Manchester United endured a chastening derby defeat against Manchester City in Sunday’s Premier League action.
City’s 6-3 derby demolition of United brought a jolting halt to Erik ten Hag’s side four-game winning streak in the division and served as a stark reminder of the work still needed to do at Old Trafford. Hat-tricks from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden embarrassed the visiting side at the Etihad, before a late Anthony Martial double restored some respectability to the scoreline after a long-range Antony strike.
Mirror Football takes a look at all the latest stories coming out of Old Trafford on another day of reflection for the club.
Ronaldo exit options explained
Roy Keane has blasted Manchester United for “disrespecting” Cristiano Ronaldo for not allowing him to leave the club this summer with “five transfer options” on the table.
The Portuguese superstar, 37, wanted to depart the Red Devils this summer after just one season back at United following his high-profile return from Juventus last year, but this ambition was not realised as he remained at Old Trafford.
Have Your Say! Should Man Utd allow Ronaldo to leave the club this January ? Tell us what you think here.
Ronaldo was left "upset" at seeing his pay slashed at Man United after each member of the squad was hit with a 25 per cent cut to their weekly wage due to the club's failure to qualify for the Champions League. Yet he was unable to secure an exit, with no club willing to meet his wage demands and guarantee him regular football.
Read Keane’s full comments on Ronaldo here
Haaland confession on Keane foul
Erling Haaland has admitted he has not even spoken to his father Alfie about one of the most infamous tackles in Manchester derby history.
Haaland senior was on the end of a vicious Roy Keane lunge at Old Trafford in April 2001 that the Norwegian midfielder believed ended his career.
He failed to complete another game before hanging up his boots and considered suing Keane for loss of earnings after the Irishman admitted in his autobiography that he was taking revenge on his former Nottingham Forest team-mate. Haaland’s son will follow in his father’s footsteps when he walks out for his first Manchester derby following his £51million arrival from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
Read more on what Haaland had to say
Haaland suggest Solskjaer blame
Erling Haaland has suggested Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the reason he is not playing for Manchester United.
The Norwegian burst onto the scene back in 2019 when at Red Bull Salzburg and had a host of Europe's heavyweights after him. United were among those linked with the forward, who was scoring for fun in the Champions League. Solskjaer had worked with a teenage Haaland during his time in charge at Molde and was then in charge at United.
Old Trafford was seen as a likely destination for Haaland given his history with Solskjaer, but Borussia Dortmund won the race for his signature. He's now at Manchester City, but has offered a cryptic Gary Neville said: "Ole was your manager. How are you not at Manchester United?" He simply told Sky Sports: "You have to ask him."
