By RYAN TOLMICH
Bastian Schweinsteiger isn’t the only star central midfielder that will be joining Manchester United this summer.
Man United announced Monday that the club has signed Morgan Schneiderlin from Southampton. The midfielder has signed a four-year deal with an option to extend for a further season.
“I am delighted to be a Manchester United player,” Schneiderlin said. “Once I learned that United were interested in signing me, it was a very easy decision to make.
“I have enjoyed seven very happy years with Southampton and it’s a club that will always be in my heart. But the chance to be part of this squad to help this great club be successful was too good to miss.”
The 25-year-old Schneiderlin made 253 appearances and scored 15 times for Southampton since making his debut in 2008, while also earning nine caps for France on the international level.
Here are some more news and notes to kick off your Monday morning:
PARENTS FEEL CASILLAS WAS ‘FORCED OUT’ OF REAL MADRID
Iker Casillas had his tearful farewell to Real Madrid Sunday, but the goalkeeper’s parents insist that it did not have to be like this.
Casillas confirmed that he is departing Real Madrid for Porto, putting an end to his 25-year stay with the Spanish club. However, Casillas’ family believes that the goalkeeper was “forced out” of Real Madrid, stating that his departure, and subsequent club choice, should have been more befitting of his stature.
“Iker has put up with a great deal, he has suffered psychological pressure and they treated him differently to other players,” Mari Carmen, Casillas’ mother, told El Mundo. “I have watched him suffer for many years. It is (Real Madrid president Florentino Perez) who is pushing him out because he wanted to end his career at Real Madrid.
“Porto is a third-tier team for someone of Iker’s stature,” she continued. “A world champion can’t end up at Porto. He could have gone wherever he wanted and I wouldn’t have cared if it had been Barcelona because they are gentlemen.”
FA DENY HULL CITY NAME CHANGE TO HULL TIGERS
For the second time, the English FA has put the kibosh on a potential Hull City name change.
The FA denied the club’s name change to the Hull Tigers for the second time since the club was taken over by owner Assem Allam. Hull City, which has been known as such for 111 years, will continue to operate under the same name after a council yielded a 69.9 percent vote against the change.
The FA’s decision was widely supported by the Hull Supporters Trust, although Allam has previously made threats to sell the team should the name change not go through.
“We always knew that following a change to the FA’s policy, the chances of changing the name were slim but we also feel it is important to fight for what you believe in and we believe that being called Hull Tigers would be the best strategy for the future,” said Allam’s son, Elab, in a statement.
“We will be taking some time away from the club to consider our options and we will make no further comment until we have come to a conclusion.”
QUICK KICKS
AC Milan midfielder Stephan El Shaarawy is nearing a transfer to Monaco. (REPORT)
Chelsea has completed the signing of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic from Stoke City. (REPORT)
Ciro Immobile has departed Borussia Dortmund to join Sevilla on a season-long loan. (REPORT)
Fabian Delph has ruled out a move to Manchester City while restating his commitment to Aston Villa. (REPORT)
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How will Schneiderlin fit at Manchester United? What do you think of Casillas’ departure from Real Madrid? What do you think of the Hull City name change to Hull Tigers?
Share your thoughts below.
“Way to put down my new team and essentially paint a target on my back, mom.” Hey Iker, do yourself a favor and tell your mom to “cerrarse el pico” (shut her trap).
She can bask in her sons former World Cup glory and take anti depressants to forget his last WC and few years at Real Madrid. If Porto is below standard for little Iker than I wonder what MLS would be to her.
The only people who won’t find this quote halarious are from Porto and Iker Casillas himself.
Another story that slipped under SBI’s radar due to importance and timing: the CAS overturned UEFA’s ruling on the Group I SRB-ALB match. Y’all might remember that that match was interrupted by a drone carrying an ultra-nationalist flag, which prompted a pitch invasion. UEFA awarded a walkover to SRB but then docked them three points. CAS awarded a walkover to ALB AND docked SRB three points. SRB now has -1 points and has been eliminated while ALB is tied on points with Denmark but loses the tiebreak and is in third.
Looks like Claudio Ranieri is new Leicester City Manager.
Well, everybody knew Man U’s biggest issue last year, especially after Carrick went down, was the center midfield. Now, they have two very good players moving in.
I’m still confused how a dude with the last name, Schneiderlin, could be a French guy. (And yes, I know he was born in France.)
He’s from Alsace, which has bounced between France and Germany historically (been part of France since WWI)
Exactly! It a place that both French and Germanic people claim and has change hands several times since the Franco-Prussian War.. For what it’s worth, Arsene Wenger is from Alsace as well.
Always feel to talk about my French links (although none to the Alsace – except for one girl I dated from Strasbourg)
Wrong Señora Mari Carmen. F.C. Porto is a fantastic club. Cubillas, Futre, Falcão, Casagrande, Vítor Baía, Fernando Couto, James Rodríguez, Hulk, Benny McCarthy, João Moutinho, Jorge Costa, have all played there.
Sporting is my team, but I acknowledge how good F.C. Porto has been in the last 30-plus years.
^Way to break it down. Thanks for sharing.
+1
No sentiment is this football game…but it really shows the lack of any respect the way Casillas has been threated. In Madrid they think that money affords them to shuffle everybody, luckily enough the game is not mathematics…and now with that Benitez onboard they think they have the same idealistic hardliner onboard….let’s see in May 2016….Madrid has one, better 2 lucks…CR7 and Bale…otherwise…
Please. As I mentioned above, Casillas has been a liability for quite some time.
Proof that delusional parents exist at all levels of the game. Casillas should have been dropped years ago. A great keeper in his day but he’s been pretty bad for quite a while now. Personally, I don’t know why Porto want him, except maybe to sell shirts. He should have retired.
If only he had been born to a Tiger Mom… he’d still be chained to a piano to this day.
+1