MLS – CaughtOffside

Lionel Messi set for Barcelona return in one-off game as part of star-studded line up

Mark Brus — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 09:59:29 +0000

Barcelona legend Lionel Messi could reportedly returned to play for the club one final time in a one-off appearance for a Legends match against a World XI.

Messi, currently of MLS side Inter Miami, spent the bulk of his career at Barca before a surprise exit at the end of his contract in 2021, when he made the move to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.

According to a report from Football Transfers, Messi could now line up at the Nou Camp one more time in 2024, giving him the chance to say a proper goodbye to the club.

The report names other all-time greats who could feature in this match, with former Barcelona players like Rivaldo, David Villa and Cesc Fabregas possibly set to be involved, while others like Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gareth Bale could feature for the World XI.

Lionel Messi to return for Barcelona Legends game?

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to meet one last time in Saudi Arabia

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 22:02:23 +0000

It’s a match to get the whole of the football world watching, and when Lionel Messi faces Cristiano Ronaldo for what’s expected to be one last time in 2024, that’s almost guaranteed to happen.

The two best players in the world for the last 20 years, and in many people’s opinion two of the best ever, will meet in a ‘last dance’ at the Riyadh Season Cup.

The Last Dance
?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ? ????

???? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ??????… ?????

?? ??????? ????? ? Feb 2024

It's the last dance of football greatness! ?
Ronaldo vs Messi clash on the pitch.

Watch Inter Miami FC… pic.twitter.com/3aHtVGtFQI

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) November 21, 2023

Announced on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday evening, the match will form part of a tournament which will also include current Saudi Pro League leaders, Al Hilal.

The National note that the Messi v Ronaldo showdown will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh in early February.

There are other narratives that will be at play too.

More Stories / Latest News

Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal star with four appearances will start vs Brentford

Nov 24 2023, 11:56

West Ham open to selling 27-year-old ace for just £12m

Nov 24 2023, 11:53

Arsenal will prioritise a move for 25-year-old PL star in January

Nov 24 2023, 11:35

For example, Al Nassr can also count David Ospina, Aymeric Laporte, Alex Telles, Marcelo Brozovic and Sadio Mane in their ranks, whilst Inter Miami have Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba as part of their squad, and Luis Suarez set to join them in January.

Tickets are sure to be like gold dust and, though the match will clearly be billed as a friendly, one can imagine with the egos involved and the pride at stake, the game will be much more that for its participants and is therefore likely to be a must-watch.

The post Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to meet one last time in Saudi Arabia appeared first on CaughtOffside.

David Beckham hoping to secure another Man United legend for Inter Miami

Jason Pettigrove — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 11:11:23 +0000

It’s been quite the few months for David Beckham and Inter Miami.

After securing the high-profile signing of Lionel Messi despite the Argentinian World Cup winner having more lucrative offers elsewhere, the former Man United and Real Madrid legend also managed to get Messi’s former Barcelona colleagues, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to put pen to paper.

There are rumours from ESPN that another ex-Barca man, Luis Suarez, will join in the new year, though the roll call of big names may not stop there.

According to the Daily Star, another ex-Man United star might well be tempted to move across the pond and try his luck in MLS.

David De Gea

David de Gea is still without a club almost three months after the summer transfer window closed for business.

Whilst the exact reason for his unemployment remains a mystery, a reported £350,000 per week salary can’t have helped his situation.

Indeed, the Daily Star suggest that a potential move back to La Liga is likely to have stalled precisely because of the financial demands that it’s believed de Gea may place on any buying club.

Clearly, Inter Miami will have no such issues with being able to pay the going rate, with perhaps the only issue from de Gea’s point of view being whether he considers MLS a drop down at this stage of his career.

The post David Beckham hoping to secure another Man United legend for Inter Miami appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Video: Steven Gerrard at centre of GOAT row as he names Cristiano Ronaldo as the best ever

Jason Pettigrove — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 09:30:43 +0000

It’s only taken a couple of months and the millions that Steven Gerrard is making in Saudi Arabia for him to be embroiled in a row as to who is football’s GOAT.

The Greatest Of All Time argument will continue for as long as a ball is kicked and is completely subjective, meaning that whether you’re pro-Messi, pro-Ronaldo or anyone else, there’ll always be plenty that will both support or argue against the decision.

For Gerrard, however, it’s a little embarrassing as a few months ago, in conversation with Gary Neville for The Overlap, he quickly named Lionel Messi as the best ever.

In an extensive interview for the Saudi Pro League, the former Liverpool legend named former United man, Cristiano, as the greatest.

Not a good look…

?Steven Gerrard:

“I think when the GOAT, as we call him, arrived in January, it was a huge deal, and he still has a lot to offer in football. After the arrival of Cristiano the popularity of the league increased & all the big players moved to Saudi.”

pic.twitter.com/mxAeeAoWk0

— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) November 18, 2023

Greatest player of all time?

?? Steven Gerrard: “Lionel Messi for me.”

??pic.twitter.com/uxOfn0ZUMk

— HXN (@Hxnkhany1) November 6, 2023

Pictures from Saudi Pro League and Sky Sports

The post Video: Steven Gerrard at centre of GOAT row as he names Cristiano Ronaldo as the best ever appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“Haaland had a great season” – Kylian Mbappe comments on Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or win

Darren Looney — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 20:23:59 +0000

Last month saw Lionel Messi crowned the winner of the Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eight-time and Kylian Mbappe has had his say on the decision.

The PSG star is destined to win the award sometime in the future but this year was once again beaten to the biggest individual prize in football by Messi.

The World Cup winner was the favourite alongside Man City’s Erling Haaland for the award and speaking about Messi’s win, Mbappe feels that the 36-year-old was the deserved winner.

The French superstar said via Fabrizio Romano: “Messi had to win Ballon d’Or, he won the World Cup, he’s one of the greatest in history, if not the greatest for me.

“Haaland had a great season, me too, but next to winning the World Cup it doesn’t weigh much. Leo deserved it”.

?? Mbappé: “Messi had to win Ballon d’Or, he won the World Cup, he’s one of the greatest in history, if not the greatest for me”.

“Haaland had a great season, me too, but next to winning World Cup it doesn't weigh much. Leo deserved it”. pic.twitter.com/Ig7uqrZm77

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 17, 2023

Chelsea one of four clubs after Mexico under-17 star destroying second tier in US

Ruairidh Barlow — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 09:05:59 +0000

Chelsea’s wide scouting network looking to swoop in for the finest young talent across the globe will no doubt be working overtime during the under-17 World Cup in Indonesia. The latest pearl to catch their eye hails from Mexico.

As per JFMX via Football Espana, winger Fidel Barajas is being watched by Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Necaxa. Currently in action in Indonesia, he has one assist in two matches, but has been in fine form for Charleston Battery in the second tier of the US football pyramid.

According to Jovenes Futbolistas MX, Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Fidel Barajas. The 17-year-old, who currently plies his trade in the US, is also wanted by #CFC and PSV Eindhoven.pic.twitter.com/nnHpNfST9X

— Football España (@footballespana_) November 15, 2023

Just 17 years of age, Barajas has 9 assists and 4 goals in 30 regular season games, but raised his game in the playoffs, where he managed two goals and an assist in his two appearances. Cutting in on his left from the right wing, he was also highly productive during the CONCACAF under-17 Championship, where Mexico ran out victorious over the USA.

It is not yet clear how far down the line any of the four interested teams are with their attempts to sign him, but any deal is unlikely to take place before next summer. Barajas will not be able to move to Europe until he turns 18, which he will do so in April.

The post Chelsea one of four clubs after Mexico under-17 star destroying second tier in US appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Video: Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane exchange shirts and respect in brilliant moment

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 21:04:46 +0000

It was an iconic moment between Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane, and it was captured perfectly.

The Argentinian and French World Cup winners sat opposite each other and, after writing a message on one of their shirts, exchanged them.

The mutual respect between the pair was clear as they admired the shirt of the other, Zidane even joking that there wasn’t enough room on the shirt for him to write all that he wanted to the player who many consider to be the greatest of all time.

"QUE CAMISETA ESA…¡TERRIBLE CAMISETA! ¡ESTABA LINDA ESTA CAMISETA, MUY LINDA!", Messi intercambió casacas con Zidane y se elogiaron mutuamente. ¡Qué momento!

? @adidasfootball pic.twitter.com/QSFvaN22ta

— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) November 9, 2023

Pictures from Adidas Football

The post Video: Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane exchange shirts and respect in brilliant moment appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“My release was alcohol” – Wayne Rooney opens up on pressure of Man United move

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:04:03 +0000

Current Birmingham City manager, Wayne Rooney, has spent his entire career in the spotlight, and the now 38-year-old has opened up on the toll that it’s taken on him.

Rooney burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old at Everton, scoring the winning goal against Arsenal after coming on as a substitute back in 2002.

The way he ‘announced’ himself to the wider footballing public was symptomatic of his career at every stage.

Anything he did, everywhere he went, whose company he kept… it would all be scrutinised. Never more so than when he joined Man United as a 20-year-old.

His star continued to rise whilst at the Red Devils but, it seems, at a personal cost to him at the time.

“My release was alcohol when I was in my early 20s. I’d go home, and spend a couple of days at home and not leave the house,” he said on The Total Sport Podcast with Rob Burrow.

“I’d drink almost until I’d pass out. I didn’t want to be around people, because sometimes you feel embarrassed. Sometimes you feel like you’ve let people down and ultimately I didn’t know how else to deal with it.

“When you don’t take the help and guidance of others, you can be really in a low place, and I was for a few years with that.”

Making headlines for both the right and wrong reasons had been a feature of Rooney’s career, but to hear how low he felt from the horses mouth places a different spin on the narrative.

Now older and wiser, there’s no suggestion that Rooney still finds solace in the bottom of a beer glass, and indeed, it seems that he’s more than happy to pass on words of wisdom to others who may be treading the same path as he once did.

“Thankfully, now I’m not afraid to go and speak to people about issues,” Rooney added.

The post “My release was alcohol” – Wayne Rooney opens up on pressure of Man United move appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Phil Neville in advanced talks to make a return to management just 5 months after being sacked by Inter Miami

Mehdi Gokal — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 21:02:43 +0000

Former Manchester United legend Phil Neville is on the verge of making a swift return to management, just five months after being dismissed by Inter Miami.

Neville, who was let go by David Beckham in June following a string of disappointing results, is now reportedly in advanced discussions with MLS side Portland Timbers.

As per The Athletic, while the deal has not been finalised or officially signed, it is believed that Neville is on the cusp of being named as the new manager of the MLS franchise.

The report claims that Portland Timbers are gearing up for a potential overhaul, including the expected departures of several key players.

Luis Suarez set to reunite with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami

Sean Walker — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 20:58:20 +0000

Luis Suarez is set to join his old teammate in America after ‘agreeing a deal’ with Inter Miami according to reports.

The Uruguayan striker struck up a lethal partnership with Lionel Messi while together at Barcelona, spanning six seasons which saw them lift a Champions League trophy.

With both players going their separate ways in 2020, it looks like they will be reunited once again according to reports from ESPN.

Breaking: Inter Miami CF have agreed to a deal with Grêmio’s Luis Suárez, sources have confirmed to ESPN in Uruguay.

Another Barcelona reunion pic.twitter.com/VwZH3kVc2b

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 3, 2023

Suarez is currently at Gremio after signing a two-year deal in December of last year but manager, Renato Gaucho, revealed that the 36-year-old would be leaving the club next month.

The Urguyan will not just be linking back up with Messi in America but Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

David Beckham is looking to build his side around that once-great Barcelona team as they struggle to climb the table in the MLS.

The post Luis Suarez set to reunite with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami appeared first on CaughtOffside.