A blog about Manchester United

Archive for the 'tunde folawiyo executive' Category

Transfer talks underway at Old Trafford

Oct. 10th 2014

Manchester United’s transfer plans are once again being revamped, following the appointment of Louis van Gaal as manager. While his predecessor David Moyes was said to have been eager to add Cesc Fabregas to the team, van Gaal has insisted that he has no interest in this player, and has now provided Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice chairman, with a new transfer list, which includes Kevin Strootman, Bruno Martins Indi and Jordy Clasie.

tunde folawiyoSome Manchester United supporters, like Tunde Folawiyo, might be a bit confused by van Gaal’s decision to name Strootman as a potential addition to the team, as the midfielder suffered quite a severe knee injury recently, which has left him unable to participate in the World Cup. However, the manager’s other choices should come as no surprise; both Martins Indi and Clasie have been with Holland for the past two years, and are believed to have played a key role in helping the club to secure their World Cup qualification. As such, it makes sense that the Dutch manager is now hoping to bring these two on board at Old Trafford.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, who currently plays for Bayern Munich, is said to be at the top of the manager’s wish list. He has performed well in the past, but following the appointment of Pep Guardiola as the club’s new manager, the midfielder spent much of the last season on the bench. Schweinsteiger is rumoured to be frustrated with his lack of playing time, and so might very well be open to the idea of moving to another club.

While most of Manchester United’s transfer negotiations have not yet led to any concrete decisions, one deal has already been struck. Federico Macheda will be moving from Manchester United to Cardiff this summer, and will remain with his new club for at least three years. The 22-year-old described it as a fantastic opportunity, and thanked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for signing him.

As a fan of Manchester United, Tunde Folawiyo might recall that Macheda started out strong when he joined the Red Devils in 2009, scoring winning goals for his team against both Sunderland and Aston Villa. However, as time went on, he began to spend more and more time on loan, and although he did well during his spell with Birmingham, it seems that the management at Manchester United are quite content to part with him.

Manchester United: The 2008 Dream Team

Oct. 3rd 2014

tunde folawiyoManchester United has an illustrious and long history at the top of the English league, as well as achieving a number of remarkable milestones on the European stage. In 2008, a season when many did not believe it was possible, the team once again rose to the challenge and won the Champions League. The squad immortalised itself in Manchester United’s history, while adding more prestige to manager Alex Ferguson’s career, who many believe is the greatest football manager of all time.

After qualifying through the English league, Manchester United were placed into a group alongside Sporting CP, Roma, and Dynamo Kyiv. The first two matches against Sporting CP and Roma were won by just a one goal margin courtesy of Ronaldo and Rooney respectively. After this, a doubleheader against Dynamo Kiev resulted in a 4-2 victory before Manchester United went on to add to this with an impressive 4-0 win against the same opponents in the next game. The team cemented itself at the top of its group with a subsequent 2-1 win over Sporting CP, and a 1-1 draw against Roma.

Once Manchester United were through to the knock-out phases of the competition, the quality of the opposition inevitably increased. A hard fought 1-1 draw away to French team, Lyon, may have knocked the confidence of the team, but this did not show when, on the returning leg, United defeated Lyon by a solitary goal, securing passage to the quarter-finals of the Champion’s League on the road to glory.

Surprisingly, the Manchester United team were drawn against previous group opponents A.S. Roma for their quarter-final ties. This proved remarkable, as it would go on to be the fifth and sixth times the teams had played each other in the preceding 12 months. The initial leg of the quarter-finals was played in Italy, with Manchester United coming out on top comfortably with a 2-0 win. The quarter-final was then seal on the return leg when Roma was defeated by one goal.

In the semi-finals, Manchester United met another one of Europe’s greatest footballing teams, Barcelona. After a dogged first leg where neither team got the upper hand in a 0-0 draw, Manchester United, edged out Barcelona in the return leg with one solitary goal, provided by club legend Paul Scholes, in the 14th minute of open play.

The team’s efforts were rewarded with an exceptional final against fellow English team Chelsea, much to many of the fans, including Tunde Folawiyo’s delight. Both sides had competed for the English title, and so it was fitting that the game went to penalties in the end. The Manchester United team were victorious after a 1-1 score could not separate the teams, with Chelsea losing 5-6 on penalties.

Manchester United Football Club has an illustrious history, and its fan base is just as impressive. To find out more about the team from a fans perspective, read Tunde Folawiyo’s online articles on his passion for the world’s most successful club.

Red Devils emerge victorious after US tour

Oct. 1st 2014

tunde folawiyoUnited have been performing very well under Van Gaal’s direction, winning a string of matches during the past month or so. One of their most recent victories took place in Sun Life Stadium in Miami; their match against Liverpool finished with a final result of 3-1. Their US tour has been a resounding success overall, with one draw and four wins; this is an even more impressive achievement, when one considers the fact that the Dutch coach has only been directly overseeing training for a few weeks now. In this short amount of time, he has somehow managed to implement an entirely new – and clearly very effective – system. This accomplishment has no doubt impressed many of United’s fans, including Tunde Folawiyo.

The game didn’t begin well for United, with Valencia being forced off the pitch due to an injury in the eighth minute, and Liverpool taking the lead six minutes later. However, United compensated for their sluggish and lacklustre performance during the first half with an incredible effort after the interval. Two goals, scored in quick succession by Rooney and Juan Mata, followed by a final shot by Jesse Linguard, left spectators in no doubt as to which was the stronger team.

Whilst Van Gaal has said that he is very pleased to have won the International Champions Cup, he is giving neither himself nor his players time to celebrate, and is instead moving straight on to the next challenge – the Barclays Premier League. He did however, pause to say how happy he was with Rooney who, for his outstanding skills on pitch, was named as the Player of the Tournament.

This praise was reciprocated by Rooney, who expressed his gratitude to Van Gaal for having helped United to implement such an innovative new system. He explained that the system suited the abilities of all of the team members, and that whilst Van Gaal was certainly tough, in terms of his style of training, the experience of having him as their manager has been very positive so far.

Some say that Van Gaal’s admiration of Rooney’s football skills is a sign that he may be considering him for the role of captain. Van Gaal has hinted that he is eager to give the captain’s armband to a worthy player in the near future, and described Rooney as a consistent winner, noting that he deserved all of the accolades he had been given in recent months.

Tunde Folawiyo, like the rest of United’s fans, is probably quite keen to find what Van Gaal intends to do regarding to this matter, and whether he really is considering Rooney for this position within the team. Anyone who is interested in finding out more about this Red Devils’ supporter can do so by reading the Tunde Folawiyo About Me information.

Manchester United Signs Marcos Rojo

Sep. 29th 2014

tunde folawiyoIt almost seemed like it was destined to happen for a player named Rojo (which means “red” in Spanish) to sign with a team whose nickname is “The Red Devils,” but destiny took control of this transfer after issues of ownership sought to derail it from happening. On August 20, 2014, Manchester United FC made the official announcement confirming the signing of Marcos Rojo, the Argentinian World Cub star from Sporting Lisbon The deal for defender Rojos is reported to be £16 million and included the season-loan of Manchester United’s winger, Nani, who played for Sporting Lisbon in the past

The transfer got off to a rocky start when issues surrounding who controlled Rojo’s future arose, with Rojo’s representatives and Sporting Lisbon becoming involved in a public dispute. But, an agreement was reached and Rojo is expected to make his debut in less than a week in the game against Sunderland on August 24th, due to injuries that have sidelined Luke Shaw and Johnny Evans.

Marcos Rojo, whose full name is Faustino Marcos Alberto Rojo, is 24 years old as he enters the Manchester United FC lineup and is the first player signed under the new management of Louis van Gaal. As a player, Rojo brings a unique versatility to the team, able to assume the roles of a left-sided centre-back and a left-back, while also capable of being deployed as a winger. His dedication and stamina are becoming legendary as seen during the last World Cup, when Rojo played the entire 120 minutes throughout the final defeat of Germany.

Rojo’s transfer comes after Manchester United’s stunning signing of teen football star, Luke Shaw, for £30 million, making him the most expensive full-back in football history. This is only the third signing for Manchester United, which in addition to Luke Shaw has signed Ander Herrara. Fans are anxious for more new faces on the team and the Executive Vice-Chairman, Ed Woodward is feeling the pressure to sign new players before the August 31st deadline.

In an interview with Rojo about the Manchester United transfer, the player said that it’s been his dream to play for Manchester United and he is especially proud to be working with Louis van Gaal.

For leading businessman Tunde Folawiyo, the memory of the Manchester United FC 2008 Champion’s League in Moscow stands out as one of his favourite memories. The Tunde Folawiyo professional profile mentions not only his accomplishments, but his time in the stands during this exciting game.

United struggling to sign new players during transfer window

Sep. 26th 2014

tunde folawiyoVan Gaal is being kept busy by transfer negotiations at the moment. It might surprise Tunde Folawiyo to hear that, should his efforts to sign Arturo Vidal fall through, the Dutch manager will attempt to sign Alex Song instead. The Red Devils have been open about their talks with Juventus over the past few weeks, and are said to have offered the Italian club £45 million for the 27-year-old. Several weeks ago, they also requested that Vidal undergo a medical assessment, in order to ensure that his old knee and ankle injuries would not hinder his ability to play in upcoming matches.

Whilst such measures – and such a generous offer – clearly indicate that Van Gaal is eager to bring Vidal on board, it is unclear if Juventus would be willing to let him go. Whether Song would be the best alternative is debatable. Although Luis Enrique, the Arsenal manager, is thought to have been less than impressed with the Cameroon player’s performance, Van Gaal seems to see some potential in him which others do not.

United have also set their sights on another Arsenal player – Thomas Vermaelen. The club are believed to be looking to strengthen their central defence by playing with three centre halves, and are confident that Vermaelan is the right man for this job. However, it has been reported that the young player is close to agreeing to a transfer to Barcelona, in a 5-year deal worth approximately £12 million.

Vermaelan had expressed a desire to leave Arsenal some time ago, due to the fact that Enrique had been continually favouring Koscielny and Mertesacker over him. Initially, he seemed willing to transfer to United, but now that Arsenal has stated that they would prefer to make a deal with an overseas club, a move to Old Trafford looks very unlikely.

Being a supporter of United, Tunde Folawiyo is probably aware that Van Gaal had not had much luck with his efforts to sign Mat Hummels either. Hummels has been one of his top transfer targets, due to the recent departure of both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Despite Dortmund refusing to budge regarding the transfer of the defender, Van Gaal intends to make one final offer of £30 million. If this is rejected, he will be considering Daley Blind, who currently plays for Ajax.

Folawiyo has been a fan of the Red Devils for quite some time. However, he has many interests outside of football too; to learn more about this man, view Scribd uploads on Tunde Folawiyo online.

Van Gaal Eyes Arturo Vidal for Third Summer Signing

Sep. 22nd 2014

 Tunde FolawiyoWith Manchester United Head Coach Louis Van Gaal hard at work solidifying the club’s roster, the rumour mill continues to swirl with tidbits of potential trades and new signings. Whilst the fate of the club’s current members is not yet set in stone, there are a few rumours that have been confirmed. It has recently been reported that United hopes to soon complete Arturo Vidal’s signing, a move that had been previously disputed by the player himself. Tunde Folawiyo and millions of other fans of the beloved club may welcome the signing of the 27-year-old Chilean.

Whilst Vidal, a Juventus midfielder, recently told reporters that a move to Old Trafford was not on the cards, recent reports claim an outstanding £35 million move may be in the works with a signing possible in the coming weeks. With Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera recently signed to United, a Vidal contract would be the third initiated since Van Gaal’s start as head coach.

Although signing Vidal would be of great benefit to United, there are many tough decisions up ahead for Van Gaal and his coaching staff. Wilfried Zaha and Nani are both rumoured to be on the chopping block after receiving significant dressing-downs from Van Gaal during their pre-season United States tour. The coach is said to be unimpressed with the pairs’ attitude, prompting questions of whether they will remain with the team for the upcoming season.

If the player’s career stats are any indication, United would benefit immensely from signing the midfielder to the squad. Vidal held several roles in the early years of his career, demonstrating his versatility and capabilities in both attack and defense. His reputation earned him the nickname “Ill Guerriero” or “The Warrior” by Italian press for his aggressive playing style.

Vidal is regarded amongst the best in the world after displaying outstanding skill under Juventus. His service to the team, as well as Chile’s national team, have garnered him much fanfare throughout his career. During 2013, he was ranked 11th on Bloomberg’s list of the best players in Europe. With much work to be done to the Red Devils’ roster ahead of next season, whether or not Vidal will join in is a topic of interest for many United fans and players alike. Flickr images of Tunde Folawiyo may showcase a glimpse of Red Devils fan life. He and millions of other Manchester United fans may welcome the Chilean with open arms if Van Gaal does indeed seal the deal.

United emerge victorious in match against Valencia

Sep. 19th 2014

tunde folawiyoAs a supporter of United, Tunde Folawiyo was no doubt thrilled to learn that the team enjoyed yet another victory this month, with their match against Valencia ending with a final tally of 2-1. Darren Fletcher gave the Red Devils the lead soon after the interval; however, Rodrigo scored an equaliser for Valencia minutes later, and for a time, it seemed as if the match would end in a draw. But Van Gaal’s decision to bring on Fellaini proved to be a wise one, as the Belgian grabbed an opportunity to score after the keeper Diego Alves accidentally collided with a defender.

This was a particularly proud moment for Fellaini, being the first goal he has scored since joining the team last summer. His transfer to United cost the club just over £27 million; as such, it’s safe to say that there were high expectations, which up until this week, Fellaini had failed to meet. He was – and perhaps still is -a favourite to be transferred; however, given his performance during this match, he might be able to sway Van Gaal’s opinion, and keep his place at his current club.

Whilst fans like Tunde Folawiyo were probably very pleased with the final results of the match, commentators observed a certain lack of excitement amongst the spectators. Despite Van Gaal’s best efforts, he and his team could not improve the somewhat sombre atmosphere in the stadium. The only point at which the crowds began to awaken was when Wayne Rooney was awarded a penalty, after having been nudged by Antonio Barragan. Unfortunately, Rooney mistimed his footing and failed to get the ball anywhere near the net. After the match ended, Van Gaal expressed disappointment with his team’s performance, and said that although they had won in the end, it had been their worst game yet, with a number of questionable decisions being made by the players.

Despite the striker’s momentary lapse from grace in their game against Valencia, Van Gaal still decided to appoint Rooney as United’s captain. The announcement was made shortly after the match. Van Gaal praised Rooney for having a great attitude, adding that he had been pleased with how professional the player had been in regards to training and adhering to the newly-introduced system. He described him as an inspiration, and said that he believed he would work well alongside the new vice-captain, Darren Fletcher. Rooney also commented on the news, stating that it was a great honour to be given the role of captain. He went on say that he would perform his duties with great pride, and that he was very thankful that Van Gaal for giving him this opportunity.

Folawiyo is a football fanatic, and enjoys watching the matches played by his favourite teams. However, this is just one of his many pastimes; he also, for instance, likes reading about the accomplishments of important figures. You can discover more about his thoughts on this subject by visiting the Influential icons blog of Tunde Folawiyo.

Manchester United Expected to Vie for Vermaelen

Sep. 17th 2014

tunde folawiyoWith Coach Van Gaal hard at work perfecting the Manchester United roster, it has been announced that the club intends to heighten efforts to acquire the talented Thomas Vermaelen. United are expected to extend a £15m to the Arsenal defender to top Barcelona’s attempts for a signing (1). The news comes upon Vermaelen’s rejection of a contract extension with Emirates, prompting the renewed interest in the Belgian. Tunde Folawiyo and millions of other Red Devils fans may welcome the player with open arms as his achievements are not lost upon the world of football thus far.

The Red Devils have exhibited a weak central defense in the past, driving Van Gaal’s determination to acquire Vermaelen. Arsene Wenger had previously halted the move earlier in the summer. Also on the Coach Van Gaal’s player wish list is Daley Blind, Ajax’s wing-back. Signing these two players would do tremendous things for Van Gaal’s plans for a 3-5-2 player formation that would allow two wide players to easily transition from defense to attack.

Though a Vermaelen transition to United would most likely be welcome by fans, Arsenal has displayed reluctance to part with Vermaelen, especially to a League rival. In recent years alone, six of Arsenal’s first team have moved north, further adding to their hesitation to hand over Vermaelen. Though, whilst he served as captain for the team last season, the defender made only seven appearances, adding to speculation of his reputation amongst the team.

United’s defense is undoubtedly of great concern for the new coach. Acquiring Vermaelen would provide coverage for Luke Shaw, adding strength to a defense previously seen lagging. Recent reports have suggested that as many as six of United’s players may be making a move from Old Trafford.

Vermaelen joined Ajax’s youth academy during 2000 before winning the 2003-2004 Eredivisie during his first season. He served as the club’s captain after the departure of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar during 2009. That same year, he joined team Arsenal, where he was named club captain upon the transfer of Robin van Persie to Old Trafford during August of 2012. Though he displayed great talent on the field, the success of defensive duo Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker hindered playing time. His leadership skills and goalscoring abilities as a defender make him a force to be reckoned with. Tunde Folawiyo and other loyal fans of Manchester United may hope for a Vermaelen signing to turn the team’s defense around in hopes of brighter times ahead. For more information about his varied interests, view this interview with Tunde Folawiyo.

Ryan Giggs to Pass Number 11 Shirt to Adnan Januzaj

Sep. 5th 2014

Tunde FolawiyoAfter a staggering 24 year stint for Manchester United, 40 year old Ryan Giggs is set to pass his renowned number 11 shirt to 19 year old Belgian, Adnan Januzaj. Red Devils enthusiasts the world over like Tunde Folawiyo will be waiting with baited breath to see how this promising young player will fare trying to fill such illustrious boots.

Being presented with such a prestigious shirt is, of course, a huge honour and a sign of confidence in this young player, but it will no doubt lead to extra scrutiny as he is compared with his predecessor, one of the most decorated players in footballing history.

On his 17th Birthday, Ryan Giggs received the ultimate gift. A contract with Manchester United, the team that had just lifted the FA Cup. Naturally, he accepted the contract and two days later (1st December 1990) attained many a young man’s dream, becoming a professional football player.

Giggs debuted with the team on 2nd March 1991. He managed to score in his first game. Giggs made the first team later that season, despite the fact that he was aged only 17, under the watchful eye of renowned manager, Alex Ferguson.

By 1992, Giggs had become the Red Devil’s first-choice left winger, and was recognised as one of two of the best emerging wingers in British football alongside Steve McManaman. Ferguson was fiercely protective of his key player, shielding him from the press and only allowing him to be interviewed once he had turned 20.

In a glittering career, which has spanned almost two and a half decades (almost unheard of for footballers these days), Giggs earned a string of accolades, including:

  • The only player to have scored goals in 21 consecutive Premier League seasons;
  • The most Premier League appearances for a player at a staggering 611;
  • The first player to score 100 Premier League goals for Manchester United;
  • The most appearances by a Manchester United player.

In his 24 years of play for Manchester United, Ryan Giggs was never sent off the pitch. He was awarded the OBE in 2007 for services to football, and is a shining example to all in the sport.

With Giggs now taking up the role of Assistant Manager at Manchester United and encouraging him to take the shirt, Adnan Januzaj could not wish for a better mentor. Long-time Red Devils followers such as Tunde Folawiyo will be keen to see what the future holds for this promising protégé. Readers can discover more about Manchester United enthusiast and professional Tunde Folawiyo and his recent activities.

Van Gaal making progress with transfer deals

Aug. 25th 2014

Van Gaal has been working hard to secure the transfer of new players to United. Arturo Vidal, Juventus’ Chilean midfielder, has been high on the manager’s wish list for several weeks now, despite the fact that his current club are clearly reluctant to let him go. However, recent reports suggest that the transfer could still go ahead; it was  Tunde Folawiyorevealed last week that Vidal had passed a series of medical examinations which were set up to see confirm that he is fit enough to join the Red Devils. This is certainly a step in the right direction, and could mean that the midfielder will be joining the team at Old Trafford in the very near future. (

As a fan of the club, Tunde Folawiyo may have heard that United are now in pursuit of Juan Cuadrado, following reports that Barcelona has failed in its attempt to sign the player. The Spanish club is thought to have been unimpressed with the price which Fiorentina has demanded for the Columbian; rumour has it that they deemed £39.5 million too excessive a sum. However, Van Gaal is eager to nab the winger, and may be able to afford it, if he manages to sell Javier Hernandez, a forward that several Spanish and Italian clubs are interested in.

Whilst the sale of Hernandez is still up in the air, the departure of Patrice Evra has been confirmed. After eight years with the Red Devils, the 33 year old has joined Juventus, at a cost of £1.2 million. Discussing the move, Evra said that although he had ‘the best memories’ of his time with United, he was thrilled by the idea of returning to the country where he first began to play football professionally.

United fans like Tunde Folawiyo are probably aware that Mats Hummels is another player whom Van Gaal is hoping to purchase during the coming weeks. The Borussia Dortmund star may be up for grabs, now that his current club are considering replacing him with another centre back named Tiago Ilori. However, Dortmund have stipulated that the transfer of Hummels will only go ahead if United agree to loan the player out to them on occasion. Hummels himself has yet to comment on the matter, but Hermann, his father, has said that a transfer is unlikely.

Although Folawiyo is an avid football fan, and enjoys watching Man United matches, he spends much of his time immersed in his own entrepreneurial activities. Those who wish to learn more about his work can read the Tunde Folawiyo company details online.