Saturday briefing: Football mourns Denis Law as Erling Haaland signs mega deal

Manchester United led the tributes to club great Denis Law following his death at the age of 84.

Manchester City also saluted ‘The King’, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia in 2021, while Pep Guardiola earlier on Friday admitted to his shock reaction after learning striker Erling Haaland had signed a new nine-and-half-year contract with the Premier League champions.

United are examining the redevelopment of Old Trafford and Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has described January as a “disaster” for his club.

Denis Law was described as “one of football’s giants” as tributes poured in for the former Manchester United and Scotland great following his death.

The Aberdeen-born striker won two league titles with United and was a member of their European Cup-winning side under Sir Matt Busby in 1968 when they became the first English club to lift the trophy.

The ex-Manchester City and Huddersfield striker, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in 2021, is Scotland’s joint all-time leading scorer with 30 goals in 55 appearances and is third on United’s all-time scoring list behind Wayne Rooney and former team-mate Sir Bobby Charlton.

“We have lost one of football’s giants both as a player and a gentleman. It’s incredibly sad,” former United and England captain Bryan Robson wrote in a column in the Daily Mail.

“Denis was more than just a fantastic footballer, he was a fantastic man. So generous with his time and everything delivered with that great sense of humour of his.”

Pep Guardiola admitted he could scarcely believe the news Erling Haaland has signed a new nine-and-half year contract at Manchester City.

The club announced on Friday that the prolific Norway striker, who has