Supporters of Celtic hardly needed another reason to love James McClean.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder, and Derry native, has made no secret of his lifelong love for the Hoops and his desire to one day play for Brendan Rodgers at the club of his boyhood heroes.
With Serie A coming to a close this past weekend, the name on everyone’s lips was that of Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon. Buffon played his last match for Juve on Saturday and is set join a new club this offseason. The latest speculation has him linked with a switch to Paris Saint-Germain, although it was not too long ago that another Italian keeper named Gianluigi was being linked with a move to Paris.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Italian shot-stopper Gianluigi Buffon confirmed that Saturday’s match between Juventus and Hellas Verona will serve as his final appearance for the club.
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez has had an interesting career so far and it could indeed come full circle this summer if a mooted move back to Mexico is completed by Chivas Guadalajara this offseason.
But how exactly did we get here? Wasn’t it only a few years ago Chicharito was terrorizing defenses with Wayne Rooney, scoring important goals and winning Premier League titles? He even scored some important goals during a loan stint shortly after for Real Madrid, netting the decider in a Champions League quarterfinal versus Atletico Madrid.
Another summer transfer season approaches. It’s another opportunity, yet again, for Antoine Griezmann to be linked with a move away from Atletico Madrid. Although, it seems Atletico won’t let Griezmann go without a fight.
D.C. United is desperate. Ben Olsen’s club is in dreadful need of a striker and the owners want a big-name star to draw the masses to Audi Field when it opens in July. And that is exactly why a newly reported Wayne Rooney D.C. United transfer rumor is so gosh darn juicy.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, the Chicago Fire are currently in Madrid to hold talks with Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres, who’ll be out of a contract following the completion of the LaLiga season (which ends on May 20).
Another Real Madrid game yesterday, another game Gareth Bale started on the bench.
But this wasn’t just another game; this was the second leg of the Champions League semifinals. For Real Madrid, this was the most important game of the season. It’s the only trophy they still have a chance to win. The fact Gareth Bale started this game on the bench and didn’t even play at all in the first leg is telling. It’s telling no matter what Zinedine Zidane tells you.
Aside from the more technical aspects of U.S. youth soccer development, there’s a very real and very obvious significance in having players worthy of serving as inspirations to young Americans in MLS. While Lionel Messi and Neymar will always be accessible via YouTube highlights, there’s something much more tangible and effective with regards to seeing an otherworldly talent live.