Darwin's headbutt, Ronaldo's future - Monday's transfer round up

FT Desk

• 15 Aug 2022 22:43 BST
• 4 min read

It was another eventful day in and around the world of football transfers on Monday with €100 million man Darwin Nunez's home Liverpool debut ending with a red card for a head-butt.

Manchester United's players are beginning to turn on Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, but Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone would be delighted to have him in his squad.

'First thing he connected with all night' - Twitter reacts to Darwin Nunez red card

Darwin was handed his full Liverpool debut following his goalscoring cameo off the bench against Fulham last Saturday, but things could hardly have gone worse for the Uruguayan.

The former Benfica missed a string of gilt-edged opportunities before being given his marching orders for a headbutt on Joachim Andersen. It's fair to say the Twittersphere was not amused!

Man Utd players are 'questioning Ronaldo’s worth'

Another player having a rough time of it of late is Ronaldo, who is struggling to secure his route out of Old Trafford and into Champions League football.

After snubbing Erik ten Hag in Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Brentford, some of the Manchester United players are beginning to turn on Ronaldo according to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs.

Revealed: Diego Simeone's Cristiano Ronaldo stance after sack threat

Atletico Madrid have moved to the front of the queue to sign Ronaldo, despite the player's history with city rivals Real Madrid.

Atletico plan to use Alvaro Morata - a two-goal scorer for Atleti at Getafe on Monday - in part-exchange. Some fans don't like it, but Diego Simeone doesn't care.

Lewandowski reveals what surprised him most about Barcelona debut

Robert Lewandowski's Barcelona debut may have gone rather better than Darwin's Liverpool one, but the former Bayern Munich man still drew a blank in a goalless draw at home to Rayo Vallecano.

The sun in Spain or the change in system may have provided a culture shock for the long-time Bundesliga top scorer, but is the fitness levels at Camp Nou that have taken the most getting used to.

Why Barcelona are set to make Chelsea and Man Utd wait on De Jong

Frenkie de Jong had to settle for a place on the Barca bench against Rayo, but Chelsea and Manchester United might have to wait a bit longer on their chase for the Netherlands midfielder.

Gavi had a poor game, Sergio Busquets got sent off, and Barcelona have activated a fourth financial lever anyway...