Talk of the Devils: The Athletic FC's Manchester United show
Published by The Athletic
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Host Ian Irving is joined by The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell, Carl Anka and Andy Mitten on the world's biggest Manchester United podcast. Subscribe for expert insight from inside the club, breaking news and two episodes every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It seemed that Marcus Rashford's time at Manchester United had come to an end. However, with Barcelona making moves for two attacking players and no other obvious suitors, it now looks like he might be back at Old Trafford this season. We debate the pros and cons of a potential return. Rashford is the most famous graduate of Manchester United's academy but the 5-0 pre-season win over Rosenborg showed there is plenty of talent coming through... but breaking into the first team is as hard as it's ever been. It may get harder if another midfielder arrives, as well: we have a small transfer update and discuss the reaction to a club email sent to some season ticket holders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The World Cup is over and Manchester United's pre-season has begun, although neither has happened in quite the way we wanted... there are some interesting things to learn about Lisandro Martinez and Marcus Rashford after they saw out contrasting 45-minute shifts over the weekend. Kobbie Mainoo didn't get a single minute from Thomas Tuchel... hopefully his back isn't too sore when he returns to Carrington. Over in Helsinki, United fan Sam Smith lived out a dream scenario as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 over the reds by Wrexham. There wasn't too much of note for Michael Carrick's team although we did get a first outing for Andrey Santos and Leny Yoro at right-back might be significant. Finally, we return to the transfer of Youri Tielemans having had a little time to reflect, and think about who the third midfielder might be should one arrive after Ederson signed a new contract in Italy. Get more information about Jere Virtanen's Manchester United museum in Helsinki here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Does anything move faster than the Manchester United news cycle? Talk of the Devils ran a practical test today; when we started recording the deal to bring Ederson from Atalanta was still progressing with no new names in circulation. Twenty minutes later, things were very different! It isn't the first news story to break during a podcast recording, but the move for Aston Villa's Youri Tielemans has a massive impact on the summer transfer window and really changes the landscape for any potential third midfield target. Meanwhile, the World Cup isn't exactly overflowing with positive United stories; unless you're Mark Critchley, that is. And, there's been a fresh vision of the plan for a stadium to replace Old Trafford, with a possible revision of the target date. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Manchester United officials are not alone in knowing that the most pressing area of squad improvement, in order to compete in the Premier League and Champions League next season, is the centre of midfield. Targets were identified long ago and we still expect Brazilian Ederson to become the first acquisition. However, an unexpected double splurge by Tottenham Hotspur, bringing in Newcastle's Sandro Tonali and West Ham's Mateus Fernandes for a potential outlay of £180m, has inflated the market for players in that position? With Manchester City winning the race for Forest's Elliot Anderson, where do United now turn to in their pursuit of midfielders, and how much of what has happened was factored into the transfer strategy. Things should become clearer once players return from the World Cup, but pre-season starts this week. Are we worried? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This was always going to be a World Cup centred episode, but we had hoped the news would be a little happier. Manuel Ugarte has sustained a significant knee ligament injury and while, of course, it will have an impact on United's summer transfer plans our immediate thoughts are with the man himself. Elsewhere in the tournament, there hasn't been an awful lot of action for United participants. Bruno Fernandes has played every minute of every Portugal game, something no other United player has done for their nation, and Kobbie Mainoo is one of four yet to make it onto the pitch. Mateus Cunha is possibly the most encouraging story so far; Brazilian fans are learning to love his style just as Reds did last season and, notwithstanding a difficult test against Japan, here's hoping we'll see his celebrations a few more times. Not that anyone from TotD has drafted him! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We're back! Alright, we're still scattered across the globe on World Cup duty and the much more important matter of a summer holiday. But, we are podcasting and there is some news to get through... A new Old Trafford may be one step closer with reports that Manchester United have acquired an important plot of land. However, there is still a long way to go and with the club's debt in the news again it's that same old question... how will it be funded? Manchester is so hot right now... literally. But the hottest takes are reserved for transfer news, of course. Is West Ham's Mateus Fernandes, now courted by Spurs, the man to bolster United's midfield? Let's hope his national teammate and namesake Bruno is putting in a good word. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zidane Iqbal has been on a journey; that's a cliche, of course, but in this case it's also literally true... and there are more air miles incoming. The Manchester United academy graduate was raised by a Pakistani father and Iraqi mother just a stone's throw from Old Trafford. He became the first British-born South Asian to represent the club when selected as a substitute in a Champions League fixture in Switzerland. Now playing for Utrecht in the dutch Eredivisie he has also adopted his mother's country of origin as his own, helping them through Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, even scoring himself in the Philippines. Iraq will be in a "group of death" with Norway, Senegal, and France in the US & Canada having qualified by beating Bolivia in a play-off in Mexico. Where next on this footballing odyssey? The Premier League? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As Talk of the Devils heads toward our well-earned end of season break (albeit we've one more fun treat for you before we do), it's time for us to take a look at the 2026 World Cup. Man United players would usually be headline acts but this renewal, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the USA, looks a little different. There's plenty of interest, of course, but it's unclear how central the club's players will be to their national teams beyond Bruno Fernandes and one or two others. Will Kobbie Mainoo force his way into the England XI again? Can Mazraoui's Morocco outdo their 2022 semi-final? We look at every group through an MUFC lens before picking teams in a draft game we'll be tracking throughout the tournament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The dust is settling on another Premier League campaign and, as the summer solstice looms on the horizon, it's time for our annual end of season awards. It's a much happier, therefore considerably less tongue-in-cheek, set of awards than this time last year as we decide the player of the year (who's not the marvellous captain bruno) and the best first-season United player. We also choose our favourite from a pretty healthy selection of United goals as well as the best moment not involving a goal. There are no prizes for picking out our favourite podcast guest, but plenty of smackdown for our (very) bad takes revisited. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's the last Q&A of the season (or the first of the new one, depending on how you look at it). Either way, it's a whopper, with a massive influx of questions. Mixed fortunes for Manchester United players past/present/on loan/future(?) when it comes to World Cup call-ups. We discuss the merits of Harry Maguire's omission by Thomas Tuchel, and whether Anthony Gordon's Barcelona move will skupper Marcus Rashford's hopes. Ederson looks like he might become United's first midfield signing; what do the lads know of him, more than even they thought... how might the Brazilian fit in to Carrick's plans for next season? And what are those plans? And, of course, the heated question of former players criticising the current team. Do they go too far? Once again, please click here and provide feedback to the TotD team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Carrick was appointed as Manchester United's permanent head coach before the final game of the 2025/26 Premier League season and he will start his two-year contract off the back of a comfortable three-nil win on a beautiful day in Brighton. Bruno Fernandes was once again mobbed by his teammates after his corner was headed strongly home by Patrick Dorgu; he has now made the Premier League assist record his own with 21 for the season. The skipper would go on to score in the game as well with Bryan Mbeumo having finished a slick passing move on a day where everything went right. There were also appearances from the bench for academy players Tyler Fletcher and Shea Lacey, a more positive showing from Mason Mount alongside Kobbie Mainoo, and Luke Shaw completed an entire season of Premier League starts, one of only five players to achieve the feat. To provide feedback on our end of season survey please click here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apparently, there have been a couple of domestic trophies decided this week... no, us neither. While Manchester United have made significant progress in the Premier League, it would be nice to be the ones celebrating this time next year. How can that be achieved? Obviously, the big question is on midfield recruitment, and we may be getting closer to some answers there. It would also seem that Michael Carrick and the current coaching staff, with a strong United influence, are the answer in the dugout. But are there other lessons we can learn from rivals, both those succeeding and the ones experiencing difficulties. One thing league winners do, we've learned this week, is get results on the south coast. Bruno and co head to Brighton in the sunshine, as usual, and they will NOT be heading to the beach, but to the Amex where they haven't always had it their own way of late. Time to change that. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday, their last home game of the season. However, it was Bruno Fernandes who was the focus of most attention (in the game, at least) as he equalled the record for assists by one player in a Premier League campaign. He can still make it his own at Brighton next week, but really should have done so already going by his remarkable chance-creation stats. We dive in. Outside the game, there was a heartfelt send-off for Casemiro, a man who has made his mark on Manchester United just as he has done on a few midfield opponents over the years (it's in the genes). Elliot Anderson showed he can go head-to-head with the best, but if he's interested in becoming a red he was giving nothing away. Most of all, there was a real feelgood factor as Michael Carrick addressed fans, even if he didn't update us on his employment status. He, and other senior figures, also attended the FA Youth Cup Final defeat to Manchester City. A disappointing end to the academy season for United on a couple of fronts, but the bigger picture looks healthy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Manchester United will face Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford this Sunday and there should be a good feeling about the place. Results have been close to perfect under Michael Carrick and we understand the club's executive team will recommend his appointment as permanent head coach. So, hopefully Carrick will be staying on, but Casemiro will say a fond farewell to the home crowd after four emotionally charged seasons. The Brazil captain has shown admirable qualities to weather various storms and is arguably having his best spell as he prepares to leave. Long before that, almost as this podcast goes out, we'll know how the U18s have fared in the FA Youth Cup final. It's a first Manchester derby since 1986 and controversy around the late change of venue adds an extra spice to an already interesting match-up; winning would represent a real achievement for United in English youth football's highly competitive environment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We asked a series of questions about the rest of the season on our podcast last Thursday, mostly concerning Manchester United's "squad" players and what they need to do in the last three league game to stake their claim for a prominent role next season. In the first of those three games, at Sunderland, it's fair to say we were left rather underwhelmed by the answers. With the caveat that they haven't played much football recently, and this was an unusually low-stakes fixture, messers Zirkzee, Mount, Amad, even Martinez looked a little flat. Let's hope for the return of Casemiro at Old Trafford next time out and fingers crossed Bruno can get the two assists he needs to become the single-season record holder without needing to get over the line at Brighton. United's captain was rewarded for his stellar season with the FWA player of the season award but chasing that prize gives him and his teammates a mini-target to shoot (or pass) for. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Manchester United will compete for the 2026-27 Champions League and when the draw comes around they will most likely be in Pot 2 which should deliver a couple of high profile matches and some more interesting destinations as well. But, what does that mean for the rest of this season? Will Michael Carrick (still not confirmed as a permanent head coach of the team) choose to rotate a little and give opportunities to fringe players and academy prospects, or is that too risky? It could be expensive, too, with a good chunk of prize money at stake. The trip to Sunderland this weekend can't be taken lightly, even if the opposition's form has tailed off slightly. We also have a couple of news stories with Betway seemingly close to becoming Utd's new training kit sponsor and a frustrating situation with the FA Youth Cup final. Manchester City were drawn as hosts and, while tradition dictates the game be held at the senior stadium, they are carrying out renovations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Manchester United are back in the Champions League having done the double over Liverpool, that's the league double against Liverpool. The lads rushed straight to the studio to record this podcast for you, even with Ian feeling a little poorly, and even though United didn't take their 2-0 half-time lead and add a few more to really add insult to injury. As it was, we had to make do with another great winning goal, another goal in a big game, from Kobbie Mainoo. Bruno can get his assists record in the next few weeks, no bother at all! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Manchester United face Liverpool at Old Trafford this Sunday knowing that a win against their biggest rivals will guarantee Champions League football next season. It would also represent an incredible turnaround in the two teams' fortunes from this time last year. It looks good, especially with the hand Arne Slot has at his disposal, but the podcast's confidence is very cautious. Michael Carrick likes to keep his cards close to his chest and he has not been drawn on a potential appointment as permanent manager (or head coach), but he did confirm he had a cup of tea with Sir Jim Ratcliffe last week. Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo will hope to celebrate his new contract with a positive performance in the middle of the park; it's not that long ago he and the club were seriously contemplating his departure. We also hear from Mason Mount about his hopes for next season as the players look to build on the current momentum. And just one more thing; "a win against their biggest rivals"... Are Liverpool actually the number one rivals for Manchester United? We start the debate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Man United ran through this season's full repertoire in beating Brentford at Old Trafford on Monday night. Casemiro header, tick, Bruno assist, tick, Sesko finish, tick, wobbly spell at the back and nervy last five minutes... tick, tick. Casemiro put in a statistically remarkable performance but also did lots of Casemiro things and we're forced, once again, to ask, "is there a chance he'll stay on?" Meanwhile, Bruno keeps coming up with new and interesting ways to impress and entertain us, even though there were sticky patches and we've got fresh fitness concerns. But they did win, for the first time on a Monday since August 2023; thanks to a half-time adjustment from the coaching staff? Carrick's managerial record in this spell now reads won 9, drawn 2, lost 2; he has the most points of any Premier League manager in that time, and his team need just two more to guarantee Champions League football. Bring on Liverpool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Manchester United will host Brentford in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Monday night. The Bees are still in with an outside chance of a top-five finish and Champions League football, but Carrick's men may be able to seal it in this game if other results go their way. However... Today is all about summer transfers on Talk of the Devils. Laurie Whitwell has returned from paternity leave, dropped a big-read on Super Coaches (featuring no mention of Josep Guardiola)... now he's delivered a detailed update on who the club will be pursuing to boost their ranks for next season. Two midfielders are still the priority and there's a long long-list. Budgetary matters are dependent on the time and nature of departures, not least Marcus Rashford whose Barcelona career has stuttered recently. An additional defender is also tipped, with Tottenham's Micky van de Ven having several useful qualities. You can read Laurie's full transfer analysis here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
