If you want to know what Kobe Bryant is up to today, there’s a fair chance that he’s spending it watching El Clásico. Growing up in Italy, Bryant was a massive soccer fan and credits the game with helping shape him on the basketball court.
Bayern Munich sure loves Texas.
Last year, the German club partnered with FC Dallas to create a player-development program. Bayern has brought a number of Americans over on loan from the MLS club, even signing 18-year-old Chris Richards earlier this month.
It’s been irregular, but we’ve been treated to some pretty revealing interviews with Lionel Messi of late.
The haters can hate, but Major League Soccer can put on a show. And this 2018 MLS skills video the league put out ahead of the 2019 season has it all.
It starts with an elastico. It’s got Cruyff turns, Zidane roulettes, sombreros and nutmegs. So many nutmegs.
Do yourself a favor and spend the 4:33 it takes to watch this video and try not to get too excited about the upcoming 2019 season, which will feature plenty more of Zlatan.
This is Giancarlo Favarin, manager of Serie C club Lucchese. You’re not going to see much of him anymore, because he’s been banned for five months for unloading his cranium straight into the face of an opposing team's assistant coach. During the 2-2 draw between his side and rival Alessandria, Favarin also instructed one of his players to break an opponent’s legs. That’s also a big no-no when it comes to touchline etiquette.
Rumors persist that Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez could yet transfer to Valencia this window — if the Spanish club is willing to pony up something like $15 million for the 30-year-old. However, with Marko Arnautovic unsettled at West Ham and Chicharito just returning from a back injury, the Mexican striker may yet have a massive role to play for Manuel Pellegrini’s side over the run-in.
Although Nani never lived up to his billing as “The Next Cristiano Ronaldo,” take nothing away from the man who currently has 112 Portugal caps to his name and is still going strong in his 14th year as a professional.
The 32-year-old made his name with Manchester United — where he won four Premier League titles and the 2007-08 Champions League — but he’s gone on to have successful stints in Turkey (Fenerbahce), Spain (Valencia) and Italy (Lazio) before returning home to boyhood club Sporting.
While most clubs across continental Europe have returned from their winter sojourns to warmer climes, Paris Saint-Germain has been in Doha this week for its Qatar Tour 2019.
Given the club’s Qatari ownership, it’s no surprise the club would visit the small but wealthy country, providing plenty of weird interview opportunities where Neymar can tell everyone that 18-year-old American Tim Weah will be the next great striker.