First things first, people. Lionel Messi is not going anywhere...any time soon, at least.
According to reports from Diario Gol, the Argentinian superstar is pushing for an escape clause in his new contract with FC Barcelona that would allow him to leave for Newell's Old Boys – his boyhood club in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina – presumably sometime in the future.
The accolades for 15-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps forward/winger Alphonso Davies continue to stack up. The Liberian-born Davies, who has represented Canada at the under-20 level, became the youngest player to score a goal in USL history on May 15, 2016. In July, he became the third youngest player of all-time to sign an MLS contract. He’s appeared in eight matches for Vancouver this season, including two starts.
In an interview with Marca week, Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué spoke with reporters about the growing soccer culture in the United States, and the interest its growth has begun to draw from players across the globe.
“I read that the MLS is the seventh biggest league in terms of stadium attendances, fans are increasingly hooked on soccer in the United States and it would be an attractive option in a few years," Pique said.
More so than the players themselves, this summer’s headlines seemed dominated by football’s “super agents” — the brokers of the multi-million dollar deals that have come to typify the transfer market. Rather than moving in the background of such transactions, these men have flocked to the fore. Their opinions, demands and claims have been quickly picked up by media outlets, giving them a false aura of footballing expertise.
It’s a rumor that’s been circulating since last September, when Ronaldinho left Brazilian side Fluminense and became a free agent: would he take the millions on offer in China? Would he become another poster child, albeit a 36-year-old one, for MLS? Wherever he ended up, it was a guarantee that he’d ignite a fan base, sell thousands of tickets and jerseys, and delight with his non-diminishing levels of skill.
It’s all done and dusted with Neymar penning an improved deal to keep him at Barcelona until 2021, but just imagine what could’ve been. According to Neymar’s agent, Wagner Ribeiro, the 24-year-old Brazilian captain came exceptionally close to joining either Manchester United or PSG over the summer.
Rumors have circulated the entire summer about James Rodriguez and his possible future away from the Spanish capital. To date, both Zinedine Zidane and Rodriguez's agent, Jorge Mendes (and even the player himself), have said that James Rodriguez will be staying at Real Madrid. However, that has never stopped any transfer deals from happening, especially last-minute ones. At this point, our opinion is that he will stay at Real Madrid for three reasons:
We interrupt your reading of Christian Pulisic transfer rumors to bring you another Christian Pulisic transfer rumor.
This one brought to you courtesy of Liverpool, who are coached by former Borussia Dortmund manager (who was manager when Dortmund signed Pulisic) Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool have made an £11m offer for Christian Pulisic, Borussia Dortmund's 17-year-old winger.
Take this with a grain of salt, no, take this with a mountain made of salt: Stoke City have reportedly offered Borussia Dortmund $22 million for 17-year-old American midfielder Christian Pulisic.
For many, Bastian Schweinsteiger will always be synonymous with the new German side that dazzled at the 2006 World Cup with childlike enthusiasm. The 21-year-old's performance, along with the likes of Philipp Lahm and Lukas Podolski, foreshadowed a period of German brilliance that would reach its zenith at the 2014 World Cup.