Today marks the beginning of the MLS offseason player movement calendar.
The action will start with a 55-hour window starting at 1 pm ET today in which teams may sign and trade players.
Other important dates include the MLS Expansion Draft on Nov. 19, which you will be able to watch on MLSsoccer.com and the MLS mobile app,
Also, the deadline for clubs to exercise options that are contained in some players’ contracts is on November 21.
For players who qualify, the opening of free agency is on November 25.
You can read more about the rules and procedures surrounding the various drafts, the criteria for qualification and the processes for player movement at the Russo Law and Soccer website. Links are below:
Trade Window Opens Following a 10-week roster freeze, MLS clubs may sign and trade players.
Nov. 13 8:00 PM ET
Trade Window Closes and Blackout Period Begins Blackout Period begins whereby clubs may no longer sign and/or trade players until conclusion of 2019 Expansion Draft.
Nov. 14
Club Deadline to submit Bona Fide Offers MLS clubs notify the League Office in writing of players who have been extended a bona fide offer.
Nov. 19 5:00 PM ET
2019 MLS Expansion Draft Watch live in the MLS app or on MLSsoccer.com. Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC may select up to five players each from the eligible player list. The list of players eligible for selection in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft will be released on Nov. 16 at 10:00 AM ET:
Club Deadline to Exercise Options MLS clubs notify the League Office in writing of players whose options they are exercising.
Nov. 25 3:00 PM ET
End-of-Year Waivers The End-of-Year Waivers process is conducted in reverse order of 2019 season finish, taking into account postseason performance. Per the Expansion Priority Draft, Nashville SC will have the 25th pick and Inter Miami CF will have the final selection in each round.
Eligible for selection are players who do not meet the minimum requirements for Re-Entry Process or Free Agency. The list of players eligible for the End-of-Year Waivers will be released on Nov. 22: End-Of-Year Waivers Rules And Procedures
Nov. 25 3:00 PM ET
Free Agency Opens Clubs may engage with players, other than their own, that are eligible for Free Agency. Free Agency eligible players are out-of-contract and option-declined players who are at least 28 years old and who have completed a minimum of eight service years. The complete list of Free Agents will be released on Nov. 22.
Nov. 26 3:00 PM ET
2019 MLS Re-Entry Process – Stage 1 The Re-Entry Process, Stage 2 is conducted in the same format as Stage 1 and consists of MLS players who were not selected in the Stage 1. Not all unselected Stage 1 players will be available for selection as players may re-sign with their previous club between stages or may opt out of the process.
The list of players eligible for selection in the Re-Entry Process – Stage 1 will be released on Nov. 22: Re-Entry Draft Rules And Procedures
Dec. 3 3:00 PM ET
2019 MLS Re-Entry Process – Stage 2 The Re-Entry Process is conducted in reverse order of 2019 season finish, taking into account postseason performance. Per the Expansion Priority Draft, Nashville SC will have the 25th pick and Inter Miami CF will have the final selection in each round.
The list of players eligible for selection in the Re-Entry Process – Stage 2 will be released on Nov. 3 at 10:00 AM ET: Re-Entry Draft Rules And Procedures
Por primera vez, las cámaras de televisión han tenido acceso al día a día de jugadores como Leo Messi, Gerard Piqué, Marc-André ter Stegen o Luis Suárez.
Miami, Fla. (October 30, 2019) —
Fútbol Club Barcelona will be releasing its own in-house documentary that will take viewers behind the scenes.
This follows other clubs who have produced documentaries, such as Netflix’ work with Juventus and Amazon’s work with Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Leeds United.
The Blaugrana version will be an eight-episode documentary each consisting of 45 minutes that focus around eight key games from the 2018-19 season. The exclusive content features dressing room footage, the players’ reactions to last season’s shocking defeat to Liverpool, interviews, and a glimpse into the players’ home lives. Actor John Malkovich provides the narration.
The documentary will be available via Barça sponsor Rakuten and their distribution partners in Europe from November onwards. It will be available in North America although the distribution partner has not been announced.
It is definitely a not-to-be-missed series.
Here is the trailer for the project:
Russo Law and Soccer Briefs offers a quick glance at what’s new on the commercial side of football.
European Champions Liverpool Football Club are set to sign a new kit supplier agreement with Nike that is reported to be worth £75 million (€84.8 $93.2).
This would match Manchester United’s 10-year deal with adidas and place the Reds among the top 5 clubs in the category of kit supplier deals. FC Barcelona currently has the largest kit supplier agreement at €113.5m with Nike.
This after the London Commercial Court dismissed New Balance’s complaint for breach of contract in a dispute that centred over “matching rights” contained in the kit supplier agreement between New Balance and Liverpool which expires at the end of this season.
Nike will be new kit supplier beginning with the 2020/21 season.
Liverpool join Chelsea and Tottenham as top tier EPL clubs with Nike kits
MIAMI, Fla. (October 28, 2019) —
Liverpool FC have won a legal battle with Boston (MA)-based New Balance in the London Commercial Court and are now free to sign a new deal with Nike.
Pending an appeal by New Balance, it brings to an end the ongoing dispute surrounding which apparel provider would outfit the Premier League side’s kit from the 2020/21 season, which has been unclear since the start of the year.
Liverpool home shirt | Photo: Liverpool FC
Liverpool had made clear their intentions to switch to Nike once their partnership with New Balance, which dates back to the 2015/16 season, expired and had held extensive talks with the brand. The club rejected New Balance’s offer of a matching clause proposed for the existing contract over the summer.
New Balance took the European Champions to court over their alleged refusal to honour a £45m-a-year deal (€50.9, $55.9 million), which expires in May 2020. They alleged that under the terms, the footwear firm is entitled to renew its sponsorship if it matches any competitor’s offer, and that Liverpool had breached the contract by not renewing the contract.
New Balance World Headquarters in Boston, MA
Opening the firm’s case last week, Daniel Oudkerk QC said the key issue was whether New Balance had matched “the material, measurable and matchable terms of a third-party offer.”
Liverpool countered that New Balance had not matched Nike’s offer, which includes a commitment to sell licensed products in at least “6,000 stores worldwide, 500 of which shall be Nike-owned”. Guy Morpuss QC, the lawyer representing the Premier League club, set out to show New Balance’s claim it could distribute the club’s kit to 40,000 stores was “a myth”, and that the company had “grossly overstated” the number of stores to which it could distribute. Moreover, Liverpool argued that Nike could deliver far greater total revenue than New Balance could, reflected by Nike reportedly agreeing to pay the Reds a 20 percent royalty on net sales of Liverpool products.
Nike reportedly agreed to pay the club UK£30 million (US$36 million) per year, compared to the UK£45 million (US$58 million) New Balance currently pays. However, it would also promote the team through other high-profile athletes and influencers, including tennis legend Serena Williams, basketball star LeBron James and the musician Drake. Nike would also distribute the new kit through an estimated 6,000 global stores, compared to New Balance’s 3,000.
Chris Davis, New Balance vice-president of global marketing and sports marketing, and Kenny McCallum, New Balance general manager of global football, were both cross-examined extensively during Friday’s proceedings.
Davis’ testimony Testifying in court basically admitted that the company had made “errors” on the number of retail outlets initially planned.
Liverpool’s legal team argued that this was evidence New Balance was unable to match the terms offered by Nike. New Balance would have to double their number of stores, especially in the Far East, where their actual outlets were much lower than planned. Other evidence presented by the club’s barristers was the fact that a large number of New Balance stores sold only the company’s footwear and not replica kits.
Giving his ruling in London, Mr. Justice Teare of the High Court ruled in Liverpool’s favour, finding that “the New Balance offer on marketing was less favourable to Liverpool FC than the Nike offer.” A full written statement from the judge will follow but he told the court: “For the reasons given in the judgment handed down, the claim from New Balance is dismissed.”
In his ruling, Mr Justice Teare said: “Liverpool FC is not obliged to enter into a new agreement with New Balance.”
The court also heard that Liverpool spent more than £555,000 on the case, with 20% to be paid by New Balance.
Liverpool will now move ahead to finalise a five-year deal they have agreed to in principle with Nike, who have apparently already spent nearly UK£6 million (US$7.7 million) on kit design. Liverpool and Nike have worked together for the past two months. [The Reds claim Nike’s offer to them, which they apparently had accepted in principle in August, amounted to a legally binding obligation to contract with Nike.] The two sides have already agreed on designs for the replica kits and training kits for the 2020-21 campaign, while Nike have reserved factory space to manufacture 2.9 million units over the course of next season and have already invested more than $5.8 million in fabric.
While the possibility of an appeal of the court’s dismissal is possible, the relationship between New Balance and Liverpool is irretrievably damaged, and even if New Balance won on appeal, forcing Liverpool to work with them for another five years is not going to happen. The only question would be damages owed by Liverpool for breach of contract. A New Balance spokeswoman said the firm was disappointed, adding: “We believe strongly that we matched the competing offer and would have delivered many more years of record-breaking kit sales.”
Jordan Henderson and Mo Salah celebrate in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham at Anfield on Sat. Oct 26, 2019.
The last day of the MLS season is upon us. It’s called “Decision Day.” For most fans of soccer around the world, that means a final chance for some clubs to survive relegation, or for a club to seal the championship. For MLS, which follows the model of North American sports leagues, the final round of the season is a chance for some clubs to secure a place in the postseason tournament, known as MLS Cup.
For this season, MLS made some changes which definitely gives more emphasis to the regular season and rewards teams for better performances. The post season was revised to a single elimination format which involves single games at the home of the higher seed, rather than two legs that flattened the odds. This means teams are vying to finish high enough in the table to secure a very important home matches in MLS Cup.
All games kickoff Sunday, October 6 at 4 p.m. EDT.
Fixtures For Round 34
What’s at Stake? Here are the main 2019 MLS Decision Day Storylines:
In the Eastern Conference, three teams – D.C. United (4th place / 49 points), New York Red Bulls (5th / 48 points) and Toronto FC (6th / 47 points) – will be playing for the final spot available to host a playoff game.
In the Western Conference, four teams – Portland Timbers (46 points), FC Dallas (45 points), San Jose Earthquakes (44) and Colorado Rapids (42 points) – are competing for two playoff spots.
The Seattle Sounders FC and Minnesota United are tied for second in the table on 53 points. They play each other in Seattle at CenturyLink Field; the winner secures the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference.
The Los Angeles Galaxy can assure themselves of having a home game in the playoffs with a win over Houston. Last year, Houston’s win at Carson cost the Galaxy a spot in the playoffs. Zlatan and company are hoping to set the record straight this time.
Chasing the Golden Boot Award: LAFC’s Carlos Vela is tied for MLS’s most goals in a season record, set last year by Atlanta’s Josef Martínez, at 31 goals. If Vela scores Sunday, he gets the record. Currently at 29 goals for the season, LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic is chasing Vela for 2019 top scorer and the record.
Eastern Conference: Should Teams Watch out for the Revolution?
With the Eastern Conference qualifiers already set in stone, Atlanta versus New England looks to be the most interesting match of Round 34 on this side of the league.
Atlanta can lock up the number 2 seed in the East with a win against New England combined with a Philadelphia loss or draw.
Ironically, despite winning a lot of matches in their three-year history, the Five Stripes still have not won on decision day. In 2017, Atlanta drew 2-2 with Toronto FC at home. The following season, they were crushed 4-1 at BMO Field. On Sunday they’ll face a dangerous New England Revolution side that come into Mercedes-Benz Stadium on a high.
New England has been looking like a time on the rise under Bruce Arena, riding some serious momentum. New England clinched the seventh and final playoff spot in the east with a 2-0 win over top-seed New York City FC, a team that recently defeated Atlanta United 4-1 in the Bronx.
Toronto FC currently sit sixth in the table, just one point behind the Red Bulls from New Jersey.
Atlanta United has not done well versus the Reds, while the team from New Jersey has won in Atlanta before. It’s reason enough for Atlanta to want to avoid playing either of these sides right away in the first round of the playoffs.
New England comes into Atlanta with nothing to lose. They are in the playoffs, something that looked impossible until Arena took the helm. The pressure sits squarely on Atlanta United. This is Arena’s first visit to Atlanta with the Revolution. The way he sets up New England today could tell us how he may approach a potential playoff rematch. Expect New England to stay compact and look for the counterattack. Columbus Crew used this trategy in Atlanta on September 14th and came away with a win. Frank de Boer’s team failed to find the necessary attacking solutions, and were subsequently punished in transition. How will De Boer adjust? It should be a study in tactics.
Western Conference: Can Los Angeles Football Club Finish With The Most Points In History?
LAFC has been the dominant team this season, with only a couple of blips on the radar. They will likely use the final game of the season to remain focused. As the top seed, after this game they will have a first-round bye that will give them two-and-a-half weeks’ rest. With a win, LAFC have a chance to finish with the most points in a single season. Will they do it?
Chasing History. 7⃣2⃣
A win tomorrow and #LAFC will secure the @MLS single-season points record.
The Rapids had been building up momentum for months. After starting the season 0-9-2, they rallied under interim coach Conor Casey toward something resembling respectability. Robin Fraser took over as the Colorado Rapid’s head coach in late August, with his only previous managerial gig having been with Club Deportivo Chivas USA.
“By the end of the first session, I thought that not only were they a good team, that they have a really good spirit, and a lot of belief in themselves,” Fraser said. “That’s when I felt like this could be a really fun project.”
Now, on the last round of the season the Rapids have a chance, though admittedly a slim one, of making the playoffs. Can they do it? To reiterate, despite having started the season winless through 11 games the Rapids are still alive heading into the final round.
If Colorado upsets LAFC — the best team in the league, already owning the Supporters’ Shield and with the top playoff seed already clinched — and Dallas loses to Kansas City and San Jose loses to Portland, the Rapids are in. Even if the ‘Quakes draw with the Timbers, Colorado can still qualify through tiebreakers if they win by two goals or more. This ‘perfect storm’ isn’t exactly likely. LAFC is the top team, Dallas is at home, and Kansas City is playing only for pride. But wouldn’t it be a great story of overcoming odds?
Colorado has been scoring goals. Kei Kamara and Diego Rubio are both in the double digits (13 and 11, respectively), while Andre Shinyashiki and Jonathan Lewis have come on stronger. Fraser wants to inject a possession style of play but joining so far into the season has made that difficult. Yet he’s optîistic.
“I really admire the character of the team. They care about each other, and I think you see that in how they play, adds Fraser.”
No matter what happens on Sunday, that’s something to build on and carry over. And if they can get into the playoffs they will definitely be a team to watch.
Which club, thePortland Timbers or San Jose Earthquakes, will stumble into the playoffs?
Their game at Providence Park in Portland is the only semi-do-or-die matchup on the schedule in Round 34. Despite going a combined 1-7-3 in September, at least one of them will drag themselves into the playoffs on Sunday afternoon. Portland has played its last three games to a draw. Portland can lose this game and still get into the postseason torunament if Dallas also loses. The Earthquakes, who need a win, won the first meeting between the teams, 3-0.
There is a sense that both teams might be approaching unhappy endings.
This could very well be Diego Valeri’s last game as a Timber. Negotiations over a new contract have not gone well, and the two sides have different demands. Valeri has been the face of the Timbers since his arrival in 2013. He’s gone above and beyond — not just on the pitch, but as an ambassador in the community as well. Yet neither side looks likely to budge at the moment. This might be it.
Moving past Valeri’s situation, the Timbers have had a strange and trying year, summed up by Brian Fernandez’s goal drought and red card that has him suspended for this all-important finale.
San Jose sits just below the playoff line on 44 points. But if you had offered them this position at the beginning of the season — win one, final game and you’re in — surely they would have taken it. The club has done much better under head coach Matías Almeyda in his first year with the team, who has imparted an exciting style of play.
San Jose has slumped late, however. They have lost eight out of 10 since early August. Either opponents have figured them out or Almeyda’s physically demanding high press has ground them down. There are also rumours out of Mexico that Club de Fútbol Monterey are looking for a new manager, and, you guessed it, his name is Matías Almeyda.
Almeyda is a bigger name that most people realise, having been successful in his native Argentina and leading Chivas Guadalajara to the CONCACAF Champions League title just last year Earlier this week, he admitted that links with Monterrey and a return to Liga MX made him “happy.” How quickly the sand can shift in the world of soccer.
Is Seattle or Minnesota a real contender?
The victor of the Sounders-Loons game at CenturyLink Field in Seattle will lock up the No. 2 seed in the west, and home-field advantage all the way to the conference final. However, If Real Salt Lake wins in Vancouver and the LA Galaxy win in Houston, whichever side loses the match at CenturyLink Field would drop to fifth.
Seattle seems to feel rightly disappointed by this year’s performance: “I think anytime we don’t compete for the Supporters’ Shield, with the talent that we have, is a fail,” midfielder Cristian Roldan said this week.
“Maybe it’s more of a redemption-type game for us,” goalkeeper Stefan Frei said. “We’ve had so many opportunities to make a statement game, and we’ve squandered quite a few of them. … We’ve been very, very fortunate. Let’s be honest. I think our season has been not the best. It was nice to finally start on top, but the remainder of the year has been a struggle. At some point, we have to make that statement.”
Minnesota has qualified for the playoffs for the first time. Their highlight moment of the season was a 2-0 away win at LAFC, which is also LAFC’s only loss since El Tráfico on July 19th. Carlos Vela was absent that match. But with the MVP favourite reinstated last weekend at Allianz Field, Minnesota still ground out a 1-1 draw. The Loons formula against Los Angeles was to stay compact, give LAFC possession in less dangerous areas, and have a ruthless mentality on the counter.
The Loons are playing with confidence, no matter the opponent.
Who Will Win The Golden Boot?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is second in the goal-scoring race with 29 goals. In fron is Carlos Vela of LAFC, who has 31 goals, a mark which places him in a tie with Atlanta United Josef Martínez for the most goals in a single MLS season. Zlatan had this to say:
“I am trying to score goals every game, that is part of my responsibility, part of what I have to do to help my teammates,” I have 29 goals in 28 games. If I would have the same amount [of] games like the other ones, it would be different. But now I’m chasing someone that has more games than me. If we score we score, we’ll have to see what the end number will be. If there still is a possibility, we’ll try.”
Still, the LA Galaxy star insists the ultimate aim is to achieve team glory.
“I prefer the collective win, when we win that game, that is more important,” he said. “With the collective success the individual success comes with it. If I can do good for my team, with my team, I know I’m doing good. I’m not focusing on the individual bonuses, I always say it’s like a bonus. Without my teammates those things would not be possible. If I win, it’s my team that wins. Whoever wins the Golden Boot has to think it’s not because of him, it’s because of his teammates.”
Les Montréalais remporte la Coupe des Voyageurs et Qualifie Pour La Ligue Des Champions de la Concacaf.
Montreal Brings Home The Voyageurs Cup; Earns Spot In Concacaf Champions League. Note: English language content below.
TORONTO, Ont., Canada (September 26, 2019) —
Le Bleu-blanc-noir a mis la main sur la 10è coupe des Voyageurs de son histoire après une séance de tirs au but lors du match retour de la finale du Championnat canadien hier soir au BMO Field à Toronto.
« Ça fait beaucoup de temps que j’attends ça, de prendre un trophée dans mes mains. »
Ignacio Piatti
«Ça fait beaucoup de temps que j’attends ça, de prendre un trophée dans mes mains, s’est exclamé Ignacio Piatti en français, prenant le temps de remercier aussi l’ancien entraîneur de l’équipe et ses adjoints. Aujourd’hui, c’est magnifique d’avoir gagné. C’est une victoire d’équipe. »
Lors du match aller, au Stade Saputo de Montréal, l’Impact s’était forgé une avance de 1-0 au cumulatif des buts, grâce à une superbe frappe de Piatti.
La formation montréalaise était privée des services du milieu de terrain Saphir Taïder, qui a reçu une suspension d’un match en raison d’une accumulation de cartons jaunes.
Tsubasa Endoh a encaissé un but à la 70e minute pour les Reds. Malgré des opportunités les montréalais n’ont pas réussi à finir le match en temps régulier.
Aux tirs de but, Bojan Krkic, Daniel Lovitz et Rudy Camacho ont réussi à déjouer Alex Bono à trois reprises pour permettre à l’Impact de s’imposer 3-1.
Toronto avait dominé, mais le vent a tourné en faveur du Bleu-blanc-noir à la 84e minute, lorsque Chris Mavinga a écopé d’un carton rouge pour avoir fauché Lassi Lappalainen devant la demi-lune de la surface de réparation. Toronto évoluait à 10 joueurs.
Le onze montréalais a tenté de fermer les livres à la 90e minute. Une frappe de Piatti a toutefois percuté la barre horizontale, forçant la tenue d’une séance de tir de barrage.
😲😲😲
Piatti denied by the bar! That would have done it for @impactmontreal.
Grâce à cette victoire, le Bleu-blanc-noir participera à la 12e représentation de la Ligue des Champions de la CONCACAF, qui s’amorcera en février 2020.
« C’est une grosse victoire. Particulièrement cette année, avec plus d’équipes en lice, la compétition est plus sérieuse. Ça prouve que le soccer est en ascension ici. De pouvoir représenter Montréal, le Québec et le Canada évidemment, c’est spécial, c’est certain », a déclaré Samuel Piette.
« Ils ont mis les efforts nécessaires et ont fait ce qu’ils avaient à faire sur le terrain. Et ils le méritent, a déclaré l’entraîneur-chef de l’Impact, Wilmer Cabrera. Pour les partisans, pour la ville de Montréal et pour ce club. »
L’Impact tentait de mettre la main sur la coupe des Voyageurs pour une première fois depuis 2014, tandis que le Toronto F. C. visait un quatrième titre canadien consécutif.
C’était la dixième fois que Montréal remportait la Coupe des Voyageurs et la première depuis 2014. Avec cet victoire, L’Impact s’est qualifiée pour la Ligue des Champions de la Concacaf 2020 qui commencera en février 2020. Montréal rejoindra les équipes déjà qualifié au tournoi: UANL, Cruz Azul, Leon et Club America (Mexique), Portmore United (Jamaïque), et Atlanta United et Los Angeles Football Club (MLS).
Montreal Impact defeated Toronto Football Club 3-1 on penalty kicks at BMO Field last evening to win the 2019 Canadian Championship. Toronto’s 1-0 victory on the night meant that the two-game aggregate score was tied at 1-1. Per competition format, the match went straight to penalties.
Absent from the match was Impact midfielder Saphir Taider, who was out due to card accumulation.
The Impact posted a 1-0 win in the opener of the home-and-away series last week at the Stade Saputo thanks to a goal by Ignacio Piatti. He nearly gave Montreal the win late in the second half but his shot hit the crossbar (see video clip above).
Montreal would have surely taken the lead in the 65th minute but for a blatant handball that was missed by the match officials. Despite the protests of the Impact players, VAR is not part of the Canadian Championship competition rules.
😬 Missed call on this one…. @impactmontreal denied a handball in the box. @TorontoFC have luck on their side tonight…
Tsubasa Endoh scored Toronto’s goal in the 70th minute. The Reds Chris Mavinga was given a red card in the 85th minute for taking down Lassi Lappalainen just outside the box.
Montreal carried its late momentum into the penalty-kicks session, scoring on all three opportunities. Rudy Camacho, Bojan and Daniel Lovitz converted from the spot for Montreal. Alejandro Pozuelo scored on Toronto’s first attempt but Jozy Altidore hit the crossbar and Patrick Mullins had his shot saved by goalkeeper Clement Diop.
Jonathan Osorio hit the post with Toronto’s fourth attempt, sealing the result.
“We became stronger and our stronger and our confidence grew,” said Impact coach Wilmer Cabrera.
It was the tenth time that Montreal has won the Voyageurs Cup and its first domestic title since 2014.
The Impact thus earn a berth in the 2020 Concacaf Champions League with the victory. Montreal will join UANL, Cruz Azul, Leon and Club America from Mexico in the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League, which begins in February 2020. Other qualified teams include Jamaica’s Portmore United and MLS sides Atlanta United and Los Angeles Football Club.
After the match and the on field celebrations, the team went to the locker room, where a celebration with Montreal Impact President Kevin Gilmore broke out.
He is reportedly intrigued by the idea of becoming the marquee signing for Miami’s inaugural season.
MIAMI, Fla. (September 24, 2019) —
On more than one occasion, when questioned about what players he would like to see on the Inter Miami CF squad, David Beckham has mentioned that the number of star players who have contacted him to express interest in joining has been “remarkable.” I was in attendance on January 29, 2018 when David Beckham told the audience gathered at the Knight Center the same story. The media has seized on this and over the past two years has fed us a seemingly endless supply of transfer rumours. Enter the latest feature.
A few days ago, in a story written by Tony Evans and published in the British online publication The Independent, Inter Miami are reportedly set to sign their first superstar.
David Silva, Manchester City.
“Ésta será la última temporada. Diez años para mí es suficiente. Es el tiempo perfecto.”
David Silva
According to the report, David Silva will leave the Premier League defending champions Manchester City at the end of his present contract (expiring 30 June 2020) and will join Miami over the summer. Silva agreed to a year-long extension of his contract at the close of last season and said at the time it was likely to be his last season at the Etihad Stadium. He further insisted that he would never join another Premier League side and is reportedly intrigued by the idea of becoming the marquee signing for Miami’s inaugural season.
“This is the last [season]. Ten years is enough for me. It’s the perfect time,” the 33-year-old told the Daily Mail. “Initially, we were talking about two years, but I decided to sign another one, so I finished at 10 years.”
Silva, an attacking midfielder, is 33-years old, and is one of Europe’s most decorated players. He won a World Cup with Spain in 2010, two European Championships (2008 and 2012), four Premier League Titles, two FA Cups, and four League Cups with Manchester City, which he joined in 2010. Silva has twice been named to the Premier League Team of the Season.
Silva arrived in Manchester from Valencia CF in 2010. With the Citizens, Silva has 71 goals and 134 assists over 402 games. He also has had a long career as a member of Spain’s national team, with 123 appearances for Spain, scoring 35 goals and 32 assists.
Silva has 123 appearances for La Selección Española. Photo: Getty Images
Miami has signed five players thus far: Defender Christian Makoun, midfielders Matias Pellegrini, US youth international George Acosta, David Norman Jr. as well as forward Julian Carranza. Each of the current players on the roster is 19-years old. Silva would be 34 at the time he would arrive in South Florida.
The MLS season starts in March and if this rumour holds true, Silva would miss the first three months of Miami’s inaugural campaign. While a move here would likely be Silva’a last team before retiring, MLS has already evolved from being a league where players from Europe land before calling it a career. While some older players still come over, the difference today is that they are still playing the game at a high level. This is certainly true of Silva.
Earlier this month, Inter Miami Managing Owner Jorge Mas and co-owner David Beckham, as well as Sporting Director Paul McDonough were in Europe, making stops in Barcelona, Paris and London, igniting speculation on whether they were talking with potential transfer targets or head coaches.
Back in London.5 cities in 3 countries in 4 days.Great progress as 2020 approaches!! At Tottenham stadium now.State of the art facility taking back ideas for our stadium at #miamifreedompark . we will have best fan experience in MLS. pic.twitter.com/YknOWNM1FG
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have both been linked to Miami. While Inter Miami has the financial ability to sign pretty much any player they choose, a player like David Silva is perceived as a more realistic possibility. Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani has also been mentioned.
Speculation of a Miami move comes after the player has already spoken of his desire to return to the Canary Islands before retiring. Silva, who is from Arguineguín, Gran Canaria, had previously stated that he might want to return to play at the club where he played as a youth, Las Palmas.
“Me encantaría terminar mi carrera en Las Palmas, pero el fútbol es muy cambiante. Dependerá del equipo y de los jugadores que haya. No puedo volver para jugar en Segunda División”.
“I would love to end my career at Las Palmas, but football is very unpredictable,” he continued. “It will depend on the club and the players that are there. I can’t return to play in the Second Division.”
Silva has featured in each of City’s six Premier League games this season thus far. He’s been a member of the starting eleven and worn the captain’s armband five of those games. He has scored one goal and two assists. This past August 25th, David Silva made his 400th appearance in a Manchester City kit in the Sky Blues’ away trip to the South Coast against Bournemouth; he played all 90 minutes as the Mancunians came away with all three points in a 3-1 victory.
One thing that is for sure is that we should not expect to see #21 playing for another Premier League side or a Chinese club either. “The cycle is complete. It’s a round figure. I couldn’t see myself playing against City,” he said. “China, no. My girlfriend will decide for me!”
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Top 10 Assists by David Silva
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Destacados:
David Silva tiene decidido que ésta será su última temporada en el Manchester City. El canario, de 33 años, ha asegurado que es tiempo de cambiar de aires y no oculta su deseo de volver a Las Palmas.
“Ésta será la última. Diez años para mí es suficiente. Es el tiempo perfecto. Inicialmente estábamos negociando un nuevo contrato por dos temporadas, pero decidí firmar por uno y, de este modo, finalizar mi etapa aquí después de una década”, aseguró Silva, que llegó al City en 2010 procedente del Valencia.
El exinternacional español descartó, eso sí, seguir en la Premier:
“El ciclo está completo. Es una figura redonda. No me podría ver a mí mismo jugando contra el City. Diez años… está bien”.
Después de ganar cuatro Ligas, dos Copas, cuatro Copas de la Liga y dos Supercopas, Silva tiene claro cuál sería la despedida ideal: “Aún no hemos alcanzado el objetivo de ganar la Champions, pero firmaría que cada año fuera como el pasado (ganaron Liga, Copa, Copa de la Liga y Supercopa)”.
