‘Nightmare’ – National media send Man United Jarrad Branthwaite transfer message after Everton win

Jarrad Branthwaite was always likely to become one of the talking points when Manchester United welcomed Everton to Old Trafford this season.

After bidding as much as £50 million for the England international before eventually signing Matthijs de Ligt, United’s summer transfer saga was brought up again before the match with Sean Dyche speaking about it during his pre-match press conference. With both players named in the starting line-up, it became an inevitable chance to compare them within the same game.

Unfortunately for Branthwaite, who has missed much of this season through injury, those comparisons were not particularly favourable. National media journalists at Old Trafford did not hold back, and here is a round-up of what they had to say.

‘A game to forget’

BBC Sport’s Shamoon Hafez wrote: “The hosts attempted to sign visiting defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the summer and it was a game to forget for the Everton defender, inadvertently contributing to United’s first two goals. Rashford’s low strike deflected in off the centre-back’s outstretched boot for the opener, before Branthwaite dawdled on the ball allowing Amad Diallo to nip in and feed Bruno Fernandes, who laid it off for Zirkzee to convert.”

‘An early gift-wrapped present’

For the Daily Star, Dave Craven wrote: “Jarrad Branthwaite endured a nightmare spell to see United take control. First, he deflected Rashford’s half-volley into his own goal in the 34th minute. Rashford, loitering on the edge of the penalty area, latched onto Bruno Fernandes’ pinpoint floated corner sweetly and all the Everton defender could do was stick out a hopeful leg.But Branthwaite – the subject of a £45m bid from the Red Devils in the summer – was fully to blame seven minutes later caught dallying on the ball. Amad pounced, pickpocketing the England centre-half for Fernandes to race clear and cross for Zirkzee to slide home. With advent calendars being opened everywhere on the first day of December, it is the start of the festive season – and Branthwaite sent an early gift-wrapped present to United.