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Here we at Football FanCast are going to delve into the rich history of Newcastle United vs Brentford. Okay, it's not that rich – we're only talking about 16 games here – but it does promise to be a very interesting fixture in the Premier League this season.

Just what can we expect when the two teams clash at St James's Park, though? Even if the history isn't exactly thorough, we're going to have a look at what's come before – and how these two teams match up.

Newcastle vs Brentford: What's their head-to-head record?

As we mentioned above, there are only 16 previous fixtures between these two. They first met back in 1934 when the two teams were in the Second Division together. In fact, the majority of meetings have come in England's second tier.

Since then, they've met in four different competitions – Premier League, Championship, FA Cup and EFL Cup. It likely won't shock anyone, either, to learn that it's Newcastle who boast the superior record.

It's quite a dominant record, actually. The Magpies have won 11 of the 16 fixtures, losing just four to Brentford. Only once have we seen a draw, too.

Newcastle vs Brentford: What's the record at St. James's Park?

Again, not a shock that Newcastle have a pretty dominant home record here. The Magpies have hosted Brentford on eight occasions, winning six and drawing just once.

It's worth mentioning, too, that the sole defeat to the Bees came in that debut fixture back in 1934. Brentford won 5-2 in Newcastle the very first time these two met – but haven't really come close to replicating that one ever since.

The only draw was, funnily enough, in another 'first'. It was the first time they came head to head in the top flight, with their 2021 game finishing 3-3 at Newcastle.

Other than those two games, though, this one has been all Newcastle.

Newcastle vs Brentford: What's the record at Brentford?

Well, it's positive – but hardly to the extent of Newcastle's own home record. Again, there have been eight fixtures here and Brentford have won the majority of them.

Five, in total, but they have suffered three defeats to Newcastle at home. In what's a bad omen for this season, too, two of those defeats have come in the only Premier League meetings at Brentford.

They did manage to beat the Magpies at home in the EFL Cup back in 2020/21, their first Premier League season. Other than that, though, those defeats at home have come in the last three league meetings, dating back to a Championship fixture in 2017.

Newcastle vs Brentford: What's their league record?

As we mentioned earlier, this isn't historically a top-flight fixture. Most of the games have actually come in the second tier, be it the old Second Division or the renamed Championship.

12 of the 16 games have come in league competition and eight of those were in that second tier. Add those to the four top-flight games and you get, once again, a dominant Newcastle record.

They've won eight of the 12, losing just three times – all in the Championship. In fact, two of those league defeats came in the very first two fixtures between the clubs, all the way back in 1934/35.

In other words, this has been a very, very good fixture for Newcastle over the last 80 years. They've only lost one league fixture since 1935 and even that was in 1948.

Newcastle vs Brentford: What's their record in the cups?

These two have met on four occasions in the cups, spread evenly across the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. And, once again, the record reflects very well on Newcastle.

Their first cup meeting was back in the 1938/39 season. That saw them compete in an FA Cup third-round tie, with the Magpies winning 2-0 away from home. They wouldn't meet again in a knockout game until 1955, however – but it was Newcastle who won that one, too.

Since then, the EFL Cup has hosted the cup fixtures between the two. They met in the second round back in 2001/02 – a time where Brentford were massive underdogs compared to their Champions League-chasing hosts. However, this one went to extra-time before the Magpies eventually saw off the Bees 4-1.

And then, finally, we get a modern-day, relevant fixture. They met in an EFL Cup quarter-final in 2020/21 and Brentford got their sole cup victory over Newcastle – 1-0 at home.

Newcastle vs Brentford: Which team has the most goals?

Both teams have a solid goal record in this fixture – though, as you might have guessed, one of the two has it much better.

Across 16 fixtures, Newcastle have score 36 times, meaning they average over two goals per game here. That's a very impressive record, making Brentford's 22 look pretty meager in comparison.

In the second tier, things are actually very close. Newcastle have 15 in eight fixtures, Brentford have 13. But that's not the case when we're just looking at Premier League fixtures.

Newcastle have 12 in their four meetings, meaning they average exactly three goals per game. That's a massive average and one you rarely see – but we are only talking about four games. Brentford have five in that span, which is far more inline with what you'd expect.

Newcastle vs Brentford: What are the record wins?

Newcastle's record win in this fixture has been achieved twice. It's 5-1 – something they did in 1992/93 as well as 2022/23.

The former was in the Championship, then known as 'Division One'. It was actually the first year of the Premier League and Newcastle would win the second tier and earn promotion – Brentford, in contrast, were relegated.

Lee Clark scored twice in the 5-1 win, while Rob Lee, Paul Bracewell and David Kelly also found the net for the Magpies.

As for the most recent one, well that was just last year. Bruno Guimarães and Jacob Murphy opened the scoring before Ivan Toney pulled one back from the spot. A second Bruno goal restored the lead, though, before Miguel Almirón and an Ethan Pinnock own-goal wrapped things up.

Now, Brentford don't boast a 5-1 win. The most they've ever won by in this fixture is three – something they've done twice in 5-2 and 3-0 results. However, these were also the very first meetings between the two clubs and came during the 1933/34 season.

They're not fixtures you can easily find data on – our usual source doesn't actually have the names of Brentford's scorers. They definitely did happen, though, even if we're talking pre-Second World War.

Newcastle vs Brentford: What are the last five results?

Brentford's first top-flight promotion in 2021 kick started a Premier League record between these two and so their last five results are all very recent. We've only seen four top-flight games, then, and it's been a particularly comfortable spell for Newcastle, who were transformed into a European side in that time.

The very first game finished 3-3 at Newcastle, but since then, the Magpies have won 2-0, 5-1 and 2-1. They've averaged three goals per game against the Bees, too, completely avoiding defeat.

There was one cup game in the last five. Brentford hosted Newcastle in an EFL Cup quarter-final, winning 1-0 in the 2020/21 season. It's not all been bleak, then.

• Brentford 1-0 Newcastle – 2020/21 EFL Cup
• Newcastle 3-3 Brentford – 2021/22 Premier League
• Brentford 0-2 Newcastle – 2021/22 Premier League
• Newcastle 5-1 Brentford – 2022/23 Premier League
• Brentford 1-2 Newcastle – 2022/23 Premier League

Newcastle vs Brentford: How have they started the season?

Well, we say it would take something special and on paper it would, but the table suggests differently. In fact, if you had no other information, you'd pick Brentford as favourites.

They sit in 8th place and are one of six sides yet to taste defeats in the Premier League. Now, admittedly, three of their four games have finished in draws. They're the only team to take points off of Tottenham Hotspur, though, while they smashed Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage last month.

Newcastle, in comparison, are 14th and have lost their last three games. They started spectacularly, battering Aston Villa 5-1 at home. Since then, though, they narrowly lost to Manchester City and suffered a devastating late comeback to lose at home to 10-man Liverpool. Most worryingly is that Brighton comfortably beat them 3-1 in their latest fixture – and the Magpies' lone goal was a 92nd-minute consolation.

Contrasting fortunes, then, that makes this a relatively big game for both sides. One is looking to make a real statement, the other desperately needs to get on track.

Newcastle vs Brentford: When is it?

Newcastle host Brentford on Saturday, September 16th at 17:30 UK time. It'll be the fifth Premier League fixture between the two and one that both sides can make a statement in.

The hosts need to bounce back after a terrible run of form that has seen them lose three on the bounce. Brentford, in contrast, will want to continue their unbeaten start and show that they can compete against Champions League sides this season.

Following just three seasons in the Premier League, Leeds United have been thrust back into the second tier amid what was a dismal 2022/23 campaign, with it already proving a difficult start to life back in the Championship for Daniel Farke's side.

Such woes are a far cry from the success that the Yorkshire giants endured in the early 2000s, with David O'Leary notably guiding the club to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2001, following a respectable third-place league finish the year prior.

While that glittering period was brought crashing to a halt by the club's subsequent financial setbacks – resulting in their drop out of the top tier – it remains a time that is fondly remembered by Whites supporters, particular for the stellar crop of talent that graced Elland Road at the time, including the likes of Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell.

That O'Leary era also saw the rise of an exciting gem from the academy in the form of Alan Smith, with Farke likely hoping he can unearth another diamond from the youth set-up in the near future…

How good was Alan Smith for Leeds?

Despite having somewhat burned his bridges with the club after joining rivals Manchester United in the summer of 2004, the now-retired ace had thrived after rising up the ranks at Leeds prior to that, notably scoring on his first-team debut away at Anfield in 1998.

The then-teenager would ultimately go on to play a vital role under O'Leary over the next few years despite his relative youth, with the versatile attacker – who could feature through the middle, on the flanks or in midfield – scoring 54 goals in 224 appearances in all competitions for the club.

Aside from his devastating attacking threat and positional flexibility, what also initially endeared Smith to the Leeds crowd was his work-man-like nature and energetic, all-action style, having notably been lauded for those traits by O'Leary following the quarter-final clash with Deportivo La Coruna in 2001:

"Alan Smith was without a doubt the man of the match. He was incredible. He trod every bit of grass, he was unbelievable. I hope people realise he's still only 20 years old and give him chance to learn and grow. We are very lucky to have him at Leeds United because he loves playing for the club. He's a winner."

Finding such talents in the youth ranks is not a common occurrence, although current boss Farke could well be able to find a suitable heir to the 42-year-old, in the form of exciting forward, Sean McGurk.

Who is Sean McGurk?

The 20-year-old attacker – who can operate out wide or in a number ten berth – has caught the eye in Yorkshire ever since joining from Wigan Athletic back in the summer of 2021, scoring nine times and registering five assists in 44 games at U21 level thus far.

A player with a "big personality to go with his ability" – according to Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth – the young Englishman has enjoyed a particularly impressive start to the new campaign, scoring three goals and providing one assist from just four Premier League 2 outings.

As Smyth also stated, there is a "lot to like" about the emerging sensation, with the player himself speaking about his "exciting" attributes upon his arrival at the club just over two years ago:

"People describe me as a player who is quite exciting, I like to create goals and score goals and I think that is the strongest part of my game."

The forward's goalscoring threat was also evident during his prior stint with the Latics as he netted three times in just five games for the club's U18 side, notably scoring a late winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford – a strong way to endear himself to his current side.

Although a chance at first-team level has yet to emerge for the former Wigan man, Farke would be wise to put his faith in the creative gem as the season progresses, particularly after losing the likes of Luis Sinisterra and Jack Harrison this summer.

As was evident with the case of Smith, it can be incredibly rewarding seeing an academy talent blossom into a star in the senior set-up, with McGurk seemingly having the tools to be able to follow in the footsteps of the former England international.

Potential suitors Manchester United & Chelsea must reportedly shell out a hefty compensation fee to prise away Roberto De Zerbi from Brighton.

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• De Zerbi pursued by both Premier League giants
• Italian has a contract until 2026 at the Amex Stadium
• Brighton demanding more than £12 million to get his services

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to acquiring De Zerbi's services would require a hefty compensation package of at least £12 million. The Italian, who is contracted to Brighton until 2026, has been a pivotal figure at the club since joining 17 months ago.

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  Brighton previously received £21.5 million in compensation when their former manager Graham Potter moved to Chelsea last season. While the compensation fee for De Zerbi may pale in comparison to transfer fees for players, it represents a significant sum for a managerial appointment. This underscores De Zerbi's standing in the football world, having honed his coaching skills in Italian football and earning recognition for his stints at Sassuolo and Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite the speculation surrounding his future, De Zerbi revealed that he is in discussions with Brighton about a potential new contract before Christmas.

  "I usually work to be happy and to enjoy, and I feel very good in Brighton," remarked the Italian manager.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After the derby defeat to Manchester City, pressure has intensified on Erik ten Hag to deliver results. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has yet to publicly endorse Ten Hag's candidature which has further fuelled speculation about his future.

  Meanwhile, among De Zerbi's admirers is City manager Pep Guardiola as well, who has backed the Italian coach to take charge of a top club. He will have another opportunity to showcase his managerial acumen as Brighton prepares to face AS Roma in the Europa League, providing a platform for him to further enhance his reputation on the European stage.

West Ham United will continue their Europa League campaign against Freiburg in Germany tonight, having defeated Serbian outfit Backa Topola at the London Stadium in their group stage opener.

David Moyes' side are fresh from claiming the Europa Conference League trophy with victory over Fiorentina in June, now targetting silver-laden once again and certainly boasting a squad strong enough to do so, having made a wealth of exciting additions to combat the £105m sale of Declan Rice.

They've started the current campaign well both domestically and in Europe, but would really put themselves in the driving seat with a win against the Bundesliga outfit.

What's the latest West Ham team news?

The Hammers will have to contend with the absence of Michail Antonio, who has not travelled to Germany along with Ben Johnson and Aaron Cresswell.

That aside, Moyes has a pretty fresh squad to consider for selection, having dispatched Sheffield United 2-0 with relative ease in the Premier League at the weekend.

That being said, rotation might be made as the relentless fixture list keeps on churning, and with a forthcoming tie against high-flying Newcastle United, making some changes might be a prudent move.

Why should West Ham start Pablo Fornals?

At the Stade Europa-Park, Moyes would be wise to hand Pablo Fornals only his third start across all competitions this season, less integral than he formerly has been since his £24m move from Villarreal in 2019.

The 27-year-old Spaniard has completed 188 appearances for the Hammers and played a big part in winning the Conference League last season, once praised as "unbelievable" by journalist Karl Matchett.

A dynamic and creative midfielder, Fornals can play both down the left channel and in a more central position, and given that he is currently out of contract at the end of the season, he will be desperate to take his chances to impress.

He already did so in the first Europa League match against TSC, completing 81% of his passes, making one key pass, and taking 48 touches from his attacking midfield role.

Further upfield, some might expect Danny Ings to lead the line with Antonio sidelined, but the veteran striker has not been at the races so far this season and hasn't scored across seven appearances.

As such, Mohammed Kudus' energy and threat could be well-equipped to deal with a Freiburg defence that has kept clean sheets across the past two outings.

Kudus has scored five goals and supplied one assist this season, but only one of those goals has come during his time as an Iron, bagging a hat-trick for Ajax in their Europa League qualifier in August.

As per FBref, the 23-year-old maverick ranks among the top 6% of positional peers for goals scored, the top 1% for pass completion and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, illustrating his threat and crispness, as well as his knack at driving forward as a box-crashing star.

The £65k-per-week Fornals could be integral in providing Kudus with apt supplementation, with the six-cap international ranking among the top 11% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the top 17% for passes attempted per 90.

Such reliable support is just what Kudus needs to harness his qualities in the final third, and while Freiburg will not roll over for West Ham, such a partnership could be exactly what is needed to make it back-to-back victories on the continental scene.

Nottingham Forest hero Brice Samba was a key figure just a few days ago as Ligue 1 Lens put themselves back into the British consciousness following their impressive Champions League qualification.

Indeed, Samba's new side beat Premier League high-flyers Arsenal., as he made six integral saves in the 2-1 win. His performance was one of great intrigue and continued to cement how much of a brilliant acquisition he's been since leaving the City Ground for just £4.3m.

When did Nottingham Forest sign Samba?

Brice Samba signed for Forest in 2019. Joining for an undisclosed fee on a four-year-deal, the Congolese-born stopper came from Caen initially as a backup for Manchester City loan keeper Arijanet Muric. However, with steady performances when given the chance, and Muric displaying a series of costly mistakes – Samba became the first choice between the sticks.

The season prior, he had proven his worth at Caen as they fought for Ligue 1 survival: he made more saves (142) than any other 'keeper and helped limit them to conceding just 54 goals over the course of the campaign. This was a total fewer than the surrounding teams.

How did Samba play at Nottingham Forest?

Samba enjoyed a solid three Championship seasons as an assault on the Premier League slowly came to fruition. In his first season, he took little time to get acquainted with the City Ground faithful – as top form led to receiving the Championship POTM award for November 2019. Later that term, he even found a place in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.

The pinnacle of Samba's Forest career arrived when he was a key part of Steve Cooper's team that gained playoff promotion – and his impact in the semi-finals live long in fans' memories. Against Sheffield United, 6 foot 2 Brice saved three spot kicks before playing the majority of the final against Huddersfield until he withdrew with a groin injury.

He'd given everything for the club and it was ultimately his last Forest outing. He turned down a new contract to go to Ligue 1 with Lens for a mere £4.3m. His decision was based on the raw desire of the French club despite labelling the Premier League being "a dream".

Back in his first season, then-teammate Matty Cash – seemingly anticipated Samba's growth and impact.

“His distribution is just ridiculous. His shot-stopping is brilliant — he is a fantastic goalkeeper and a big, big signing. He is a legend, he is a proper funny guy. He is professional, he does everything right on and off the field. He is a great asset to the club."

How good is Brice Samba now?

Well, to bookend this article, it's clear that Samba has grown exponentially from Championship-grade to Champions League-grade. He also popped onto the international radar, as back in March 2022 he received his first call up for the French national team.

2021/22s complete progress saw Lens jumping at the signature of the would-be-promoted keeper, and he took to Ligue 1 again similarly to how he had adapted to second-tier life in England.

In the first half of the campaign, he had nine clean sheets in just 19 games. Pushing this total to 15 in 38 games at the end of the season, he was included in the Ligue 1 TOTS as the best goalkeeper.

Samba had helped the dynamic Lens to only their third-ever Champions League participation as they finished third. His form has continued as according to FBref and FootballTransfers, the now-£22m-rated man provides outstanding numbers.

Compared to similar-level keepers, Samba sits in the top percentiles for multiple attributes. Goals against (his 0.95 per 90) reflect a top 9%. 78.1% save percentage puts him in the top 8%, and 7.8% of crosses stopped see him in the top 16% percentile. Quite the numbers; you may well suggest that Forest rue letting him so cheaply.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly "confident" of convincing Gareth Southgate to take charge of Manchester United as England boss emerges as No.1 choice.

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• Ratcliffe is not confident with Ten Hag
• UCL qualification might not be enough to save his job
• Southgate emerging as the frontrunner to replace Ten Hag

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite Southgate's existing contract with the Football Association (FA) set to expire in December, he has deferred discussions about his future until after Euro 2024. According to Daily Star, this delay has allowed Ratcliffe to make a move and lure the England boss to Old Trafford to revitalise the club's fortunes under the new leadership. It is believed that the Red Devils must pay around £800,000 in compensation for Southgate to the FA and they have asked the tactician to inform them soon about his decision so that the club can look for alternative options for next season.

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  Ratcliffe's confidence in Southgate's suitability for the role has been bolstered by consultations with Manchester United's revered former players, who have overwhelmingly endorsed the England manager. Additionally, Southgate enjoys support from key figures within the club, including some current players and incoming director of football Dan Ashworth, with whom he shares a close relationship from their time together at the FA.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The prospect of leading United presents an enticing opportunity for Southgate to return to club management since he left Middlesbrough in 2009.

  While Ten Hag's tenure at United has seen some success, including a potential FA Cup triumph and Champions League qualification, Ratcliffe harbours doubts about his ability to steer the club towards sustained success. And hence, despite the financial implications of parting ways with Ten Hag – as it would see the Dutchman earn £10m in compensation if shown the door – Ratcliffe's priority lies in appointing a manager capable of orchestrating a resurgence for United.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  As United fans eagerly await developments in the managerial saga, the allure of Southgate's potential arrival at Old Trafford adds another layer of intrigue to an already captivating narrative. The 53-year-old will return to the dugout with The Three Lions on Saturday during a friendly against Brazil at Wembley.

Glasgow Rangers could be set to lose one of their first-team players in January, with a BBC pundit claiming that he wouldn't be able to refuse the opportunity to join the club who are interested in him.

Where are Rangers in the table?

In the Scottish Premiership, Philippe Clement’s side have made a mixed start to the new campaign having won five and lost three of their opening eight games under Michael Beale, now sitting seven points behind Celtic.

The Light Blues currently have six players away on international duty in the form of John Souttar, Borna Barisic, Ridvan Yilmaz, Jose Cifuentes, Abdallah Sima and Leon King, but that hasn’t stopped transfer circulation from speculating ahead of the upcoming window.

According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, Birmingham City and more specifically Wayne Rooney are plotting a swoop for Jack Butland who only put pen to paper north of the border at the start of the year from Crystal Palace, and he’s had an instant impact between the sticks.

England’s former international has started all of the club’s league games this season and has firmly established himself as the official number one (WhoScored – Butland statistics), but with the 30-year-old’s impressive form comes attention from potential suitors.

Jack Butland transfer update

Speaking to Football League World in a transfer update on Jack Butland, BBC pundit Carlton Palmer admitted that the shot-stopper would love to complete a switch to Birmingham in January having played there earlier in his career. He said:

“Wayne Rooney is apparently looking to bring in former England colleague Jack Butland, the Glasgow Rangers goalkeeper. Jack started his career at Birmingham City, Jack joined Rangers after leaving Crystal Palace when Mick Beale took charge.

"I don’t necessarily think Jack is a better goalkeeper than Ruddy but at 36 now, with Wayne looking to grow the club, the ages of the players will be an important factor and part of his thinking.”

How good is Jack Butland?

Standing at 6 foot 5, Butland is an absolute colossus in the net and his height has certainly contributed to keeping the ball out of danger in a physical league this season, as he’s already been dubbed a “world-class” goalkeeper by journalist Josh Bunting.

The Bristol-born talent has kept seven clean sheets in 16 appearances for the Teddy Bears since signing on the dotted line (Transfermarkt – Butland statistics), and with that impressive record, he’s also been doing some top draw shot-stopping which hasn't gone unnoticed.

Butland, who earns £40k-per-week (Rangers salaries), has made 15 saves from 21 shots on target against over the course of the current campaign, giving him a 76.2% save success rate (FBRef – Rangers statistics), so it’s vital that chiefs do everything they can to fend off interest from Birmingham and retain their star's services beyond January.

Lionel Messi's market value has plunged since his move to Inter Miami, per a new report.

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• Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023
• Has lit up MLS ever since
• Stock falls nevertheless

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  publishes a number of market values for players and in November, they valued the World Cup winner at €35 million (£30m/$38m), but that has now plunged to €30m (£25m/$32m). The downgrade is understandable, too, considering Messi's age and slight injury issues since his move to the United States.

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  Messi, 36, played the first three games of the MLS season, scoring three goals in the process, but the Inter Miami captain has since missed the subsequent three games, against Montreal Impact, DC United, and New York Red Bulls, due to a muscle injury. Last season, he made six MLS appearances, and missed five through injury.

• WHAT TRANSFERMARKT SAID

  Transfermarkt's data administrator for North America, Dominic Becker, explained: "Messi remains the MLS star and, despite his age, is still one of the best footballers on the planet. But age is a factor, even for Messi. He has increasingly struggled with smaller injuries, and a downgrade was impossible to avoid."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Inter Miami are next in action against New York City in MLS on Saturday. It remains to be seen if Messi will be involved.

Thierry Henry has been accused of "downplaying" the legend of Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United by Rio Ferdinand.

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• Ferdinand believes Henry and Ronaldo have 'beef'
• Believes ex-Arsenal striker downplays his legend
• Identifies game where pair clashed

• SID
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rio Ferdinand has accused Henry of having "beef" with Ronaldo because he simply doesn't praise the Al-Nassr star as passionately as other pundits. Of course, Ferdinand played with Ronaldo for six years at United and the two eras do overlap, with Ronaldo having taken on Henry while the latter was still playing for Arsenal.

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  Ferdinand believes that said "beef" stems from a fractious clash between the two clubs in 2005, when United won 4-2 at Highbury and Ronaldo and Henry appeared to clash. He also says that Ronaldo – who played for Brazil, Real Madrid and Barcelona in a legendary career – has a disagreement with Cristiano, because the latter's emergence led to the World Cup winner being labelled "fat Ronaldo".

• WHAT FERDINAND SAID

  Ferdinand told Andreas Poke on a podcast about Ronaldo: "There's beef there somewhere you know. It's cause of the name. I think because of the name, as if he says, 'You took my name,' so I have a problem with you."

  He added: 'It's the same with Thierry [Henry]. Thierry is the same. The way I see Thierry talk about Cristiano, it's more what he doesn't say. He doesn't talk about him with any zest or spark. It's like he's downplaying Cristiano a lot.

  "There was a clip at Highbury when Henry slaps him on the back of his head or something like that and Cristiano pushes him off. Cristiano then scored the winner and Henry's taking the kick-off with the goalscorer in the background. There seems like there's a little bit of a subplot story that maybe makes it with Thierry and it's probably still in his mind in moments like that."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Ronaldo is continuing to score goals for Al-Nassr and Portugal and will next be in action on Tuesday in an international friendly against Slovenia. He missed the Selecao previous outing, but is back in the mix for this one as Roberto Martinez's side step up preparations for Euro 2024.

Manchester City are closing in on a new deal for a bright young gem at the Etihad Stadium following recent developments as Pep Guardiola plans for his squad's long-term future.

Man City updates: Phillips wants exit, Paqueta news, Lescott verdict on start to season

According to a Man City transfer update on Kalvin Phillips delivered by Football Insider, both the England international and the Sky Blues now think that a parting of ways in January is now a feasible solution to his lack of game time. Phillips is wary of losing his place in the England squad for the upcoming European Championships and is now open to leaving the Etihad Stadium to secure regular first-team minutes in the build-up to the start of the tournament in Germany.

In other news, Man City transfer target Lucas Paqueta is believed to be keen to leave West Ham United to join the Premier League champions following a summer of speculation linking him with Guardiola's men. The Brazil international has a release clause worth in the region of £85 million written into his current deal at the Hammers; however, it won't kick in until 2024, which could pave the way for Manchester City to strike a deal for the former Lyon playmaker.

Meanwhile, former Citizens defender Joleon Lescott believes that Manchester City's poor recent run of form by their lofty standards may be the perfect tonic for the Premier League champions to get back to their best. Lescott stated:

"I hope it [their recent results] gives them a boot up the backside. I think they were aware that Arsenal would be a team that challenges them this year. The Wolves one was difficult. Wolves have always been difficult, they've always been a half bogey team for City. It was a surprise, but it happens. But the Arsenal defeat has hopefully added motivation for them."

Man City contract news; Oscar Bobb latest

According to a contract update on Oscar Bobb from The Daily Star, the 20-year-old is now in line for a new deal to continue his development at the Etihad Stadium that would see his wage triple in size from £12,000 to £36,000 per week.

Guardiola has previously described the Norway international as "brilliant" and his emergence as a promising attacker on the right-hand side was one of the main reasons why Cole Palmer was allowed to leave for Chelsea in the summer transfer window.

Bobb has been in and around the first-team picture this term, amassing five appearances across all competitions (Bobb statistics – Transfermarkt). The Oslo-born man will now seek to become a regular at senior level for Manchester City as they aim to challenge on several fronts once again in 2023/24, and by the looks of it, he may play a big part further down the line.