Manchester United have decided not to hold an end-of-season player awards night for the third year in a row despite qualifying for the Champions League, Confidential can reveal.
The club cancelled the gala event at Old Trafford in 2024 after finishing eighth in the Premier League, and again last year when they slumped to 15th and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham. United are on course to finish third under Michael Carrick having already clinched a place in next season’s Champions League with three games to spare by beating Liverpool on Sunday.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is also in contention for the Premier League Player of the Year award after edging closer to the single-season assist record of 20, held jointly by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. However, it has been decided to honour any personal achievements among the men’s and women’s teams in a more private setting at Carrington later this month.
Sources say the decision is not so much a reflection on a rollercoaster campaign – at 40 games, United’s shortest since the First World War because they weren’t in Europe and fell at the first hurdle in both domestic cup competitions – and more because of a move away from gala awards nights.
Foregoing the glitzy event, which has been a regular fixture for the United stars and their WAGs down the years, is also in keeping with Carrick’s assertion that a club of United’s stature should not be celebrating a top-five finish.
Reds target Ederson
Atalanta star Ederson has emerged as another midfield target for United this summer as the club look to recruit up to three players to strengthen the engine room of the team.
Atalanta’s Brazilian star Ederson is in Manchester United’s sights as they target a midfield overhaul this summer
Despite agreeing a new long-term contract with Kobbie Mainoo, United will need replacements for Casemiro and, most likely, Manuel Ugarte.
Sources have confirmed that Ederson, a 26-year-old Brazil international, is a player of interest. He has one year left on his contract at Atalanta and would be available for around £40million after the Italian club failed to agree terms with Atletico Madrid.
United are ready to spend around £150m on midfielders this summer, and Ederson would fall into the middle bracket along with the likes of West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes and Bournemouth duo Alex Scott and Tyler Adams. Reports in Brazil also claim that United have asked about Botafogo’s £35m-rated Danilo, who has Premier…