Football transfer news

Copa America 2024 will be here before we know it this summer, and that means Inter Miami will have to make do without superstar Lionel Messi.

Messi has been in full force in 2024 outside of a hamstring injury that saw him miss a handful of games back in March and early April. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has logged seven goals and six assists in just six appearances in MLS action, just one goal behind the Golden Boot leader Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango.

The Argentine’s brilliant play has cemented the Herons atop the Eastern Conference standings with 18 points from 10 games played, but they’ll face a tough challenge in keeping the number one spot in the division when Messi and Luis Suarez depart for Copa America.

Here’s the games that Miami’s No. 10 could miss during the summer as he looks to guide Argentina to a second-straight Copa America title in what might be his last major international tournament.

Messi and his Argentine pals will more than likely receive their call-ups to the national team roughly one week before their first tune-up friendly against Ecuador on June 9. Should Messi steer clear of injuries form now until then, he’ll without a doubt be included in Lionel Scaloni’s squad for the competition.

Argentina will also take on Guatemala in their second tune-up friendly on June 14.

Just one day before Argentina kick things off in Copa America, the Herons will square off against defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew on June 19 at Chase Stadium. Even without the game’s best-ever player, it should still be an intriguing contest between two of the most entertaining teams in Major League Soccer.

Meanwhile, Messi will look to propel the Herons to victory over Canada in Argentina’s first group stage contest against Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 20.

Argentina will aim to just about qualify for the knockout stage when they take on Chile on June 25 at MetLife Stadium, and will round out their group stage campaign against Peru on June 29 at Hard Rock Stadium — ironically, that game is taking place in Miami. Depending on if they finish in first or second place out of Group A, Argentina will take on one of Mexico, Jamaica, Ecuador and Venezuela in the quarterfinals.

On the other hand, Miami will renew their rivalry once more with Nashville SC on June 29 at GEODIS Park. The two clubs have had some feisty encounters over the last year in Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup action, but this time Messi won’t take part.

Should Argentina fulfill expectations and progress to the quarterfinals, they’ll aim to advance to the next phase of the competition when the last eight will take the field from July 4-6. At the same time, Miami will return to action on July 3 to square off against Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium.

Miami’s last visit to TQL Stadium to take on FC Cincinnati was a rather eventful one, with the Herons escaping out of Ohio on penalties en route to lifting the Leagues Cup title. Miami are all set to take on the Orange and Blue on July 6, looking to make it two wins in a row over the Herons.

However, the Herons might not have Messi available this time around should Argentina continue to win in Copa America. After the quarterfinals, the semifinals are slated for July 9-10, when Messi and Co. will still hope to be in the conversation and just a game away from the final.

Miami will square off with Toronto FC at home on July 17, just three days after the Copa America final on July 14. Even if Argentina are eliminated in the semifinals just a few days prior, the reignign World Cup winners will still take part in the third place contest on July 14.

Miami’s last Major League Soccer contest before Leagues Cup comes against Chicago Fire at Chase Stadium on July 20. Although Copa America will be done and dusted by the time this game comes around, Messi will more than likely sit this one out in order to recover from the international tournament and to recharge for Leagues Cup.

Miami will want their superstar to be fit and firing in order to repeat as champions following their triumph last year over Nashville in the final when the club lifted their first-ever title.

Xavi has performed a sensational U-turn on his decision to leave Barcelona at the end of this season and will instead stay with the club until at least the end of his current contract in 2025.

Having delivered a first La Liga title in four years last season, the Camp Nou legend had only agreed a contract extension in September. Yetut by January, he shocked the world by announcing his plan to step down this coming summer.

His decision came after a difficult run of results, including a heavy Supercopa de Espana defeat to Real Madrid, with the explanation that he felt drained and underappreciated.

Barcelona were subsequently linked with a number of names, including the likes of Thomas Tuchel and Hansi Flick, but there was always an underlying feeling that the issue of Xavi’s future wasn’t over.

On Wednesday evening, local reports from Mundo Deportivo and SPORT broke the news that the 43-year-old is now expected to stay on instead. It followed a meeting between Xavi, his brother Oscar, and sporting director Deco earlier in the day, after which the trio went to president Joan Laporta’s house. The president is now tipped to announce the change of heart on Thursday.

Speaking in January, Xavi gave damning reasoning for his desire to leave, describing the job of being Barcelona head coach as “cruel” and “unenjoyable”, issues that have presumably had to be resolved.

“I think that the work has not been valued enough and this causes wear and tear on me. This is my feeling. It is not because I can’t stand the pressure. We arrived at one of the most difficult moments in the history of the club,” he explained at the time, referring to the crippling financial problems.

“I made the decision [to leave] a long time ago. Our work is not valued enough. And at the beginning of the season I already thought it would be the last. I don’t rule out returning. Barca will have me for whatever they need, but now I think they don’t need me. I think work is not valued.

“That’s how I feel. It’s like that. They make you feel worthless every day. Speaking with Pep [Guardiola], he already told me that. It also happened with [Ernesto] Valverde. I saw Luis Enrique suffer. We have to reflect. We have a problem with the demands of this charge. It seems like you’re risking your life every moment. That’s why I say it’s cruel, it’s not enjoyable.”

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LAFC may just have finally found the solution to their ongoing striker search with the addition of Olivier Giroud, who’s set to join the Black and Gold this summer.

Giroud reportedly put pen to paper earlier this week to join LAFC on an 18-month contract that ties him to Los Angeles through the 2025 Major League Soccer season, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

The 37-year-old World Cup winner is set to reunite with former France international teammate Hugo Lloris, as both will provide plenty of experience for the 2022 MLS Cup winners for the next couple of seasons. Even though LAFC have been able to remain quite consistent without a true center-forward, the addition of Giroud will aid in the Black and Gold’s attempts to reach a third-straight MLS Cup final and truly unlock an attack with massive potential.

It’s no secret that LAFC have been in the market for a new No. 9, and they’ll soon enough have their hands on one of the most iconic strikers from the last decade. Club legend Carlos Vela — who amassed 147 goal involvements in 188 appearances for LAFC and is currently a free agent — was still getting the job done last season with 14 goals across all competitions.

However, Vela did show signs of being on the decline at 35 and has always been more of a winger than a striker even if he was serviceable up front next to Denis Bouanga and Cristian Olivera. Another point to note is that even though many might think that LAFC could be going backward with a striker that’s older than the out-of-contract Vela, Giroud has still managed an impressive 13 goals and eight assists in 30 appearances for Milan this term.

Giroud’s addition also means that Mateusz Bogusz can return to his preferred role in the midfield and that head coach Steve Cherundolo won’t have to rely on Bouanga scoring the bulk of the team’s goals. In 2023, Bouanga took home the Golden Boot award with 20 goals scored in the regular season (or 37% of LAFC’s 54 goals in 2023), but with Vela’s nine goals now out of the picture, the team’s second-highest goalscorer is full-back Ryan Hollingshead with seven goals — which isn’t exactly ideal.

LAFC weren’t exactly short of players with winning experience, but Giroud will fit right in with the team’s goals of regularly competing in finals and aiming to bring home silverware. Since their first season in MLS back 2018, the Western Conference side have lifted one MLS Cup, one Campeones Cup and two Supporters’ Shields — while also reaching two Concacaf Champions Cup finals.

Along with scoring plenty of goals, Giroud has also played his part in lifting numerous trophies in his extensive career. The former Chelsea and Arsenal figure has lifted four FA Cups, one Europa Leauge and Champions League title, one Serie A title and of course, the 2018 World Cup title with France. When Giroud’s winning mentality combines with players like Bouanga and Ilie Sanchez who are itching to win more trophies, it will only push LAFC on to reaching more finals with their new target man up front.

Giroud is now the latest veteran to make the switch to MLS from Europe while the league has also prioritized young, emerging talent in recent years to form a unique combination of players among squads. The likes of Giroud, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Emil Forsberg, Gareth Bale and Lloris have all moved across the pond to get a taste of what MLS offers.

Right, where do we start?

Chelsea, or whatever this blue-coated sham is pretending to be, were beaten from pillar to post as they shipped five unanswered goals against one of their biggest rivals. A stunning performance for every bad reason imaginable.

Here are Chelsea’s best and worst players according to 90min‘s player ratings.

Djordje Petrovic – 5/10

Djordje Petrovic made an error which led to a goal inside five minutes and somehow still emerged as the only Chelsea player with any shred of dignity intact.

The stopper dusted himself off and made four or five truly excellent saves to stop this from being even worse.

Axel Disasi – 1/10

There’s some serious competition for this honour, but Axel Disasi’s seamless impression of a broken training cone gets him the nod here.

Returning straight to the starting lineup after an injury enforced absence, Disasi was left hoping this was all a medically induced fever dream as he found himself shockingly behind Arsenal’s electric forwards.

Dishonourable mention

Benoit Badiashile – 1/10

Mauricio Pochettino made the genius call of dropping his two most in-form defenders, Trevoh Chalobah and Thiago Silva, in favour of recalling Disasi and Benoit Badiashile. In hindsight, a bit of a bad call.

Badiashile seemingly forgot how to pass to his own team in the second half and, like a Ralph Wiggum heartbreak, you could almost see the moment the confidence started to bleed out of him.

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Everton could hand a huge blow to Liverpool’s Premier League title charge when they host the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night.

Both clubs picked up important victories on Sunday, with Everton alleviating their fears of relegation with a controversial 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest, while Liverpool kept pace at the top of the table by beating Fulham 3-1.

Sean Dyche’s side aren’t out of the mire just yet, but three points on home soil thanks to avid Luton Town VAR operator Stuart Attwell means the Toffees are perhaps just another win or two away from safety. They’re going in search for their first victory over their bitter Merseyside rivals at Goodison Park in 14 years on Wednesday night.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds reignited their title bid in west London at the weekend having lost at home to Crystal Palace the week before. They, along with Arsenal, can heap the pressure on favourites Manchester City ahead of their trip to Brighton on Thursday night.

Here’s 90min’s preview of Wednesday night’s Merseyside derby.

Everton vs Liverpool H2H record (all-time)

Current form (all competitions)

Sean Dyche could be without his two preferred striker options on Wednesday. Beto is unlikely to feature following his nasty collision with Morgan Gibbs-White on Sunday, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin picked up another knock against Forest and is a doubt for the derby.

Merseyside derby veteran Seamus Coleman is unlikely to feature with a groin injury. Dele Alli is also not ready for a recall to the matchday squad.

Everton predicted lineup vs Liverpool (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Onana, Gueye, McNeil; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin.

Just the one fresh injury concern for Klopp, who confirmed during Tuesday’s press conference that he will be without Diogo Jota for the next few weeks after a minor injury issue. Conor Bradley, Joel Matip, Ben Doak and Thiago Alcantara all remain sidelined.

Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ibrahima Konate could all return to the Liverpool team in midweek.

Liverpool predicted lineup vs Everton (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.

Goodison won’t be quite as angsty on Wednesday given Everton’s victory on Sunday which relieved a ton of pressure, but the Toffees will nonetheless be desperate to hinder their rivals’ title quest.

Liverpool secured an impressive three points at the weekend after a potentially season-crushing week, and Klopp will be able to call upon a group of fresh core players in midweek. Mohamed Salah could return with a vengeance and haunt Everton again, with the hosts bound to cede territory and control in bid to play on the counter-attack.

However, will they be able to muster enough going forward with a half-fit Calvert-Lewin leading the line? Liverpool should win the derby again on Wednesday.

Prediction: Everton 0-2 Liverpool

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