Manchester

Mike Minay, BBC Radio Manchester

There was a banner present at the Etihad Stadium last season: 'Can we talk about Rodri?'.

So, now, can we talk about Rodri? HOW has he not got into that Fifa Best Men's XI?

This is a man who dictated the midfield of any game he was in throughout 2023. We have all seen the stats. When Rodri does not play, Manchester City do not win.

I do not want to talk down Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva or Jude Bellingham - the other three that made the midfield of the Best XI. Their 2023s were incredible with big moments in big games and their impeccable consistency constantly keeping their names in the headlines.

But no Rodri? I just do not get it.

If it was based across the year, then Rodri is a man who stepped up in big games and ended the year on a 49-game unbeaten run when he played.

If it was based on the second half of last season alone then he literally won the Treble for City. His goal against Inter Milan handed Manchester City their first Champions League.

There is a solution however. The model was based on a 4-3-3 formation. Let's go back to the classic 4-4-2.

We asked you to tell us whether or not Kevin de Bruyne should be considered as the greatest Premier League player.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Brian: Pundits the world over have given the view that De Bruyne is the best player the Premier League has seen in its entire history. His vision, thought processes, passing ability and silky skills on the ball are frankly out of this world. He has my vote.

Simon: He’s clearly the best player that Manchester City have had in Premier League history. However, to say that he is the best ever is disrespectful to other legends such as Paul Scholes and Roy Keane in particular, when it comes to midfielders.

Malcolm: Kevin de Bruyne should be part of the Premier League greatest players discussion, but he isn't the greatest. Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler, Alan Shearer, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham are all ahead of KDB based on what they have achieved. He is definitely in the discussion though.

David: Kevin de Bruyne is the greatest midfielder the Premier League has ever seen. Period. His return means City are nailed on for a remarkable and unique fourth successive Premier League title, which we’ll probably never see again. That will mean more to Pep and the whole club than a second Treble, which they may possibly achieve too.

Matt: De Bruyne is an incredible and truly world class player. Is he the best there has been in the Premier League? Who knows. Possibly. You’ll never get conclusive agreement on that.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone, BBC Sport

Sir Jim Ratcliffe had four offers to buy Manchester United turned down by the Glazer family during 2023 before finally putting an acceptable deal forward on 13 October.

The Glazers launched their search for "strategic alternatives" for United on 22 November 2022.

And while many of the details of the ensuing negotiations were reported by numerous media outlets until an announcement confirming Ratcliffe's 25% purchase was made on 24 December, official documentation has now been released as part of Ratcliffe’s attempt to buy 25% of the shares presently floated on the New York Stock Exchange.

It confirms the Ratcliffe camp first made contact with the Raine Group, which handled the process, expressing interest on 15 January 2023, with the first official bid being made on 17 February. That offer was only for class B shares, exclusively owned by the Glazer family, at $22.00 per share, which would have allowed Ratcliffe to take a controlling interest in the club. This was rejected the following week, with Ratcliffe’s representatives being told the offer did not match the desire for a "full sale or minority primary investment".

Ratcliffe went back with further proposals on 23 March, 23 May and another at the end of July. Each offer was amended. In the discussions around the July bid, Ratcliffe was told he would have to offer the same figure to class A shareholders as the - by this time - $33 per share that was being offered to the class B shareholders, plus commit to a "substantial primary investment" for an offer to be accepted.

The offer that formed the basis of the agreement announced on 24 December was formally put forward on 13 October. While that was not made public at the time, Sheikh Jassim withdrew his attempt to buy 100% of the club on 14 October. The request for Ratcliffe representatives to have sporting control at United was also made around this time.

Current class A shareholders have until 23.59 EST (04:59 GMT) on 13 February to indicate whether they would be willing to sell any shares, which are currently trading at just over $21m. The final results will be confirmed within five days of that deadline.

The documents issued confirm no significant decisions around United, including sacking the manager, can be taken without the approval of Ratcliffe or his representatives.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Chelsea and Everton winger Pat Nevin, writing for the BBC Football Extra newsletter: "Why are there so many cliff-hanging, wide open, wild games this season?

"If I had to choose one cause above all others, I would settle on Pep Guardiola and his influence.

"His team has won the league in five of the past six seasons with attacking, positive, devil-may-care football. His methods have profoundly influenced the rest of the coaches, and not just by convincing them to play out from the back through their goalkeepers.

"Creatives are the core of the team, and they are all given the licence to roam. Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Jeremy Doku and then Kevin de De Bruyne were anywhere and everywhere on the field on Saturday. They were unmarkable and unplayable.

"I wasn’t even mildly surprised when central defender Nathan Ake drove forward to become the most attacking City player ahead of striker Julian Alvarez.

"Full-back Kyle Walker’s starting position is actually higher upfield than the attacking winger on his side. This version of total football looks like organised chaos, but it allows creativity and risk taking at previously unimagined levels in the British game.

"So you have Jurgen Klopp, Mikel Arteta, Eddie Howe, Unai Emery, Ange Postecoglou (he does it with bells on) and many other coaches now swimming in an open sea of free-flowing, attacking football."

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham United striker Michail Antonio says Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo is treating his first-team opportunities "like he's playing with the youth team".

Mainoo, 18, has impressed in central midfield since making his first Premier League start against Everton in November, after missing the first part of the season because of injury.

"I saw a clip last season of him playing for the academy and he was bossing the game," Antonio told The Footballer's Football Podcast. "He was an absolute joke.

"I've seen a couple of games he's been playing in and he's treating like he's playing with the youth team or reserves.

"He's controlling the tempo, he has so much confidence, he just believes in everything he's doing.

"He's playing like he's had years in the game, full of confidence, and that's difficult for youngsters coming through. Normally you see a bit of nerves in them."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds