, and Dalot has displayed other appealing traits after helping Sesko settle in. The 22-year-old arrived at Old Trafford from RB Leipzig last summer in a deal potentially worth £74million, but Dalot played his role in making the switch a simple one.

When asked about which players at United he has bonded with in particular, the Slovenian told the Inside Carrington podcast: “Diogo Dalot. From the start, he was really helping me.

“Trying to help me in all the ways because it’s a different world here. I’m really grateful that he stood up, and he saw his younger self in me. We are still pushing each other every day, doing all the work.”

United fans may have Dalot to thank for Sesko’s uptick in form of late as the striker has helped raise standards on the field. The frontman has scored five goals in his last six appearances and has been crucial to Michael Carrick’s success as interim manager.

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Sesko scored both of United’s goals in a 2-2 draw away at Burnley last month, albeit not the result he and his team-mates wanted. He’s since come off the bench to score the winner in the 3-2 victory over Fulham, as well as bagging the equaliser in the 1-1 draw at West Ham last week.

Dalot, 26, also continues to play a prominent role in Carrick’s plans despite some fans raising concerns about his contributions in the past. The full-back has scored once and recorded three assists in 26 outings across all competitions this term.

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The Porto academy graduate, who joined United in 2018, was of rare value in Ruben Amorim’s former strategy given he’s able to play in either wing-back position. That role is no longer in use under Carrick, but the club legend has nonetheless found use for a player both Sesko and Ronaldo clearly revere.

Dalot appears to have cemented his place as first-choice right-back under Carrick, while Sesko has largely had to settle for minutes off the bench. It’s a set-up that’s worked for the most part to date, though the latter will hope to share more minutes with his close companion in the months to come.

Manchester United travel to Everton on Monday night looking to avoid the Toffees doing the double over them after November’s awful defeat at Old Trafford.

“We are trying to be our best,” was the message from Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick ahead of Monday’s trip to Everton. “We have things to improve on but we have a good base and foundation moving forward, a good spirit and we will draw on pretty much all of that on Monday night.”

Carrick’s return to Old Trafford has been overwhelmingly positive so far. The victories over Manchester City and Arsenal were unexpected, against Fulham his team showed the grit and determination needed to grind out a result and the win over Tottenham was another step in the right direction.

The draw last time out against West Ham was a bump in the road. United were not at their best and were frustrated by a side happy to sit back and hit them on the counter. If not for the heroics of Benjamin Sesko, the unbeaten run would have been over.

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But while the draw at the London Stadium was disappointing compared to the previous four games, it was nowhere near as bad as the loss to Everton back in November. It is understood the defeat to the ten-man Toffees was a contributing factor in the decision to sack Ruben Amorim in January.

David Moyes’ team did not need to do much to win that night. Once down to ten men, they were rigid, compact and pushed the onus onto United. Good teams would have seen that as a gift but United’s response was abject. They were slow in possession, wasteful with their build-up play and were punished for it.

Moyes received credit for the victory but United were the ones who presented it to him. As they head to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time, Carrick knows this game will be a huge test of his credentials.

There is confidence the interim head coach can do what his predecessor couldn’t. United have shown, albeit against more attacking opponents, they can stretch defences.

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The way they went from defence to attack against City was sensational. And while United are likely to have more of the ball against Everton, Carrick must show this team can keep that positivity in their play.

A key failing against Everton at Old Trafford was United’s slow use of the ball. They became too predictable and played into Moyes’ hands.

Since returning to United, Carrick has spoken a lot about knowing what it means to play for this club. That has been evidenced in most of the performances.

But this is another test in the interview process for the permanent role at Old Trafford. Carrick has a golden opportunity to show Ineos he can lead this team to good results with positive play against defensive set-ups. Moyes’ pre-match message will be simple: same again.

He will set Everton to play on the counter and catch United. If they keep 11 men on the pitch, they will show more attacking intent.

From Carrick’s perspective, he will hope his team have learnt their lesson from that November defeat. If they have, he will be another step closer to proving he is a viable option for the permanent job.

Kobbie Mainoo struggled for game time at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, but Diogo Dalot has told the England midfielder the experience will make him stronger

Diogo Dalot has told Kobbie Mainoo that being sidelined at Manchester United will ultimately make him better footballer. Mainoo came within touching distance of leaving United in a loan spell with Napoli during last month’s transfer window.

The England midfielder had grown increasingly frustrated with how former manager Ruben Amorim had handled him. Amorim consistently overlooked Mainoo for months, leaving him stranded on the sidelines and giving him plenty of time to contemplate his future.

However, Amorim’s dismissal in January provided Mainoo with a fresh start at Old Trafford. Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Dalot believes the ordeal will benefit him in the long run.

He said: “That just shows that in football, no matter the manager that you have, you have to work the same way. For Kobbie, he could have gone the other way.

“Because it’s really hard for you, when you’re 20 years old, you played almost 80 games for the Manchester United first team, you played for England’s national team. You’ve been there at the top, and all of a sudden you don’t play.

“How can you explain to a 20-year-old guy that you need to go back to what you did before – train hard, be humble, just wait for your opportunity? I don’t think that’s bad for him to pass through this experience.

“You might say he should have played a little bit more, or not, that might be your opinion, or not. But for him to go through that experience, I think it will benefit him for the future.

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“And I think he feels that now, because he enjoys (football) more now. He will not take for granted playing week in, week out. If you ask me about that situation, I think you will benefit a lot from going through that in his career.”

While Mainoo was deemed surplus to requirements by Amorim, Dalot demanded a constant presence in the head coach’s plans, despite often being on the receiving end of criticism from fans. And the full-back has admitted that such scrutiny has been increasingly tough to overlook.

He added: “I think it became a little bit more difficult because of, obviously, what is happening online nowadays. Everybody can say whatever they want.

“And unless you live in a cave, you’re going to be aware of what is being said or what is happening. But to be honest, because my football career, professional career, was all the time here, so I had to learn how to balance that. I had to deal with it.”

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Bruno Fernandes has been a talisman for Manchester United during a difficult period and he has been told to make a decision on his future despite his importance to the club

Bruno Fernandes’ importance to Manchester United in recent seasons cannot be understated. “Shut down Bruno, United won’t score!” said Ange Postecoglou of his Tottenham side’s plan in the Europa League final.

The Portugal international has been central to most positive actions on the pitch for United since he arrived at Old Trafford. It has not been enough to reestablish the club at the top of the Premier League, but no opposition coach can take on United without thinking about how to contain him.

“I knew if we shut down Bruno [Fernandes], they weren’t going to score,” Postecoglou said. “I just felt with United, the way they set up with Ruben [Amorim] and the kind of ways they would try to break us down if we were really solid defensively, as long as we scored, we had to get a goal.”

Since that devastating result, Fernandes’ future has been thrown up in the air. While the club signed figures such as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha in a bid to alleviate the pressure on Fernandes, the talisman still has 18 goal contributions this term, six more than any of his teammates.

That was not always destined to be the case. Fernandes has admitted he weighed up a move to Saudi Arabia and spoke to Al-Hilal over a potential transfer last year after United showed little determination to keep him. The star ultimately preferred to stay put despite the Saudi club being prepared to bid £100million and offer weekly wages of up to £700,000.

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Fernandes has since admitted he was saddened by United’s stance. “From the club I felt it was, ‘If you go it’s not so bad for us.’ It hurts me a bit,” he said.

“More than hurting me, it makes me sad. I’m a player that no-one can criticise, I’m always available, I always give my best. I could have left in this transfer window, I would have earned much more money. I would have won many trophies this season but I decided not to go, not only for family reasons but because I genuinely love the club.”

But now, Fernandes has been told to consider his future once again. Former United striker Louis Saha believes it is imperative for the playmaker to be selfish.

Saha told CasinoHawks: “I think for the respect that we all have for Bruno Fernandes, I think he’s a terrific player, he has to consider his future because, looking at the strategy of INEOS, the way they think is very uncertain. It’s really difficult to anticipate.

“I can imagine a player of his stature, who has delivered as much as he has over the years, has to think about himself at some point. Those people at the top think about the club, and they think about their own position. The reality is, you can love the club as much as you want, it doesn’t matter. At some point, you have to make your own decision.

“This isn’t to say, ‘Bruno, you have to go.’ No, he has to think about his own career. It’s not only about trophies because we know 100%, I have no doubt about that, that Bruno wants to win a major trophy with Manchester United.

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“It would be his proudest moment because he really loves the club and he’s shown that with his dedication. He was disappointed because he has seen, he has heard some behaviour around his future that he didn’t like, so it’s up to him to make the decision.

“But he also has to consider staying as well if he feels that the club and the staff are really behind him, because he needs the support to go out there and be the captain we need.”

Manchester United appointed Michael Carrick as their interim head coach, and the former Middlesbrough boss is said to have as good a chance as anyone at getting the job permanently

Jonathan Woodgate and Steve Holland have helped Michael Carrick become the favourite to be Manchester United’s next permanent head coach.

Carrick is now said to lead the race for that job according to The i Paper, and stands as good a chance as any external candidate, having impressed since replacing Ruben Amorim. The interim staying on next season suggests Holland and Woodgate are due to remain in their coaching roles, too.

The i Paper claims sources say they, along with fellow coaches Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion, have the “perfect balance”. One source reportedly said they were surprised a Premier League rival did not hire Holland, highlighting his ability and know-how.

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A long-time assistant at Chelsea before joining the England set-up, Holland’s experience has reputedly helped Carrick’s younger coaches to operate cohesively. Woodgate is one of those, having worked only at Bournemouth and Middlesbrough previously.

However, learning to speak Spanish while playing for Real Madrid during his playing career is said to have proved vital. Tactical insights from the former England international have surprised some, while the former defender’s individual work with Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro has also been highlighted.

Carrick has spoken at length to the BBC about his coaches. He said, “There’s a really strong group, and it feels like we’ve been together a long time, but we didn’t all know each other.

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“I didn’t really know Steve personally an awful lot. I thought it would come together nicely and was balanced, and there’s a reason why I wanted to bring Steve in.

“Jonathan… I had him at Middlesbrough – loyal, gets me, knows me, pushes me, challenges me… really good relationship. Jonny [Evans] knew the club. He’s been here so long and has a really good relationship with the players as well… loves coaching, loves helping, cares a lot.

“And then with Travis… the club needs the academy. It’s a massive part of this football club. I think there’s a really good balance with the responsibility of the academy, young players and then Jonathan and Jonny – being two of the best centre-backs you could come across in the last 20-25 years – to pass their information on.

“Steve – with his experience in so many ways… Chelsea, with change of managers and different styles of managers and top, top players, and England. All the staff are able to cope being around the environment, and I think that’s so important.

Carrick confirmed they challenge him, adding: “I can’t be right the whole time – it’s impossible. That’s why we’ve got a group of six in our office.

“We’ve all got strong opinions, but I think we all filter it, and it’s important that we have a connection and understanding of what direction we want to go in. We have to push each other, for sure.”

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Manchester United face a decision in the summer over whether to appoint a new permanent head coach or make Michael Carrick their boss full time, and the Reds icon has already made his stance clear

Michael Carrick has made no secret of his desire to take the Manchester United job on a permanent basis beyond the summer. The former midfielder has lifted the mood around Old Trafford since stepping in as interim head coach following Ruben Amorim’s departure in January.

Carrick has overseen five matches so far, guiding United to four wins, including impressive victories over Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham.

The club is still expected to wait until the end of the season to appoint a permanent head coach, and one candidate under consideration is Oliver Glasner, who has already announced he will leave Crystal Palace come the summer. It looks increasingly likely, however, he could depart a lot sooner.

Carrick, on the other hand, has been clear about his intentions and his desire to take United forward. In an interview with BBC Sport, he said: “It’s not a stock answer – for me, it’s the ultimate role. I’m really enjoying it, I love what I’m doing.

“I’m fortunate. I feel privileged to be in the position I am, but it’s not the fact that I believe I can do it and I’m here to do it. I said it when I came in – there’s the sentimental side of that, of understanding the role and coming through the club and being here and loving the club and being a supporter and all that side of it is one thing.

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“But, actually, I’m here to do a job now and to make a good team and be successful. I don’t decide how long that’s going to be but I love being here and and while I’m here, I’ll give everything I can.

“And I always plan for the long-term future for the benefit of the football club. That’s how I believe it should be.”

Carrick went on to emphasise how happy he is with his role at the club, adding: “I’m loving what I’m doing. Again, you know… really good people. The staff are fantastic, the players have been unbelievable.

“It’s a really good place to come in every single day – to drive in and look forward to being here. And then, obviously, around the city and globally, the reaction and the support that you get – it’s very hard to describe it. It’s incredible.

“So, yeah, I’m delighted to be here.”

United are back in Premier League action on Monday night (February 23) as they travel to Everton under the lights at Goodison Park (8pm kick-off). They remain unbeaten in their last five games.

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It is two years since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment into Man Utd was given the green light. It has been an interesting couple of years.

04:00, 20 Feb 2026

When Sir Jim Ratcliffe sat down with Sky News in Antwerp last week, there was one particular comment that dominated headlines and would set the agenda for days, if not weeks, to come. Not just around Manchester United, but also politically.

It’s not every day the co-owner of one of the world’s biggest football clubs is told to apologise by the Prime Minister, but Ratcliffe’s comments on immigration drew condemnation and even prompted a public response from the club he owns.

But as we reflect on the second anniversary of Ineos’ investment into United being confirmed in February 2024, there was another line in that interview that caught the attention, albeit one that was never going to get the same scrutiny or coverage.

Ratcliffe was talking about the need for a leader, in this case a Prime Minister, to make difficult and unpopular decisions for the greater good when he drew a comparison with his own situation at United.

“Well, I’ve been very unpopular at Manchester United because we’ve made lots of changes,” he said. “But for the better, in my view.

“And I think we’re beginning to see some evidence in the football club that that’s beginning to pay off.”

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Two years in, is Ratcliffe right that the decisions he has made are beginning to deliver results? Have United won four of their last five games because they stumbled upon an excellent coach, or is it because Ratcliffe has wasted millions on Erik ten Hag, Dan Ashworth and Ruben Amorim, made a third of the workforce redundant, stripped back bonuses for the staff that remain, done away with free lunches and made going to the game more difficult than ever?

It felt like a stretch. United are in a good moment and have momentum, but they have a coach under contract until the end of the season who got the job because Ratcliffe appointed a coach from Portugal, despite the director of football that he was desperate to recruit telling him it would be a mistake.

“I saw that comment and I thought he was trying to get a bit of glory from a few good results,” said Chris Rumfitt of the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST).

“I fail to see how sacking so many staff and getting rid of food at the training ground has led in any way to those results. It’s probably hindered rather than helped, I’m not buying that one.”

Two years into the Ineos era, Rumfitt described it as a “mixed picture”. One thing you can say for Ratcliffe is that he has packed a lot into those 731 days.

On the football ledger, he blundered by keeping Ten Hag, handing him a new contract and sacking him three months later. He then spent £27million on hiring and firing Amorim and £4.1million to do the same with Ashworth. When you compare that with the cost of scrapping lunch for staff, it is a drop in the ocean.

Although the executives Ratcliffe has placed in charge of football operations are now facing scrutiny, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox look to have delivered an upgrade in recruitment. United spent more than £215million in the summer, and it looks like the best window they have had in years.

Judging Ratcliffe purely by what has happened on the pitch is impossible, however. From the redundancies to the lunches to the stripping away of cup final perks, from £66 tickets and no concessions to what supporter groups describe as an attack on fan culture.

Then there’s the interviews. Last week’s claim that the United Kingdom is being “colonised” by immigrants is the most egregious example, but Ratcliffe’s attempts to front up have too often been disastrous.

His claim that United’s ticket prices should be no different to Fulham’s showed he had lost all touch with reality back in the city he once called home, and publicly citing some players as “not good enough” and “overpaid” went down badly in the dressing room.

There have been protests again recently and although the positive results under Carrick reduced the scale of them, those who go to Old Trafford regularly feel like they are under attack.

“It’s a real issue, every season ticket holder will tell you they feel like the club are going out of their way to make being a season ticket holder more difficult,” said Rumfitt.

“All the rules around passing on tickets, how you have to do it, who you can pass them on to, deadlines for selling tickets back to the club, it feels like everything they’re doing is to make the life of a season ticket holder more difficult.

“Cynically, one suspects they would rather we had fewer season ticket holders because of the pricing model they’ve now got. It means season ticket holders are paying so much less per game than match-by-match fans, and we don’t go to the megastore.”

It’s certainly not been two years of plain sailing. Two years ago tomorrow, Ratcliffe sat down with journalists in Ineos’ Knightbridge offices for a rare interview that didn’t cause controversy.

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He said it would take “two or three” seasons to make United a force again, but that looks like an underestimation. United are in a good moment under Michael Carrick, but there is clearly more work to be done.

So, looking ahead to the next two years, what advice would Rumfitt offer Ratcliffe as he finally looks to deliver on that promise?

“In his very first meeting with fans, I was in a couple of them, he said we are going to be absolutely laser focused on results on the pitch, turning it round on the pitch and fixing everything else almost secondarily, because without the results on the pitch, almost nothing else matters at a football club,” he said.

“I think that’s right, and I think he needs to return to that mission. Leave the fans alone, but also put an end to the cost-cutting. It’s not that cost-cutting isn’t a legitimate thing to do in a business, but the money you’re saving is so trivial compared to the amount you’re wasting by making bad decisions with respect to on-pitch matters.

“Our focus would be to stick to that original thing you said, which is to focus on getting us winning on the pitch and loosen up a bit about fan issues.

“And one last thing: keep your views on politics to yourself, we don’t want to hear them.”

Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for Brighton star Carlos Baleba and the midfielder has now addressed the speculation

Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba has opened up on the impact surrounding rumours of a potential move to Manchester United had on his form during the first half of the season. United were heavily linked with signing the Seagulls midfielder last summer, as they looked to strengthen their midfield.

However, Brighton were reported to value Baleba at a fee worth around £100million, so United ended up not going on to sign the Cameroon international despite the intense speculation – and widespread reports that they had agreed personal terms with the player.

United are continuing to be linked with a move for a new midfielder, particularly after it was confirmed that Casemiro would be leaving the club this summer when his contract at Old Trafford expires.

As a result, speculation linking Baleba with a switch to United is likely to return once the summer transfer window rolls around, although it remains to be seen if any other clubs will have an interest in the midfielder.

READ MORE: Ruben Amorim spotted after £12m Man United sack pay-off – ‘What is he doing!’READ MORE: Man United star’s actions ‘spread like a virus’ after Matheus Cunha speaks out

Baleba endured a difficult first half of the season for Brighton, but has featured in all but six Premier League matches this term, with those absences due to his participation at the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon.

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With both the summer and January transfer windows now in the past, Baleba has reflected on how the speculation surrounding his future affected him.

“I feel more relaxed now,” Baleba, 22, told Sky Sports. “The noise about me outside, I didn’t understand.

“I didn’t look on the websites. I’m more focused on me, myself and for my team-mates.”

Brighton have had a tough campaign on all fronts so far this season, with the Seagulls in 14th place in the Premier League table and just seven points above the relegation zone. Despite the struggles, Baleba is remaining positive and is focused on enjoying the remainder of the campaign.

“All my qualities, I need to improve on that,” Baleba said. “The most of the qualities I have is I need to enjoy more football, because when I play, I’m so serious that I want to do the right thing or to do the proper thing on the pitch.”

It remains to be seen what United will have planned for the summer transfer window when it comes to potential midfield reinforcements.

Baleba is not the only midfielder to be linked with a move to Old Trafford over the last 12 months, with Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, Sandro Tonali of Newcastle and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace all seeing their names mentioned on the rumour mill.

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The former Manchester United boss has been spotted watching a match between Carlos Alcaraz and Karen Khachanov

Former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has surprised fans by making an appearance at the Qatar Open tennis tournament, just over a month on from his sacking.

The Portuguese was sacked from his role as United boss back in January, earning a reported £12 million pay-off. The decision to part ways with Amorim came after an explosive press conference following the draw at Leeds United.

On Thursday evening, Amorim was spotted at the Qatar Open quarter-final match between Carlos Alcaraz and Karen Khachanov. In the closing stages, he was shown on the TV coverage of the match, watching the action from the stands.

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The former United boss was shown as Alcaraz closed out a three-set win. The Spaniard had found himself one set down after a tie-breaker, but came back to win the second set 6-4 and take the third deciding set 6-3.

After Amorim was shown, United fans took to social media to show their surprise at seeing him. “Did not expect to see Ruben Amorim at a tennis match,” one wrote.

A second said: “Why is Amorim there lmao.” A third added: “What is Ruben Amorim doing watching Alcaraz in Qatar!”

A fourth fan asked: “Is Amorim going to take the Qatar national team job?”

“Just spotted Amorim in the stands watching Carlos Alcaraz versus Khachanov. Dude, just minding his business in Doha,” another wrote.

Amorim was replaced by Michael Carrick at United, with the former midfielder coming in on an interim basis until the end of the season.

The side remain unbeaten under the stewardship of the 44-year-old Wins over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham was followed with a 1-1 draw against West Ham last week.

United currently sit in fourth place in the Premier League table, one point above Chelsea in fifth position, and three points ahead of sixth-placed Liverpool.

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Amorim’s appearance in Qatar is not the first time that he has been spotted since his exit from United. Shortly after the decision, he was pictured walking in Manchester with his wife.

It’s reported that the manager is waiting until the end of the season before speaking out about his time at United. It’s said that he does not want to disrupt the remainder of the season under Carrick.

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been criticised for his comments on immigrants, which he later apologised for

Manchester United are concerned about losing out on millions in fresh sponsorship agreements following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s contentious remarks about immigration in the UK.

United remain without a training kit partner, whilst the club’s shirt sleeve sponsorship arrangement will run out this summer.

The Mirror reports United’s owners the Glazers have expressed worries to senior figures about the club’s prospects of attracting new partners, after its image and standing suffered a significant blow following Ratcliffe’s recent interview.

The co-owner apologised to the Glazers after provoking fury when he claimed immigrants had ‘colonised’ the UK. The backlash has been enormous, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer demanding the billionaire apologise – which he did.

The FA are still examining the comments and could decide to launch a full-scale investigation. The Glazers view United’s commercial worth as one of the primary reasons the Floridians have never agreed to sell their stake in the club.

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And the Americans are now anxious about the impact Ratcliffe’s comments will have on the club’s prospects of securing profitable new deals moving forward.

The Glazers know blue-chip companies only want to be associated with forward-thinking and progressive clubs. Whilst the situation could be made even worse if United fail to secure Champions League qualification this season.

The circumstances will heap additional pressure on caretaker manager Michael Carrick to deliver a top-four finish.

Carrick, who remains undefeated in five matches since assuming control, will lead his team against Everton on Monday evening.

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He is bracing himself for intense questioning regarding Ratcliffe’s remarks – and the club’s reaction to them – when he meets the press on Friday lunchtime.

United’s communications department have briefed Carrick on what to anticipate and how to handle questions about Ratcliffe, hoping to avoid exacerbating the situation.