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Bruno Fernandes has revealed that he prefers to pursue his Manchester United aspirations over a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.

In Saturday’s Premier League game against Brighton at Old Trafford, United captain Fernandes will make his 300th appearance for the club.

United have struggled for a lot of Fernandes’ time in Manchester, finishing 15th last season, which was the club’s worst final top-flight position since 1973-74.

Additionally, they lost to Tottenham in the Europa League final, which also undermined their chances of making it to the Champions League.

When Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal reportedly expressed interest, Fernandes was given a means of escape during the off-season.

He jest, however, and the 20-time English champions, who last won the title in 2013, rejected the move to concentrate on unfinished business.

“We always say we have an offer from Saudi because, after all, they must come wherever I am.” He said in response to his wife Ana and his family, “They can choose not to, but I’d prefer them to come.”

“And obviously, she said, “Are you successful at the club?” because she is aware of my absence.

Fernandes has occasionally received criticism for having too much emotion on the pitch and having frustrated tirades against teammates.

However, Ruben Amorim, the manager of United, acknowledges that the Portugal midfielder has a burning desire to win the Premier League and Champions League.

Fernandes stated that the manager spoke with her. He claimed that I was still a project participant. He desired that I remain. The club repeated itself.

I’ve always said, “Okay, I have to find a solution for myself, whatever is best for me and my family, and I will leave” if the club was like “Bobby, we want to cash in, we want to make some money, we don’t think you can be part of the future project” or whatever.

“But it’s obvious that wasn’t the case.” I believed that whatever our goals were, the club could still benefit from my involvement in the plan.

Fernandes has a year’s contract with the option to extend it until 2027.

And the 31-year-old won’t be able to talk about his future until after the World Cup in 2014.

He said, “I feel good here, as I’ve always said. “I still want to realize my dreams. I can’t speak by the side of the club, though, of course.

I’ve seen a lot of news, they say. I’ve heard a lot of people saying I’m ready to leave the following season. I haven’t spoken with anyone because that agreement was never made with the club because it wasn’t made with me.

Riad Bajic, a Bosnia and Herzegovina attacker, scored the winning goal for AEK Larnaca to defeat Crystal Palace 1-0 on Thursday in the UEFA Conference League.

After two rounds, Bajic’s second-half home earned the Cypriots a second-place finish behind Fiorentina in the standings.

After losing their first home game in a European competition, Palace are now 18th.

The English club’s coach, Oliver Glasner, told TNT Sports, “You have to understand that small mistakes get punished when you play in Europe.”

The German continued, “We are frustrated and it hurts, but it’s our second game and our play was good.”

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With a header over the crossbar and a header from Jean-Philippe Mateta before the break, Palace had two of the best chances to break the deadlock.

After 51 minutes, Bajic surprised Selhurst Park, but despite a flurry of late chances, the hosts were unable to score an equalizer.

As a result of Mauritania’s substitution for Aboubakary’s goals, Koita scored twice as AEK Athens defeated Aberdeen 6-0.

After making their bow in continental competition in 1967, the Scottish side lost their heaviest defeat in European football.

As Rayo Vallecano’s draw at Hacken ended goalless in the 103rd minute, Romania right-back Andrei Ratiu scored the winner.

Due to bad weather, Sparta Prague had to cancel its trip to Rijeka.

In his first game in charge, new Rangers manager Danny Rohl suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Brann in a shock 2-1 defeat to Go Ahead Eagles on Thursday, ending his perfect Europa League campaign.

Villa had a strong start on the European campaign by defeating Feyenoord and Bologna to cement their position as pre-tournament favorites.

The visitors in the Netherlands made seven changes, but Evann Guessand&nbsp fired in his first Villa goal, making it 2-0.

The home team’s famous victory came in their first ever group stage European football encounter, despite the choppy weather conditions.

Before half-time, Mathis Suray’s deflected shot, and Mats Deijl dinked over Emiliano Martinez to give the Dutch Cup winners the lead.

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Emi Buendia missed a late penalty with the chance to salvage a draw at Tottenham, but Villa’s match-winner came on Sunday.

Rangers’ chances of reaching the last stages are thawing after their third successive defeat in the Europa League placed them at the bottom of the 36-team standings.

The Scottish giants, who lost to Norwegian opposition for the first time in their history, had no immediate effect after changing managers.

Brann took a half-time lead thanks to Emil Kornvig’s converted at the back post.

Noah Holm rubbed salt in Rangers’ wounds before Jacob Sorensen punished more subpar defending by heading in from a free kick.

When Sean Dyche takes over at home in Porto in the summer of 2017, he hopes to bring back Nottingham Forest’s first European campaign in 30 years.

After only 40 days and eight games in charge on Saturday, Forest, who had taken just one point from their opening two games, sacked Ange Postecoglou.

When Celtic host Sturm Graz, Celtic will attempt to kick off a disappointing season.

Corentin Tolisso and Afonso Moreira scored the goals that gave Lyon the lead in the 2-0 victory over Basel, continuing their 100 percent record.

After overcoming Red Star Belgrade 2-0, Braga are the only other team to have won three of their three games so far.

Bologna won their first league game with a 2-1 victory over Steaua Bucharest.

Real Betis were held 0-0 away at Genk, while Fenerbahce defeated Stuttgart 1-0.

Inter Miami has extended Lionel Messi’s contract, which will allow the Argentine superstar to play for the next two years until the end of the 2028 campaign.

The simple caption “He’s Home” appears in a video of Messi signing a contract while he is seated at a table in the middle of the team’s new Freedom Park stadium, which is currently under construction.

In a club statement, Messi, 38, stated, “It makes me really happy to stay here and continue with this project that has also become a dream and has turned into a beautiful reality — playing in this stadium, at Miami Freedom Park.

Messi continued, “I’ve been very happy since I arrived in Miami, so I’m truly glad to keep going here.”

David Beckham, the co-owner of Inter Miami, said Messi’s decision to stay extended was in line with his “commitment to the city, the club, and the game.”

Beckham remarked, “He still wants to win and is still as committed as he has ever been.” We consider ourselves fortunate as owners to have a player who loves the game as much as he does, who has contributed to the game’s advancement as he has, and who can inspire the next generation of young talent as he does.”

The 2025 MLS season’s current contract expires at the end of the World Cup winner’s reign.

After club sources told AFP last month that the franchise had reached an extension agreement, the new agreement had been seen as a formality.

The United States, Canada, and Mexico host the World Cup in 2026, but Messi’s contract guarantees that he will continue competing until the end of that year.

The final will be held at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 19 and will begin the tournament on June 11.

After a disappointing time at Paris Saint-Germain, Messi left for Inter Miami in 2023, but his most successful career was spent there from 2004 to 2021. He played for Barcelona as a youth undergrad before joining the Spanish giants.

He won the La Liga title ten times at Barcelona and four times the UEFA Champions League title.

He led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar, and he wants to try to keep the trophy the following year.

He has won the Copa America twice with Argentina in 2021 and 2024 and has 114 international goals.

MLS goals and background

Although Messi’s potential rival Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal could do the same for him at a sixth World Cup in 2017, which would establish a new all-time record.

The eight-time winner of the Ballon d’Or has 16 career World Cup goals, just three goals short of Miroslav Klose’s.

Argentina comfortably advanced to the finals of the following year, coming in nine points clear of South America.

In what may have been Messi’s final competitive game against Venezuela two weeks ago, he finished with eight goals, including a brace.

Even though Inter Miami did not make the playoffs, he was named the MLS Most Valuable Player in the 2024 season.

He became the fastest player in MLS history to score 40 goals in 2025.

After finishing third in the Eastern Conference this year, Messi has resurrected Miami and placed it in contention for the playoffs.

He won the MLS’s Golden Boot award for his 29 goals in 28 games as he wrapped up Inter Miami’s regular season with a superb hat-trick last Saturday in a 5-2 victory over Nashville SC.

The board and management of the state-owned Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi has been disbanded, according to Benue State governor Hyacinth Alia.

The instantaneous dissolution occurs.

Read more about the arrests of six police tactical teams in Benue.

The state government claimed the decision was intended to reposition the club so that it can perform better in both the Nigeria Premier Football League and other competitions.

The governor also directed that the Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Creativity be given the all-clear, official documents, assets, and responsibilities with immediate effect, according to a statement from the governor’s chief press secretary, Tersoo Kula, partially read.

The board and management’s appreciation for their contributions to the club and the state was expressed by the governor.

He assured that the new management structure will be introduced soon to help with Lobi Stars’ expansion and competitiveness.

According to US media reports from Thursday, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier have been detained in connection with an investigation into illegal gambling.

According to a source with law enforcement, the 49-year-old Billups’ arrest was connected to an illegal poker game organized by the Mafia, according to ABC News.

According to the television network, Rozier was detained in a separate, separately related betting case.

At 10:00 am (1400 GMT), FBI Director Kash Patel was scheduled to make an announcement about the arrests in New York, according to CBS News.

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Billups, a former NBA star who played for the Detroit Pistons for five years, retired from the team in 2014 and is now the Trailblazers’ coach.

Later on Thursday, Billups made his first court appearance in Oregon, according to ABC.

Rozier, 31, was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 16th overall pick in the 2015 draft. He has 11 years of NBA experience.

On Wednesday, the Heat’s opening game of the NBA season was a loss for him.