Toronto FC did not finish their Major League Soccer campaign the way they were hoping they were going to. After reaching MLS Cup Final against Seattle Sounders, they failed to beat them in that big final for the second time and they went home without a title.
But in the off-season, they have been doing a lot of work to prepare their squad for the next season, set to start on 29 February 2020. The biggest deal so far without a doubt is the re-signing of their captain and U.S. international Michael Bradley. He signed a new contract with the Canadian side, but interestingly enough, this time probably for a lower salary.
He was earning around 6 million dollars per season and had Toronto won in the final match of the season, he would get to automatically extend that contract…
Granada’s LaLiga match against Athletic Bilbao was abandoned following the death of a home fan at the Estadio Nuevo los Carmenes.
The visitors went ahead through an early goal from Inaki Williams, before the game was stopped after around 15 minutes when officials were alerted to a problem in the stands.
As the person received ongoing medical treatment, the players were eventually taken off the field.
Granada CF vs. Athletic Club de Bilbao has been suspended following the tragic death of a fan at the Estadio Nuevo los Cármenes.
Our condolences go out to their family and friends, as well as to all Granada CF fans.
A rescheduled date and time for the match will be announced in…
— LALIGA Corporativo (@LaLigaCorp)
LaLiga later c…
Peter Bosz has signed a two-year deal to become Lyon s new head coach after the departure of Rudi Garcia.
Former Ajax and Borussia Dortmund coach Bosz was most recently with Bayer Leverkusen and will take the reins at Lyon on July 1.
The 57-year-old fills the void left following Garcia s decision to leave the Ligue 1 club this month, having guided them to fourth spot this season.
Bosz led Ajax to the Europa League final in 2017, beating his new employers in the semi-final, before a brief and disappointing spell with BVB.
He was sacked by Leverkusen in March and replaced on an interim basis by former Stuttgart boss Hannes Wolf, having endured a run of four wins in 18 matches in all competitions.
Lyon lost to Nice on the final day of the French …
Ciro Immobile finds it crazy that he fended off Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to finish the season with the Golden Shoe.
The award goes to the highest goalscorer in Europe s top domestic leagues, and Immobile s 36 goals from 37 games in Serie A saw off all-comers.
Immobile, 30, produced the form of his life with Lazio as the Rome side finished fourth in Serie A, five points behind champions Juventus.
The Italy international, who edged out Bayern Munich s 34-goal Robert Lewandowski, said: It s crazy, me in front of Ronaldo and Lewandowski. If I reread the roll of honour, I almost don t believe it: Messi, Messi, (Luis) Suarez, Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Messi, Messi, Ronaldo, Messi.
I interrupted the Leo-Cristiano duet. For this I thanked the team, it was the …
Neal Maupay has joined Everton on a three-year contract with the option for a further 12 months after leaving Brighton and Hove Albion in a reported £15million deal.
Maupay spent three seasons at Brighton, having signed from Brentford for £20m in 2019.
The forward scored 10 goals in his first season in the Premier League but struggled to build on that campaign, netting eight apiece in his next two.
Maupay started 84 league games in three years for a Brighton side who became renowned for their lack of a prolific goalscorer, with the Frenchman prominent among their profligate forwards.
A departure in this transfer window had long looked likely, with Danny Welbeck starting the season up front for the Seagulls, who also have Deniz Undav back from a loan sti…
Didier Deschamps insisted he will not take a half-fit Paul Pogba to the World Cup after France saw several stars ruled out of their upcoming Nations League fixtures.
Pogba has yet to make a competitive appearance since returning to Juventus on a free transfer in July. He is a doubt for the tournament in Qatar after opting to undergo surgery to solve a lesion to the lateral meniscus in his right knee.
The 2018 World Cup winner is not the only injury concern for Deschamps ahead of Nations League contests with Austria and Denmark this month.
Real Madrid talisman Karim Benzema has been left out of their squad after suffering a knee injury, though Carlo Ancelotti said the striker was progressing well earlier this week.
Meanwhile, N Golo Kante, Presnel Kimpemb…
Karim Benzema s ongoing exile from the France team is a shame and kind of a mess , but Olivier Giroud insists he has nothing but respect for his fellow striker.
Real Madrid forward Benzema has not played for Les Bleus since 2015 having been kept out of the set-up due to his alleged involvement in a plot to blackmail Mathieu Valbuena.
Giroud has established himself as a key part of France s attack in his absence and is set to earn his 100th cap in a friendly against Ukraine on Wednesday.
Since being dropped, Benzema has been heavily critical of Giroud s presence up front for Les Bleus. Asked to rate the Chelsea striker on social media last April, Benzema said: You don t confuse F1 with go-karting … and I know I m F1.
But Giroud insists he has no iss…
Gareth Southgate says Phil Foden will play a big part in the remainder of England s World Cup campaign, despite the midfielder s limited playing time so far.
Foden came on for the final 19 minutes of England s 6-2 win over Iran in their Group B opener and was an unused substitute in the goalless draw with the United States.
Southgate was criticised for not turning to the Manchester City star during a poor display from the Three Lions against the USA.
The England manager defended his decision after the drab stalemate, but Foden now looks set to play a more prominent role, possibly starting with Tuesday s clash against Wales.
We love Phil, he s a super player, Southgate told BBC Sport. He s going to play a big part in this tournament for us.
Phil …
Inter Milan president Steven Zhang believes the club have established themselves among Europe’s elite again and is targeting a 20th Serie A title this season.
The Nerazzurri reached the final of the Champions League last season, losing 1-0 to Manchester City in Instanbul, finished third in the league and won the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup.
Simone Inzaghi’s side have started this season in fine form, sitting top of Serie A and unbeaten after three Champions League games.
“We are here to take stock of the 2022/23 season together,” Zhang said at Inter’s shareholders’ meeting.
Inter is now once again one of the top clubs in Europe. We will fight to earn that second star for our fans and to enter into the history books of this club forever…
Sampdoria have parted company with head coach Marco Giampaolo after Sunday s 3-0 home defeat to Monza.
It brings an end to Giampaolo s second spell at the club, having also been in charge between 2016 and 2019, but after recording just two points from their first eight games of the Serie A season, the 55-year-old has departed again.
After returning in January to replace Roberto D Aversa, Giampaolo took charge of 24 Serie A games, winning five, drawing three and losing 16.
The former Milan and Torino coach was finally relieved of his duties after goals from Matteo Pessina, Gianluca Caprari and Stefano Sensi condemned Samp to a hefty loss to newly-promoted Monza at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium.
A statement on the club s website read: U.C. Sampdoria have annou…