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Ederson withdraws from Brazil squad to add to Man City injury worries

Kyle Goldsmith
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Ederson withdraws from Brazil squad to add to Man City injury worries

Ederson has withdrawn from the Brazil squad for the upcoming international break because of a knock suffered in Manchester City’s 4-4 draw with Chelsea.

Ederson battled through injury to play all 90 minutes on Sunday as Cole Palmer’s injury-time equaliser saw leaders City held at Stamford Bridge, missing the opportunity to go three points clear at the Premier League summit.

The goalkeeper was scheduled to meet up with the Brazil squad for their World Cup qualifiers with Colombia and reigning world champions Argentina, but the 30-year-old has been forced to pull out because of a foot injury.


While it is not yet clear how much time, if any, Ederson will miss, any injury would prove another huge blow for Pep Guardiola and City, who already have key players such as Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones in the physio room and not expected back until well after the November international break. Nathan Ake and Sergio Gomez both missed the Chelsea draw, which meant City were only able to name eight substitutes, two of those being goalkeepers.

Ederson’s withdrawal is also troublesome for Selecao head coach Fernando Diniz, who is already sweating over the fitness of Gabriel Jesus, while Brazil will definitely be without Neymar, Casemiro and Richarlison because of injuries. Athletico Paranense goalkeeper Bento has been called up in Ederson’s absence, though it will likely be Liverpool shot-stopper Alisson who gets the nod between the sticks.

City have a huge clash with Liverpool following the international break, hosting the second-placed Reds at the Etihad Stadium looking to land a vital early blow in the title race as Guardiola’s men go in search of a sixth Premier League crown in seven seasons. They will be desperately hoping Ederson is ready to go against Jurgen Klopp’s side, with Stefan Ortega likely to get the nod if their number one cannot play.

Raducanu’s December exhibition scrapped as injury return pushed back

Kyle Goldsmith
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Raducanu’s December exhibition scrapped as injury return pushed back

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from an exhibition match in China next month, though she still hopes to make her return to tennis in January.

Raducanu has not played since losing in straight sets to Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart in April, ending her season early before undergoing surgeries on both hands and her left ankle.

She was expected to make a much-anticipated appearance at an exhibition tournament in Macau, starting on December 2.

But the event has come too soon for Raducanu, who still remains hopeful of returning in January and will be looking to bounce back after slipping to 289 in the world rankings.

2024 will be an important year for Raducanu, who played just nine games in 2023 and has struggled to hit the heights that saw her win the US Open in 2021 at the age of just 18, disrupted by a number of injuries and a split with coach Sebastian Sachs.


Raducanu’s lengthy absence means she will be able to use a protected world ranking of 103, which could be good enough to earn her a place in January’s Australian Open main draw, the first grand slam of the year.

If she is fit enough to play, Raducanu will be looking to go past the second round of a grand slam for the first time since her famous US Open victory at Flushing Meadows in 2021.

Raducanu spoke of her frustration at the pause in her career last month, telling BBC Radio 4: “I think the biggest thing from the last few months was how much I missed the sport.

“I think that was the standout thing – how much I missed training, how much I missed my body hurting and feeling tired and dragging yourself through certain exercises when you don’t feel like it.”

National knife crime campaign launched today

Helen Greaney
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National knife crime campaign launched today

Operation Sceptre – the bi-annual nationwide campaign addressing knife crime  – began today for UK police forces.

Coordinated by the National Police chief’s council, this initiative aims to heighten awareness of knife crime while providing a glimpse into the ongoing efforts of police forces combating this issue.

Running for a week, officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) will be actively involved in targeting operations, community engagement events, educational programs, and premises visits, all geared towards diminishing knife crime and discouraging the carrying of knives.

The Operation Venture team, specialising in serious violence and knife crime, will support the operation with both proactive uniformed and plain-clothes patrols across Greater Manchester, focusing on identifying and apprehending individuals found in possession of knives.

Week of action

The week of action under Operation Sceptre will shed light on knife sales, including online transactions. Officers will collaborate with partners to engage retailers, particularly regarding responsible knife sales practices.

GMP will also raise awareness about Forever Amnesty surrender bins permanently located in police stations across Greater Manchester. These bins allow anyone to anonymously surrender a knife with no questions asked.

Superintendent Caroline Hemingway, GMP’s force lead for knife crime, said that the devastating impact of knife crime on families and communities. Operation Sceptre serves as an opportunity to showcase GMP’s year-round commitment to tackling these issues through community engagement events and education.

Reducing knife crime

GMP collaborates with various partner agencies, including the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit, to make referrals to support services and ensure victims of serious violence receive assistance.

Kate Green, deputy mayor for policing, crime, criminal justice, and fire acknowledges the progress in reducing knife crime in Greater Manchester but stresses the need for continued efforts. Operation Sceptre provides an opportunity to intensify awareness, education, and removal of knives from the streets.

Green encourages individuals with information about knife crime to use Forever Amnesty bins or seek help and support through campaigns like #SpeakingOutCouldSaveALife.

 

Osimhen drops Manchester United hint after rejecting life-changing Saudi offer

Harry Carr
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Osimhen drops Manchester United hint after rejecting life-changing Saudi offer

Victor Osimhen refused to rule out a potential transfer to Manchester United as he opened up on his decision to reject a ‘crazy’ offer from Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal.

Osimhen has been strongly linked with a move to one of Europe’s elite clubs after firing Napoli to their first Serie A title in the post-Diego Maradona era last season.

The Nigeria international scored 31 goals and added four assists in 39 appearances across all competitions last term, as Luciano Spalletti’s Partenopei ran away with the Scudetto and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

While Osimhen was linked with United, Chelsea and other European giants ahead of 2023-24, it was Al Hilal who made the most concrete attempt to sign him in a transfer window which saw them acquire the likes of Neymar, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ruben Neves.

Though Osimhen admits the financial rewards offered by the 18-time Saudi champions were hard to turn down, the striker was always keen to stay in Europe.

Speaking to former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel while appearing as a guest on ‘The Obi One Podcast’, Osimhen said: “What has been said is true.

“I have to be honest, I never thought about leaving last summer because Napoli wanted to keep me, but when the offer from Saudi Arabia arrived, a huge offer, it was difficult to refuse.

“I spoke to Napoli and I decided to stay. It was crazy. The more I said no, the more they increased the economic offer. It would have changed my life, they never gave up but I said, ‘no guys, I’m staying.’

“I had talks in August, for me it was a huge decision to make. I spoke to Napoli and we decided together to refuse.

“I didn’t want people to think I wanted to leave. It was a positive decision for my career. Although football is played for money, there is also much more to it.”

Osimhen was reportedly close to signing a new contract with Napoli after rejecting the chance to move to Saudi Arabia, though talks over a new deal have since stalled.

The relationship between Osimhen and his club came under strain earlier this season when Napoli’s official TikTok account posted videos appearing to mock their striker.

Napoli then released a statement claiming Osimhen was having “second thoughts” over a new contract last month, though they expressed hope that the two parties will reconvene for further talks in the coming weeks.

With Osimhen’s future still uncertain amid a troubled start to Napoli’s title defence, the Nigerian continues to be linked with a move to England.

During the striker’s podcast appearance, Mikel joked that he would look to broker a deal for him to join Chelsea, saying: “We are desperate for someone like you, since [Didier] Drogba left the club.”

Asked if he had a preferred Premier League destination in mind, Osimhen said: “I don’t have a favourite Premier League club, but I have two shirts: Chelsea and Manchester United.

“Many of my friends are Chelsea fans, a few are United. The Premier League is the most popular league for any African player, it’s a great league.”

Nike releases Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired new Mercurial Dream Speed boots

Solomon Shehata
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Nike releases Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired new Mercurial Dream Speed boots

Nike has released a seventh version of the iconic Nike Mercurial Dream Speed boots series, inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo during his prime playing for Manchester United.

Referencing a bright orange pair of boots worn by Ronaldo back in the 2008-09 season, these are the boots that saw the Portuguese score his first hattrick in the Premier League in a 6-0 home win against Newcastle United.

The striking bright red and orange design of the latest edition of the boot series is said to be inspired by the fiery energy and speed of Ronaldo.

Featuring black X patterns on the heel, with the famous Nike swoosh logo in white with a black border, these boots will be hard to miss when top names in the game start sporting them on the biggest stages.

Stars such as Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, PSG’s Kylian Mbappé, and Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez are among the names that could wear the new design.

Check out our latest sports stories here: https://www.businessmanchester.co.uk/category/sport/

Prince William, Ferguson and Southgate among those to pay final farewell to Sir Bobby Charlton

Jon Fisher
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Prince William, Ferguson and Southgate among those to pay final farewell to Sir Bobby Charlton

Thousands of people lined the streets of Manchester to pay tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton, who was laid to rest this afternoon.

Charlton died last month, aged 86, after an accidental fall at the care home where he was receiving treatment for dementia.

His death prompted an outpouring of emotion for a man who played an enormous part in England’s 1966 World Cup triumph and Manchester United’s European Cup win in 1968, which came 10 years after he survived the Munich air crash that claimed the lives of 23 people including eight team-mates.

Across a glittering 17-year playing career, Charlton made 758 appearances for United, scoring 249 goals.

The funeral cortege left Old Trafford at 1330 to applause from well-wishers as it made the three-mile journey past the Holy Trinity statue that features Charlton, Denis Law and George Best and on to Manchester Cathedral, where around 1000 people gathered for the service.

Among those in attendance were Prince William, Sir Alex Ferguson, Roy Keane, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, England boss Gareth Southgate as well as Charlton’s former team-mates Pat Crerand and Alex Stepney.

Current United boss Erik ten Hag was not present due to a long-arranged commitment in his native Netherlands.

On his way inside, Stepney told BBC News: “My memory was meeting him for the first time when I got signed [at United]. I knew straight away what a great guy he was, a humble guy.

“Nothing was over his head or anything like that, it was all about playing for Manchester United. Even on international duty it was about winning and that was what Bobby Charlton was all about. A humble guy, a great family man. It never went to his head.

“He was a winner. He never wanted to be a loser. He was an absolute winner – let’s be honest he scored some great goals to win games.”

Former England and United captain Bryan Robson added to Sky News: “It’s a sad day for football, for Manchester United and Sir Bobby’s family.

“Sir Bobby was a great player…to win the World Cup, win the European Cup and have the career he had, he was just a fantastic player but also a great person. He had time for everybody and did a lot of charity work.”

The ceremony was led by Canon Nigel Ashworth with eulogies from family, former United CEO David Gill and John Shiels, the former CEO of the Manchester United Foundation.

After the ceremony, there was a private wake held at Old Trafford.

Check out our other sports stories here:
https://www.businessmanchester.co.uk/category/sport/

Where does Chelsea-Manchester City epic rank among the Premier League’s greatest games?

Harry Carr
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Where does Chelsea-Manchester City epic rank among the Premier League’s greatest games?

It’s fair to say Sunday’s meeting between Chelsea and Manchester City did not disappoint.

Eight goals, a penalty at either end – one contentious and one less so – and two former City forwards returning to haunt their old team made the chaotic 4-4 draw an instant Premier League classic.

But where does it rank among the greatest contests we have seen in the Premier League era?

Here, we remember five unforgettable contests spanning four separate decades in English football’s top flight, with both City – and neighbours Manchester United – featuring prominently.

5. CHELSEA 4-4 MANCHESTER CITY, NOVEMBER 2023

This weekend’s eight-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge truly had it all. No fewer than four equalising goals – one for City, three for Chelsea – were scored as momentum swung one way and then the other in west London.

That had not occurred in a Premier League game since Liverpool and Arsenal drew 4-4 at Anfield in April 2009 – another classic which fell just short of a place in our top five.

In addition to goals, every game on our list has another thing in common; late drama. With City academy graduate Cole Palmer denying his former club victory with an emphatic 95th-minute penalty, Sunday’s match certainly ticked that box.

Former City hero Raheem Sterling playing a key role for Chelsea, netting the Blues’ second goal, provided another compelling narrative.

Speaking in his role of commentator for Sky Sports, former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher said “it felt right” that neither team lost the game, and most neutrals would have to agree.

4. WEST BROMWICH ALBION 5-5 MANCHESTER UNITED, MAY 2013

Alex Ferguson’s trophy-laden 26-year spell at Old Trafford ended on a high note as United captured their 13th league title under the Scot in 2012-13. Fortunately for Ferguson, that success had already been rubber-stamped before an eventful final-day trip to The Hawthorns.

Ferguson oversaw exactly 1,500 games as United manager, but few came close to the craziness of this one, with West Brom staging a miraculous recovery to deny the visitors victory.

United raced into a 3-0 lead within half an hour before James Morrison and Romelu Lukaku hit back, but the Red Devils looked to have killed West Brom’s hopes of a fightback through goals from Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez.

However, Lukaku scored two more to claim the match ball either side of a Youssouf Mulumbu strike to ensure a chaotic match finished all square.

Fortunately for United’s players, they still finished the campaign 11 points clear of City, sparing them one final dose of the hairdryer treatment.

3. MANCHESTER UNITED 4-3 MANCHESTER CITY, SEPTEMBER 2009

No list of the Premier League’s greatest games would be complete without an entry from one of the most storied rivalries in the competition’s history.

2009 was a landmark year for football in Manchester, with City celebrating Carlos Tevez’s cross-city switch with the infamous ‘Welcome to Manchester’ billboard and Ferguson predicting United would never be derby underdogs in his lifetime.

The teams’ first meeting of 2009-10, taking place at Old Trafford in September, looked to be heading for a 3-3 draw when Craig Bellamy inspired Mark Hughes’ visitors to a dramatic fightback.

Michael Owen, however, had other ideas, with the former Liverpool icon making his mark in a different shade of red by prodding in a stoppage-time winner to quiet United’s ‘noisy neighbours’.

2. LIVERPOOL 4-3 NEWCASTLE UNITED, APRIL 1996

Silverware may have evaded them, but Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United ‘Entertainers’ remain one of the most beloved teams in Premier League history. Though the Magpies’ defeat proved costly as their title challenge faltered, this April 1996 epic showed why.

An era-defining clash began with Robbie Fowler’s second-minute header and culminated with Stan Collymore’s thunderous 92nd-minute winner, Liverpool twice fighting back for a famous victory.

“Managers would be dead within six months if every game was like that,” remarked Reds boss Roy Evans.

This rip-roaring contest even had a sequel the following season, with Fowler hitting another late winner in another 4-3 Liverpool triumph. You can never beat the original, however.

1. MANCHESTER CITY 3-2 QUEENS PARK RANGERS, MAY 2012

“You’ll never see anything like this ever again”, screamed Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler. To this point, that comment has proven accurate.

Any debate concerning the single most iconic moment in Premier League history surely ended on May 13, 2012, when City pipped rivals United to the title in the most remarkable circumstances, being crowned English champions for the first time since 1968.

Relegation-threatened QPR dug deep after Pablo Zabaleta’s opener, with Djibril Cisse and Jamie Mackie turning the game around to stun an expectant Etihad Stadium crowd into silence.

Edin Dzeko’s late header and Joey Barton’s red card gave City hope, but United’s supporters were starting to celebrate yet another title after clinching their own final-day win at Sunderland.

Enter Sergio Aguero. Taking advantage of Mario Balotelli’s only Premier League assist, the Argentine wrote himself into English football folklore with his 94th-minute strike, a moment which will take some beating.

Manchester United injury problems mount as Hojlund and Eriksen withdraw from Denmark squad

Harry Carr
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Manchester United injury problems mount as Hojlund and Eriksen withdraw from Denmark squad

Manchester United duo Rasmus Hojlund and Christian Eriksen have withdrawn from the Denmark squad for this month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers with injuries.

Eriksen was replaced by Mason Mount in the first half of United’s 1-0 Premier League win over Luton Town on Saturday, while £72million striker Hojlund was withdrawn late on and headed straight down the tunnel after appearing to sustain a knock.

United’s win over the Hatters – which arrived courtesy of Victor Lindelof’s second-half strike – sent the Red Devils into the international break sixth in the Premier League table after back-to-back victories, easing the pressure on boss Erik ten Hag.

However, Ten Hag now faces an anxious wait over the fitness of his Danish duo, with both Hojlund and Eriksen to miss their country’s upcoming games against Slovenia and Northern Ireland.

Hojlund has endured a mixed start to life at Old Trafford; while only Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata has matched his tally of five Champions League goals this season, he has yet to find the net in nine Premier League appearances.

Asked about Hojlund’s condition in his post-match press conference on Saturday, Ten Hag said: “In this moment, I can’t tell you anything about it because I don’t know.

“We’ll do an assessment, and we have to wait 24 hours for the conclusion. So we’ll give the medical team 24 hours to see what the problem is, if there is a problem.


“You don’t want to miss any player. There’s also Christian Eriksen. That is our season at this moment, we have so many injuries. But, therefore, you have a squad.

“We have talked about it many times. But hopefully, players are coming back and those new injuries are not too bad.”

Ten Hag has had to battle a lengthy injury list this season. While defenders Raphael Varane and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have returned to the fold in recent weeks, the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Casemiro, Tyrell Malacia, Jonny Evans and Amad Diallo are all currently sidelined.

United resume their up-and-down Premier League campaign with a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton after the international break, before heading to Turkey for a huge Champions League tussle with Galatasaray.

Barut Hotels adds latest destination to its Aegean crown

Noel Alberts
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Barut Hotels adds latest destination to its Aegean crown

Opening in May 2024, Anda Barut Collection offers luxury for all

Barut Hotels, one of the Mediterranean region’s most culturally-rooted and pioneering tourism brands, is to open the ANDA Barut Collection Hotel in May. Located within the natural beauty and near Izmir and Bodrum airports, the Anda Barut Collection offers guests a spacious, airy beachfront location to reset and recharge comfortably, only hours from Europe.

Wellness Weekend (10th-12th May 2024), which will officially launch the hotel to the public, will see Anda host British Olympians, athletes and dancers for an incredibly varied programme of complimentary activities. The schedule highlights just how much there is on offer for guests staying at the venue. From swimming with Rebecca Adlington, beach fit with Denise Lewis, Colin Jackson & Jamie Baulch, boxing with Johnny Nelson, running with the legendary Paula Radcliffe, dance fit with James & Ola Jordan, enjoying sportswear workshop with famous fashion designer Zeynep Kartal, Wellness Weekend offers something for all.

Grown-Up Relaxation and Family Travel Destination

At Anda Barut Collection, an area designed for adults welcoming guests with spacious rooms, gourmet restaurants, enchanting experiences, and other privileges across wellness, sport and luxury in a romantic environment.

Anda Barut Collection has also transformed the holiday experience for families with children. The hotel has interactive clubs for children, educational activities and safe play areas.

The hotel offers a unique experience for all age groups with its nature-surrounded aqua park, which includes everything from fast water slides to specially themed pools, sunbathing areas, loungers, and food and drink service for the entire family. Carnival Park, designed to focus on games, entertainment, and sports experiences, will be one of the areas to visit most during holidays.

A Historic, Cultured Setting with Gastronomic Discovery

Anda Barut Collection elevates Turkey’s tourism richness to an international standard. The unique nature offers guests a hotel and an in-depth life experience. The hotel’s modern architecture and adventure park, intertwined with the area’s natural beauties and ancient history, promises a holiday where both adults and children will create unforgettable memories. Anda offers a luxury accommodation experience and allows guests to embark on their own gastronomic journey throughout their stay.

For information

effect bcw | effect burson cohn & wolfe

Vildan Özdek / [email protected] / +90 553 595 61 77

Mahmut Özyon / [email protected] / +90 533 471 14 53

Former PM David Cameron makes surprise government comeback

Helen Greaney
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Former PM David Cameron makes surprise government comeback

In a surprising move, former prime minister David Cameron has made a comeback to the UK government as the foreign secretary.

The move follows the sacking of home secretary Suella Braverman earlier today, with James Cleverly now assuming her position.

This unexpected return is part of a reshuffle by prime minister Rishi Sunak, who appears to be seeing to boost his political standing.

Cameron has accepted a peerage to rejoin the government. He expressed the importance of standing by allies and addressing global challenges on X (formerly known as Twitter).

International challenges

He said: “We are facing a daunting set of international challenges, including the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. At this time of profound global change, it has rarely been more important for this country to stand by our allies, strengthen our partnerships and make sure our voice is heard.

“While I have been out of front-line politics for the last seven years, I hope that my experience – as Conservative Leader for eleven years and Prime Minister for six – will assist me in helping the Prime Minister to meet these vital challenges.”

Sunak’s choice to reintroduce Cameron is expected to appease moderates within the Conservative party who have expressed concern over Braverman’s right-wing stance on issues like immigration, policing, and homelessness.

Pat McFadden MP, Labour’s national campaign coordinator, said: “A few weeks ago Rishi Sunak said David Cameron was part of a failed status quo, now he’s bringing him back as his life raft.

“This puts to bed the prime minister’s laughable claim to offer change from 13 years of Tory failure.”

Cabinet reshuffle

On the announcement of his new position, new home secretary James Cleverly said: “In that time I’ve worked very closely with the home office cracking down on illegal migration and reducing the number of small boat arrivals.

“Now as home secretary I’m absolutely committed to stopping small boats as promised and making sure everyone in the UK feels safe and secure going about their daily basis. It’s a fantastic job.”

Minister Jesse Norman has quit his role in the Department for Transport. He says he gave notice to the government whips “several months ago”.

Will Quince has also resigned from the Department of Health and Social Care.

Schools minister Nick Gibb says he will resign and step down as an MP at the next election.

 

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