Tuesday cannon fodder: disrespectful bully captain

Premier League/England

De Gea keen on Manchester United captaincy as he closes on new deal | The Guardian
David de Gea has said he would love to be named Manchester United captain.

Manchester City accused of being ‘disrespectful’ by Chinese state media | The Guardian
Manchester City have were also deemed to be ‘arrogant’ by China’s state-run press agency after their appearance at the Asia Trophy last week.

A forensic analysis of David Batty bullying Sampdoria just for fun - Planet Football
Not many people know this, but David Batty is the most rock’n’roll footballer in the history of the sport.

Europe

Cristiano Ronaldo will not face criminal charges over rape allegations | The Guardian
Cristiano Ronaldo won’t face criminal charges after a woman accused him of raping her at a Las Vegas resort in 2009.

Antoine Griezmann ‘will adjust’ style at Barcelona - BBC Sport
New signing Antoine Griezmann says he will adapt his style at Barcelona and can “contribute many things.”

Atlético Madrid announces MLS All-Star Game squad | Pro Soccer USA
The roster includes several of the team’s most recent signings.

De Ligt rejects claims Man Utd rejected him over father’s weight - Football365
Matthijs de Ligt has responded to claims that United decided against signing him due to weight issues.

MLS/Americas

LAFC’s El-Munir needs surgery after Ibra elbow
LAFC’s Mohamed El-Munir needs surgery to repair a broken cheekbone sustained when he was struck in the face by the LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Freddy Adu exclusive: ‘I’m not ready to give it up’
Freddy Adu was supposed to save U.S. soccer before his career fizzled out. But he has found happiness in coaching as he plots his final comeback.

Other

Why NBA stars like James Harden and LeBron James invest in soccer clubs | Sport | The Guardian
Even though MLS clubs cannot compete with the other US sports leagues in terms of income, soccer is seen as a growing market for wealthy athlete-investors.