From The Guardian

This table shows the percentage of the club’s turnover which is spent on wages.

From The Guardian

“Tevez did ​​it out of spite,” Berbatov told BG TV. “But I wouldn’t do something like that. I had the opportunity to sign for City but I chose United. City are the champions but to me they just bought the title. They bought so many players. I’m sure next year Manchester United will be on top again. Ferguson is honest. He knows how to talk to anyone. After meeting with him you go out so motivated. You want to conquer the world. Before the start of this season, I spoke with Ferguson and asked him if he’ll rely on me. He said to me that he needed me and that I’d play. I’m looking for answer myself why I was sitting on the bench. I spoke with Ferguson about ten times. I was fighting for my place and I was trying but obviously the team will rely on young players.”

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Translated by Inna.

Rafael lost his place in the starting XI after a disappointing performance against Everton in that costly 4-4 draw with Everton towards the end of the season.

“I rejected City’s offer to play in the best club in the world,” Berbatov told BG TV. “My time in United is over and I should find another place. Right now I don’t feel complete. I’m not a bench player, so obviously my time at United ended. My goal in my life was to reach the top and Manchester United was exactly this.”

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Translated by Inna.

“I was very surprised by Tevez’s attitude against Sir Alex Ferguson,” said Evra. “I’m not sure how the manager feels about it but I’m sure he won’t be impressed. It’s disrespectful. Tevez spent two years at this club and was treated extremely well by the manager so I don’t really understand his reaction or the truth about the situation. The poster was in very bad taste, no one from Manchester United appreciated it. Tevez is an adult, he plays for another club and is responsible for his own actions. It’s a shame because he was always respected at Manchester United and remained in contact with some of the players. But I have no idea what will happen now.”

“I was asked by a friend whether I was interested in speaking with Villa,” Solskjaer told a press conference yesterday. “I called Kjell Inge straight away. We agreed that I could speak to them on Wednesday, that it was okay. I have not had any offers. I’m not looking for another job. In football, and in life in general, things turn up that you have to make decisions about. I have a contract for two more years and I’ll stand by that. I’ve only spoken with them and expect them to speak to more people. They’re looking for a new manager. If they make contact, I’ll make a decision then.”

However, since then, quotes from what Solskjaer thought was a confidential conversation with the club have been leaked to Norwegian newspaper, VG.

“Will you manage Molde until the season ends?” If I get an offer, I’m off. Perhaps after the Hønefoss-game (Next Friday).

“If you leave Molde, will you bring your staff along?” I want Mark Dempsey and Richard Hartis to leave with me.

“If you leave Molde, will you take any players with you?” Yes. I will offer Magnus Wolff Eikrem to come with me.

Solskajer is obviously not at all impressed with the club for revealing this conversation.

“Now we see what game they are playing,” he said. “It’s hard to remember everything I said, but this is roughly what I said. I did say that if Aston Villa wants me, then I have to go. A manager has to be there for pre-season. We all agreed on leaving this in the past and look ahead. Because we all have a job to do at the club. That this is now coming out in public is not good for anyone at the club.”

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Translation by Jonas Giæver

“I owe Wayne a lot,” said Welbeck. “He has been a terrific friend and a brilliant help to me. We have really forged a great partnership. And he is amazing during a game. He never stops yapping in my ear, telling me, ‘Daniel this’ and ‘Daniel that’. Wayne’s funny like that, he calls me Daniel on the pitch, even though most people call me Danny. Yet off the pitch it’s Danny or Welbz. Don’t ask me why. I’m so lucky he wants me to do well and is always trying to advise what’s best for me. You can’t buy that sort of insight. He knows what it’s like as a young player coming through in the Premier League and with England.”

One quarter of Europe’s football faithful (41 million) are classed as Fans Without Borders, with FC Barcelona the most popular foreign team (29%), followed by Real Madrid CF (10%) and Manchester United FC (8%).

Fans Without Borders have been categorised into three groups:
1. Highlight Fans, representing 60% of all Fans Without Borders, are attracted to a club’s playing philosophy (85%) and success (79%).

2. Regional Affinity Fans account for 12% of the total number of Fans Without Borders. Many of these faraway followers feel a special connection with the team because of a link to the city, with 55% of these fans regularly visiting the club’s region.

3. Star Followers represent 11% of Fans Without Borders – their loyalties are firmly set at the feet of great players and coaches and these fans are prepared to switch allegiance in line with wherever their favourite stars go.

Fans Without Borders ring up €35bn worth of spending each season and here’s how:
- One fifth of the total spend, or €7.5bn, is on Pay TV.
- Merchandising (club-branded goods) earns 13% of our far-away follower’s money.
- Actual match attendance consumes 10% of Fans Without Borders’ spending, with an additional €2.5bn allocated to food, drink and other goods purchased when there.
- 6% of spend is given over to visiting a pub or sports-bar to take in a game on the big screen, and subscription to a club’s own TV channel takes 5%.
- One in four fans attends home matches abroad. Accommodation and travel relating to match attendance, or visits to their favourite stadia, cost Fans Without Borders €8.75bn each year – one quarter of the total spend.
- The impact on tourism is positive; one third of all Fans Without Borders have booked a trip for the sole purpose of watching a match or visiting a stadium. One fifth intentionally combine match attendance with a short city break, or integrate the game into a regular holiday. In total, cities hosting Fans Without Borders at live matches, benefit by around €4.5bn per season.

This morning, word from Norway was that Solskjaer was absent from Molde training.

The club have now confirmed that our former striker is in talks with the Premier League club.

“Molde FC is aware of interest and contact from Aston Villa, and that they are talking together.”

In his first year of management last season, Solskjaer won Molde’s first ever league title. The club Solskjaer left to join United regard him as a legend for what he has achieved with them, particularly when you consider Molde finished 11th out of 16 the season before he was appointed.

Personally, I’d hope that Solskjaer remains at Molde and takes his time. They are in the second round of the Champions League qualifying so he should see what he can do with them and pick up valuable experience.

“I don’t think he should rush into it because experience is good and the experience he has got at Molde is a very good one,” Ferguson said last November. “He comes from the area. His wife and family are all back home there. He has won the championship and there is no need to hurry. The time will come and the timing will be important but he is easily capable of coming into English football.”

Although, if Solskjaer does take the job, it would be great to see him every week on Match of the Day and welcome him back at Old Trafford when Villa come to play.