Daily Sport Update

WAYNE ROONEY SAID HE WOULD BE OPEN TO JOINING THE COACHING STAFF OF FORMER TEAMMATE MICHAEL CARRICK IF HE TAKES OVER AS INTERIM MANAGER OF MANCHESTER

Wayne Rooney said he would be open to joining the coaching staff of former teammate Michael Carrick if he takes over as interim manager of Manchester United following Ruben Amorim’s departure last week.
Rooney made 559 appearances and scored 253 goals in a trophy-laden 13-year spell as a player at the club. He retired in 2021 and has had management spells at Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle.
Asked if he would consider joining Carrick's coaching department, the 40-year-old said on the BBC's The Wayne Rooney Show: "Of course I would. It's a no-brainer.

"I'm not begging a job here, by the way.

"Just so everyone knows, if I was asked to go in of course I would. Appointing the manager is the most important thing."

Following his retirement from football in 2018, Carrick stayed on at United as part of Jose Mourinho's coaching staff and was also part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's set-up when the Portuguese coach was sacked.

Carrick, who had a short stint as caretaker boss following Solskjaer's dismissal in 2021, spent two-and-a-half years as Middlesbrough manager from October 2022 to June 2025.

"I think it would be a really good fit," Rooney said.
"Michael loves the football club and would step in to do a job if he can.

"He lives and breathes that club - that's what the club needs."

United, who are seventh in the Premier League, face Manchester City on Saturday.

CHELSEA AND SOME OTHER CLUB BATTLE IT OUT FOR COMO DEFENDER JACOBO RAMON

The 21-year-old has impressed under Cesc Fabregas so far this season, starting 15 of his 16 Sere A games and popping up with two goals.

Ramon only joined Como from boyhood club Real Madrid in the summer but has already been heavily linked with a move away.

According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea and Liverpool are both keen on signing the central defender.

Any potential deal will likely be dependent on Real Madrid, however, with the Spanish giants having a €8 million buy-back option.

BARCELONA RETAINED THE SPANISH SUPER CUP WITH AN ENTERTAINING 3-2 CLASICO WIN OVER REAL MADRID

Barcelona retained the Spanish Super Cup with an entertaining 3-2 Clasico win over Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Raphinha struck twice for the Catalans with Robert Lewandowski also on target as they beat Xabi Alonso's team for a record-extending 16th triumph, despite Frenkie de Jong's late red card for a foul on Kylian Mbappe.

The French forward could only feature in the final stages as a substitute after a knee sprain, with the defeat likely to bring back recent doubts around Madrid coach Xabi Alonso's future.

After Raphinha sent Barcelona ahead Vinicius Junior pulled Madrid level with a fine individual goal to kick-start a frenetic end to the first half in Jeddah.

Lewandowski chipped Barca back in front but Gonzalo Garcia struck deep in stoppage time to send the teams in level at the break.

The battle was decided by a deflected Raphinha effort after 73 minutes, as Barca claimed the fourth trophy of coach Hansi Flick's reign.
Alonso is still looking for his first after arriving in June, and Madrid's run of five consecutive wins across all competitions was brought to an end by their arch-rivals.

"Whatever way you lose it hurts, but it's clear that this was a very even game, hotly competed, with a bit of everything," Alonso told Movistar.

"We were very close to equalising, we fought it out until the end and I have to congratulate Barca."

Barca thrashed Madrid 5-2 in last season's final, also at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium, but this was a far closer affair.

"We're very happy, another trophy, it's always a big game against Madrid," Lewandowski told Movistar.

"We played well in the first half, the second too, we were looking for more goals but we won and that's the most important thing."Flick, who led Barca to four Clasico wins over Madrid last season in four clashes, opted for Lewandowski up front over Ferran Torres and brought teenage star Lamine Yamal back in on the right wing.

It was a scrappy start in the Saudi evening heat, with Barcelona keeping the ball and Madrid sitting deep to resist them, while looking to find Vinicius Junior on the counter.

The Brazilian had not scored in his previous 16 matches but offered a potent threat, flying down the left and forcing Joan Garcia into the first save.

Barca began to turn up the heat and Raphinha found a breakthrough after 36 minutes.

Moments after the winger fired a fine chance badly wide, he made up for it with a low, early strike from just inside the area, across Thibaut Courtois and into the bottom corner.

Madrid pulled level with a superb Vinicius strike, floating in from the left, nutmegging Jules Kounde and slotting home.Barcelona went back ahead four minutes into first-half stoppage time, with Lewandowski dinking past Courtois after being played in by Pedri.

However Madrid rapidly hit back just before the interval through Gonzalo Garcia, who finished well while falling after Dean Huijsen's header bounced back to him off the crossbar.The second half was a calmer affair, with fewer chances as the teams slowed down.

Mbappe was warming up on the sideline when Barcelona nosed ahead, with Raphinha's shot from outside the box deflecting in off Raul Asencio to leave Courtois with no chance.

The Brazilian is in superb form and it was his seventh goal in his last five matches across all competitions.

"He's always there at the right moment," said Lewandowski.

Alonso sent Mbappe on for the last 15 minutes, trying to find a third goal and force a penalty shoot-out.

The French forward could not get a sight of goal but Barca midfielder De Jong was sent off for a high lunge on him.

Despite Madrid's numerical advantage Barca had the best chance in stoppage time with Marcus Rashford firing wide when through on goal.Asencio might have grabbed an equaliser at the death but headed straight at Garcia.

The last four winners of the Spanish Super Cup have gone on to claim LaLiga and Barcelona will be hoping it proves a platform for success once again.

They have won 10 straight games across all competitions and lead LaLiga, despite an inconsistent start to the season.

ANTHONY JOSHUA FIRST PICTURE SINCE CAR CRASH IN NIGERIA THAT KILLED CLOSE FRIENDS SINA GHAMI AND LATIF 'LATZ' AYODELE

Anthony Joshua releases first picture since car crash in Nigeria that killed close friends Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele, Joshua sustained minor injuries in fatal incident and was discharged from hospital this week; The driver of the car involved in crash has been charged by police
Joshua was released from hospital on New Year's Eve after sustaining minor injuries in the fatal incident and the former world heavyweight champion flew back from Nigeria ahead of Sunday's memorial services in London for Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele, who were killed in the crash in Makun on Monday.

In posts on X and Instagram, Joshua put up pictures which appeared to show him joined by grieving relatives, with the words: 'My Brothers Keeper.'

Ghami and Ayodele were both described as 'close friends and integral members of Anthony's team,' in a statement released by a spokesperson for Joshua earlier this week.

Floral tributes have been left at Ghami's gym in north London.
The driver of the car involved in the crash, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, was charged by Nigerian police on Friday with offences that include causing death by dangerous driving and driving without a licence.

The case has been adjourned until January 20.
The defendant was granted bail in the sum of 5,000,000 Naira (£2,578) and was remanded pending his bail conditions being met.

Joshua, who has Nigerian heritage, was spending time in the country following his recent knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami.