While we wait on official news about Brek Shea’s potential transfer to Stoke City today (reportedly pending a work permit), David Beckham finally has a new club. And he waited until the European transfer deadline day to snag the headlines.
Reports this morning indicate that Beckham will be signing with French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain, who are considered a contender for the UEFA Champions League title, which resumes in a few weeks.
UPDATE: This deal is done.
Meanwhile, Beckham’s former club has added another match to their preseason. The MLS Cup champs will face the recently crowned Mexican title holders Club Tijuana at the Home Depot Center. But that Xolos team will be different one from the side that captured the Liga MX trophy in December.
The Galaxy’s archrivals, Chivas USA, logged another 4-1 victory yesterday over the Santa Clarita Storm at the HDC. Here’s the match recap.
Speaking of Chivas, don’t expect Chivas USA’s Juan Agudelo to be in the transfer deadline mix today, according to Goal.com. Alex Labidou reports that he’s staying at Chivas USA to start the MLS season.
One player who did make the move overseas is D.C. United’s Andy Najar, who impressed Belgian side Anderlecht enough that the famed European side “stepped up to the plate in the final 48 hours,” according to D.C. United GM Dave Kasper.
The connections between American soccer and Belgium don’t end there. There are reports in Europe saying the US national team will face its counterpart from Belgium on May 29 in Cleveland.
The US national team is the aim for returning Real Salt Lake forward Robbie Findley, who says coming to MLS has a lot to do with a USMNT call: “That’s a lot of motivation really, right there. That’s all I need,” he told Soccer By Ives. “I haven’t spoken to anybody [with U.S. Soccer recently], but I figure if I’m doing my job scoring goals, and my team is successful and getting results, then they can’t do anything but notice it. That’s kind of what I’m focused on.”
Forget the USMNT. Some players are just happy to be in MLS. Take Monmouth’s Ryan Clark, who reacted this way when he found out that the New York Red Bulls had taken him with the No. 1 pick in the Supplemental Draft: “I was watching the draft online at home when I found out the Red Bulls had drafted me,” Clark said. “I stood up and sprinted out the front door in snow in my bare feet. I was shocked.” Clark will have Robin Fraser as a coach alongside Mike Petke in New York.
But only the tough survive in MLS. Take Philadelphia’s Roger Torres, who is entering his fourth season in the league, but who was on the verge of being shown the door by manager John Hackworth, who said: “Very honestly, we told Roger you either come back to preseason fit and prepared and ready to meet the demands or you’re not going to be a part to the team. To his credit, Roger came in the door ready. His fitness is the best I’ve ever seen in four years.”
Torres is not the only diminutive attacker making news over the last 24 hours. Joao Plata, who excited fans in Toronto, is now part of the new-look Real Salt Lake forward line after a Wednesday trade.
Yesterday also saw the rumored loan deal that sent Kei Kamara from Sporting Kansas City to English side Norwich City through May. Here’s how SKC will likely look to replace the Sierra Leone international in the lineup.
Sporting KC owner Robb Heineman explained the move in an open letter to fans: “If we hadn’t have done this, Kei would have left at the end of the year as a “free” player, similar to Roger Espinoza this past year. So the risk we take is allowing him to go for 10 games this year, in hopes of getting him for years to come.”
Portland Timbers fans looking for some resolution to the Kris Boyd saga may not get it on transfer deadline day. This report says that the Scotsman is “unlikely to move to Greek side Panathinaikos.”
It must feel like a new acquisition for the Chicago Fire. Steven Kinney, who missed all of 2012 due to injury, registered another solid performance on the Fire back line in a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew. Here’s Kinney’s reaction following the loss as well as some postgame sound from the Crew’s Ethan Finlay here.
If you’re looking for preseason action today, we have a primetime showdown for you tonight as the Houston Dynamo battle the Colorado Rapids on MLSsoccer.com (live stream at 8 pm ET).
ESPN2 last night carried their first in a series of English-language Mexican national team broadcasts. That match, in front of more than 40,000 at University of Phoenix Stadium finished 1-1. (VIDEO)
This is the time of year when Jozy Altidore is usually in the news because of rumored transfers. These days it’s his stance on racist chants in the Netherlands that has people talking and SI.com spoke to him about Tuesday’s incident. The AZ Alkmaar striker gave details about his discussion with the referee and why he didn’t opt to go the route of AC Milan’s Kevin-Prince Boateng, who walked off the pitch.
Staying with international soccer, a New York investment firm has purchased an 8.21 percent stake in Manchester United by gobbling up shares on the stock exchange.
But the growth opportunity for soccer lies in Florida. According to a bill filed in the Florida state legislature, “up to two Major League Soccer franchises would be eligible for subsidies given to other pro sports teams in Florida.” Orlando City may be one of them in the future. And the other?
Here’s a pretty rare video dug up by Dirty Tackle from the Brazilian Serie B: A defender clears a ball off the line, but then brings down the goal posts. He was lucky not to get hurt. (VIDEO)
Finally, we leave you with a short video of a trick you’ll surely be trying yourself. One UMKC soccer player tried kicking a basketball into the net from half court. And he made it. (VIDEO)
MLSsoccer.com Musts
March to the Match: Is Portland shaping up to be a playoff team?
Toronto FC’s Frei: “If you want beautiful soccer, go to the circus”
The Sideline: Is Europe heading toward an MLS-style schedule?
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