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☆ Lionel Messi and MLS club Inter Miami are discussing possible signing, per reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( David Close | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi is in discussions to join Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami, according to reports by the BBC and The Athletic. There has been speculation around Messi’s next move since he announced his departure from French side Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). CNN has reached out to Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Messi’s representative and David Beckham – who is part of Inter Miami’s ownership team – but had not received a reply by the time of publication. There had been previous speculation Messi would move to Saudi Arabia, where he has business ties. Before his two-season stint with PSG, Messi spent 17 trophy-laden years at FC Barcelona.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Messi’s, Germain, Guillem Balague, David Beckham –, Messi, Jorge Messi Organizations: CNN, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, BBC, The, Paris Saint, PSG, Sunday, Inter, FC Barcelona, Argentina Locations: Saudi Arabian, Al, Hilal, Saudi Arabia, Barcelona

DUBAI, June 5 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund will take control of four of the kingdom's top soccer clubs including Al-Nassr, which Cristiano Ronaldo plays for, as the government revives a plan to privatise several state-owned sports clubs. All are in the top-flight Saudi Professional League, except Al-Ahli which is in the second-tier Saudi First Division. The privatisation plan, mainly focused on soccer clubs and launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, allows companies and development agencies to invest in and take over clubs, SPA reported earlier on Monday. The kingdom aims for the revenue of the Saudi Professional League to increase to 1.8 billion riyals ($480 million) annually by 2030 from 450 million riyals. Saudi oil giant Aramco will own Saudi First Division club Al-Qadsiah, Third Division side Alula FC will be owned by the Royal Commission for Al-Ula while First Division club al-Diraiyah FC will be controlled by Diriyah Gate Development Authority.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, PIF, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ula, Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Lionel Messi, Jana Choukeir, Yousef Saba, Sriraj Kalluvila, Emelia Organizations: Al, Public Investment Fund, Twitter, Saudi Professional League, Saudi, Division, Saudi Crown, Second Division, NEOM, Saudi First Division, Alula FC, Royal Commission, First Division, Diraiyah FC, Diriyah, Development Authority, Investment, Premier League, Newcastle United, Reuters, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Saudi, al, Ittihad, Al, Ahli, Hilal, Saudi Arabia, Portuguese, Argentina

☆ Argentina's Messi keen on rejoining Barcelona, says father
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 5 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi, who last week played his last game for Paris St Germain, is open to making a return to LaLiga side Barcelona, the Argentine forward's father said on Monday. Barca were forced to let their talisman leave in 2021 because his high wages coupled with strict LaLiga financial rules could have jeopardised the club's future. We are confident that Leo can come back," Messi's father Jorge said in an interview with Twitch channel Jijantes FC. The United States' Major League Soccer club Inter Miami have also been touted as a possible destination for Messi. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Paris St Germain, Barca, Messi, Ronald Araujo, Gavi, Joan Laporta, Leo, Messi's, Jorge, Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Aadi Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Paris St, PSG, Barca, Jijantes FC, Messi, Ligue, French, Reuters, Al, Real Madrid, United, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Argentine, Nou, Argentina, Qatar, Saudi Arabian, Hilal, Saudi Arabia, United States, Nashik, India

Playing in a Champions League is the pinnacle for any player in club soccer and when asked what this moment would mean to his grandfather, Lukaku is almost unable to answer. He was my biggest fan.”As a child growing up in Belgium, Lukaku missed 10 years of watching the Champions League. “I couldn’t watch (the Champions League final), but now, by the grace of God, I can play one,” he adds. Manchester City has swept all before it in a light blue wave this season and sits on the cusp of a ‘treble,’ fresh from winning the Premier League title and the FA Cup. “Man City is a well-drilled team…Guardiola is such a good coach because every game is a different game plan,” Lukaku observes.

Persons: “, ” Lukaku, Darren Lewis, ”, Lukaku, …, Erling Haaland, Lexy Ilsley, Messi, Ronaldo, … Guardiola, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Belgian, Anderlecht, Chelsea, Serie, Inter Milan, Champions League, League, ’, FC Milan, Coppa Italia, ” Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Porto, Benfica, AC Milan, Manchester City, Premier League, FA Locations: Belgium, Barcelona, Manchester

☆ NWSL's new Bay FC hope to ride World Cup wave of excitement
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Nathan Frandino | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAN FRANCISCO, June 3 (Reuters) - The founders behind the new National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) expansion team in California's San Francisco Bay Area believe this year's Women's World Cup will only add to their momentum as they kick off their inaugural season next year. Some of us are going to be calling the World Cup, so to see Bay FC involved in the World Cup and vice versa, it's only going to help build the momentum." Chastain's role at the World Cup is among the most iconic for the U.S. She scored the deciding penalty in 1999, sealing the win against China at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena. Chastain said that holding onto the World Cup excitement this year and bringing it to their games next year will be about making fans feel valued as part of the team. Roughly a third of the U.S.-based league's players are expected to feature, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said this week.

Persons: Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, Aly Wagner, Osborne, it's, Chastain, " Chastain, Jessica Berman, Sheryl Sandberg, Tom Bernthal, Rory Carroll, Daniel Wallis Organizations: FRANCISCO, National Women's Soccer League, California's San Francisco Bay Area, FC, U.S, China, Rose, Energy, Thomson Locations: California's San Francisco Bay, U.S, San Francisco, Pasadena, Australia, New Zealand, Los Angeles

☆ Phil Neville: David Beckham's Inter Miami 'part ways' with head coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Former Manchester United and England star Phil Neville has been sacked as head coach at David Beckham’s Inter Miami, the team announced on Thursday. Beckham, 48, is one of the co-owners of Inter Miami, alongside brothers Jorge and Jose Mas. “He and his family embraced Miami and he has devoted himself to the drive to bring success to the city and to our fans. “Phil has made a real contribution to the culture of our club with his qualities as a leader and knowledge as a coach. He guided Inter Miami to the MLS Cup playoffs in 2022 and, according to the club, he has helped progress several youth academy prospects’ careers.

Persons: Phil Neville, David Beckham’s, Neville, Beckham, Alex Ferguson, Jorge, Jose Mas, Phil, ” Beckham, “ Phil, Jim Rassol, Reuters “, ” Neville, “ I’m, ”, Jason Kreis, Javier Morales Organizations: CNN, Former Manchester United, David Beckham’s Inter Miami, United, English Premier League, Inter Miami, ” Inter Miami, New York Red Bulls, MLS, Eastern Conference, Miami, England women’s, Inter, FC Dallas, Reuters, Inter Miami CF, Club Locations: England, Beckham, Miami, New

☆ Steven Berghuis: Ajax midfielder sorry for lashing out at fan
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Steven Berghuis has apologized after he appeared to strike a fan following their 3-1 loss at FC Twente on Sunday that ended their dire season on a low note. In a video circulating on social media, Berghuis is seen lashing out at what appears to be a Twente supporter in front of the Ajax team bus before an official intervened. “I regret my actions, I should not have done this,” the 31-year-old Berghuis said in a statement. Ajax finished the current campaign in third place in the Eredivisie, outside the two Champions League qualification spots for the first time since 2009. Ajax qualified for the Europa League playoff round.

☆ Bayern win Bundesliga with last-gasp goal in dramatic season finale
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Bayern finished on 71 points, ahead on goal difference from Dortmund. RB Leipzig and sensational Union Berlin are third and fourth respectively and will also compete in the Champions League next season. "It is unbelievable that I experience such a title race," said Bayern's Thomas Mueller, who celebrated a league-record 12th Bundesliga title. While the title win rescues some silverware in what has been a frustrating season for Bayern, the club sacked CEO Oliver Kahn, who was not in Cologne, and sports director Hasan Salihamdizic minutes after the title win. Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bundesliga set for thrilling final day title decider
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

In fact, the last season Bayern didn’t win the championship was the 2011/12 campaign, when now Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp guided Borussia Dortmund to the title. That leaves soccer fans looking to the Bundesliga for a dose of end-of-season drama with the championship set to be decided on the final day of the season. “We stopped moving, stopped helping, stopped showing courage.”Perhaps, Bayern had become complacent, suffering the shock loss despite taking a 25th-minute lead through Serge Gnabry. Former Chelsea and Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel took over at Bayern in March. Bayern travels to 10th-placed FC Köln on the final matchday hoping for a win and a surprise Dortmund slip up in what is set to be a tense final day.

CNN —At first glance, the idea of a former NFL legend and a former US Women’s National Team star wanting to bring “global eyeballs” to an English soccer club might seem an unusual ambition. Its inhabitants have also been hit particularly hard by the UK’s cost of living crisis, which hasn’t been lost on JJ Watt and his wife, Kealia. “Burnley is a special club. “All I want to do is help tell their story. “The success of the football club this year has given such a boost to Burnley and the surrounding area.

CNN —French soccer team Toulouse did not select several players for its Ligue 1 game against Nantes on Sunday after they refused to participate in a league wide anti-homophobia campaign. “Although respecting the individual choices of its players, and after numerous exchanges, the Toulouse Football Club has chosen to exclude these players from the game,” the Ligue 1 club added. It extends to others, but it also encompasses respect for my own personal beliefs. This respect extends to others but also includes respect for my personal beliefs. “Given my roots, my culture, the importance of my convictions and beliefs, it was not possible for me to participate in this campaign.

☆ FC Groningen vs Ajax suspended due to fans throwing fireworks onto the pitch
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A Dutch soccer match between FC Groningen and Ajax was called off on Sunday because fans twice threw fireworks onto the pitch. “FC Groningen - Ajax has been suspended after 10 minutes of playing due to multiple incidents in which fireworks were thrown onto the pitch,” the Amsterdam-based club Ajax said in a statement. “But as always: thank you fans for your unconditional support!”According to FC Groningen, its home fixture between the two clubs in the Eredivisie – the Netherlands’ top-flight league – was first stopped six minutes into the match. After the players returned to the pitch 15 minutes later, referee Jeroen Manschot was forced to stop the game a second and final time when more fireworks were thrown, the club said. Sunday’s suspension marks the fourth Dutch top-flight league match to be temporarily paused since Friday due to objects being thrown onto the pitch.

☆ FC Barcelona: How Xavi's defensive revolution brought La Liga title back to Catalunya
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Such has been the Blaugrana’s dominance this season, Xavi’s side clinched the trophy with four games still remaining and his iteration will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest defensive teams in La Liga history. With only 13 goals conceded so far this season, Xavi’s Barcelona is set to obliterate that record. “Not only for me, but for the club and for all Barcelona fans it’s very important to win La Liga,” Barça striker Robert Lewandowski told CNN Sport ahead of the match against Espanyol. I think the first round [of fixtures] was very important, we proved that we can think about winning La Liga. Barcelona fans celebrate Sunday's La Liga success -- the club's first league title since the 2018-19 season.

☆ JJ Watt does pub crawl ‘research’ after investing in Premier League-bound Burnley
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Just getting to know the supporters, I want to earn their trust by showing them how much we care and how passionate we are. “It’s research, I’m doing research – and lots of pints of Guinness along the way. The Royal Dyche took to Twitter to mark Watt’s visit, sharing an image of him behind the bar on Monday. Lovely gent, such a great reception in the pub from all us Claret fans,” the pub added. Kompany is best known for his exploits as the captain of Manchester City, with whom he won four Premier League titles.

☆ Busquets to leave Barcelona at end of season
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Getafe - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - January 22, 2023 FC Barcelona's Sergio Busquets holds the Spanish Super Cup trophy aloft before the match... Read moreMay 10 (Reuters) - Barcelona defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets will leave the club at the end of this season after spending 18 years with the Catalan outfit, the team said on Wednesday. Busquets, 34, began his youth career at Barcelona in 2005 before making his first-team debut in 2008. He helped Barcelona win eight LaLiga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, three Champions League trophies and three Club World Cups. He could add another league title to his achievements this season, with Barcelona leading the points table by 13 points with five games remaining. A report on Spanish TV show El Chiringuito de Jugones said that Busquets has accepted an offer by Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal along with Lionel Messi.

☆ Cardiff to sue Nantes for damages over transfer after Sala's death
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Stephane MaheMay 9 (Reuters) - Cardiff City are preparing to take further legal action against Nantes after the Swiss Federal Tribunal decided the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) had no jurisdiction to deal with the their claim for damages over Emiliano Sala's transfer, the club said on Tuesday. Cardiff were told by FIFA to pay the first instalment of the transfer fee agreed before Sala's death, which amounted to six million euros ($6.60 million), and they were placed under a transfer embargo in December after failing to pay the amount. After Cardiff's appeal at the CAS failed, they paid the amount after which FIFA lifted the embargo but the Welsh club then went to the Swiss Federal Tribunal. "The Swiss Federal Tribunal has decided that the Court of Arbitration in Sport doesn't have jurisdiction to deal with Cardiff City's claim for damages against FC Nantes," the Welsh club said in a statement. "This will be to recover what the club paid for Emiliano and additional damages for further consequential losses."

☆ I would give up my pension for an Inter win, says 100-year-old fan ready for Milan derby
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Claudia Greco | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Claudia GrecoPADUA, Italy, May 9 (Reuters) - Passionate Inter Milan fan Enrico Vanzini went to the club's San Siro stadium to watch his team play for the first time in 2022. "I prayed to God to give me the joy of Inter winning, and hopefully He will agree," he said, wearing an Inter t-shirt with his name inscribed on the back. "I would do anything (for a win), including (giving up) my small pension." Vanzini, who received his Inter t-shirt from the club to mark his 100th birthday, began testifying about his experiences of the Holocaust in the early 2000s. But he has a suggestion to help the team defeat Milan and reach the first Champions League final since 2010.

☆ Wrexham to play in seven-on-seven tournament in North Carolina
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 5 (Reuters) - Wrexham, the newly-promoted Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, will compete in a seven-on-seven tournament in early June in Cary, North Carolina. The 32-team event from June 1-4 called The Soccer Tournament will consist of a group stage and knockout rounds capped by a winner-takes-all $1 million championship game. They will begin the group stage of The Soccer Tournament on June 1 against Italian Serie B club Como 1907, whose ownership group includes soccer greats Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas. Earlier this week, it was announced that Wrexham will play a July 22 friendly in California against Major League Soccer reserve team LA Galaxy II. Two other U.S. fixtures had already been set, with Wrexham facing Chelsea in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Manchester United in San Diego, California, on July 19 and 25 respectively.

☆ Ronaldo's Saudi title hopes revived after leaders lose
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Saudi Arabia's Founding Day wearing local traditional clothes at Al-Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 22, 2023. Al-Nassr FC/Handout via REUTERSMay 4 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo's hopes of winning the Saudi league title with Al-Nassr were given a shot in the arm on Wednesday when leaders Ittihad lost 2-1 to Al-Taawoun. Ittihad are still in the driver's seat on 59 points, three ahead of Al Nassr, with five games left to play. Ronaldo, who has scored 12 league goals since joining Al-Nassr in January, posted a photo on Twitter with Al-Nassr's motto "ANA AALAMY" in Arabic in the early hours on Thursday. reporting by Ahmed El Khashab, writing by Shady Amir; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The trans soccer team that’s making history
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Hannah Ryan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

On the rainy evening of March 31, 2023, he captained what he says is the first ever all trans masculine soccer team in Europe in a match. “I was quite nervous before the match,” Webber told CNN. They now also aim to make soccer a more inclusive sport and connect the trans community. “After the all trans feminine team played their game and once I’d played with the all-gender team, she took me aside and said she’d been thinking about what we could do next and asked if I’d be interested in captaining an all trans masc team,” Webber said. “One day, there’ll be hundreds of trans people playing football all over the country at all levels.”

☆ Tragedy chanting: ‘Vile’ soccer songs about deaths fueled by ‘need to hurt’ opposing fans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Described as “vile” and “unacceptable” and fueled by “the need to hurt,” ‘tragedy chanting’ is becoming an increasing concern to soccer authorities. Then, in 1989, overcrowding in the stands ahead of the FA Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans. Nottingham Forest fans hold up a banner in memory of the 97 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. The working group has also been in contact with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to discuss whether convictions can be pursued for fans that engage in tragedy chanting. Heysel Stadium Disaster, May 1985.

☆ JJ Watt and Kealia Watt invest in Premier League-bound Burnley FC
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —After retiring from professional football in the NFL earlier this year, JJ Watt is turning his hand to soccer as he and his wife Kealia announced their investment in English club Burnley FC on Monday. In a statement released by the club, JJ Watt said: “When you invest in a club that’s been around since 1882, you must have great respect for its history and tradition. Kompany is best known for his exploits as the captain of Manchester City, with whom he won four Premier League titles. Manager Vincent Kompany has guided Burnley back to the Premier League. Burnley’s chairman Alan Pace said of the Watts’ investment: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome JJ and Kealia into the Clarets family.

☆ Wolfsburg sinks Arsenal with late goal in front of record crowd for a women's club game in England
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Wolfsburg earned a spot in the Women’s Champions League final with a 3-2 victory against Arsenal in front of a record English domestic crowd thanks to Pauline Bremer’s goal in the final minutes of extra time. Playing in front of 60,063 fans at the Emirates Stadium – a record crowd for a domestic women’s game in England – Arsenal was without several key players through injury and battled bravely against the two-time European champion. I’m super happy to be in the final.”Wolfsburg will now face Barcelona in the Dutch city of Eindhoven on June 3 after the Spanish side defeated Chelsea in the other Champions League semifinal. Adam Davy/APThe sellout crowd at the Emirates, however, did see Arsenal make one piece of history on Monday, passing last year’s FA Cup for the biggest crowd in women’s domestic football. The world record for a women’s game is 91,648 at the Camp Nou in Barcelona for last year’s Champions League semifinal between Barça and Wolfsburg.

☆ J.J. Watt invests in English soccer club Burnley
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Feb 9, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, US; Former football player J.J. Watt poses for a photo on the red carpet before the NFL Honors award show at Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsMay 1 (Reuters) - Former NFL player J.J. Watt and his wife, former U.S. international soccer player Kealia Watt, announced on Monday that they are investing in the English soccer club Burnley FC. Watt, three-times Defensive Player of the Year in the National Football League, announced his retirement in December. Kealia Watt formerly played for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League and is currently a free agent. Burnley are owned by Burnley FC Holdings Limited, with Calder Vale Holdings holding 83.97% of the company and individual shareholders holding the remaining shares.

☆ Real Madrid's Modric a doubt for Copa del Rey final
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Semi Final - Second Leg - FC Barcelona v Real Madrid - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - April 5, 2023 Real Madrid's Luka Modric during the match REUTERS/Albert GeaApril 28 (Reuters) - Real Madrid's Luka Modric has suffered a thigh injury, and the veteran midfielder could be a doubt for their Copa del Rey final against Osasuna on May 6, manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday. Modric, 37, played a little over an hour in Real's 4-2 defeat by Girona over the weekend before he was substituted. Real will be looking to win the Copa del Rey for the 20th time. "It's pending evolution and we don't know if he will be fit for the Copa match. They currently sit second in LaLiga, 11 points behind leaders Barcelona after 31 games and two points ahead of Atletico Madrid.

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