Messi brace buoys Miami in 2-1 MLS victory over New England
Inter Miami move up to fifth place in Eastern Conference standings
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Kuwait Times
15 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Striker Gyokeres can give Arsenal missing edge
LISBON: Dynamic striker Viktor Gyokeres' arrival at Arsenal could be the perfect fix for their attacking needs ahead of the new Premier League campaign as the Gunners bid to end their lengthy title drought. The Swedish center-forward signed from Sporting Lisbon on Saturday in a deal worth up to 76 million euros ($89 million) as Arsenal seek the key to unlock a first league crown since 2004. While Mikel Arteta's side are defensively durable, at times they lacked offensive thrust as they came second in the top flight behind Liverpool and reached the Champions League semi-finals. The Spanish coach often deployed midfielders Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino up front last season, particularly after Gabriel Jesus was sidelined through injury in January. The imposing Gyokeres, strong, fast and a constant surging threat, is a new type of tool for a side eager for more cutting edge going forward. After a move to Brighton fell flat, failing to make a Premier League appearance, Gyokeres shone at Coventry City in the English Championship. He earned a move to Sporting in 2023, and his game has continued to grow rapidly. 'I'm definitely there... at the same table (as the world's top strikers),' the forward told L'Equipe earlier this month, comparing himself to Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski. The 27-year-old striker netted 97 goals in 102 matches across all competitions for the Portuguese giants, helping Sporting win the league title in both of his seasons at the club. Gyokeres rarely lets defenders rest, with his movement a problem for opponents, who get dragged around and struggle to keep up as he breaks in behind. The forward celebrates his goals by making a mask with his hands, which he has indicated is in reference to brutish Batman villain Bane, representing his physical prowess and lethal finishing. Gyokeres' presence should lighten the load on winger Bukayo Saka, who is often targeted as Arsenal's man to stop, and could give the England international more space to operate in. Given his superb form over the past two seasons it feels the right moment for the striker to make the jump to one of Europe's top sides. 'The best players' Sporting president Frederico Varandas threatened the forward with a fine as he refused to turn up at pre-season training, trying to force through his transfer. Eventually Gyokeres got what he wanted and at long last Arsenal have as well, after failing with moves for Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins in January and Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig earlier this summer, among other reported operations. 'In the Premier League we've gone a step backwards... it's clear that we haven't done as good as last season, that's obvious,' said Arteta in May, making his case for signing attacking stars. 'I want the best team, the best players. If we have three goalscorers over 25 (goals each), bring them in, and we're going to be a much better team. 'I think if you score over 90 goals, you have a high, high probability of winning the Premier League.' Gyokeres hit 54 last season in 52 matches for Sporting, finishing only behind Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe in the European Golden Shoe standings, and beating Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. The striker netted more top-flight goals than Mbappe but because of the weighting-based system depending on the strength of their respective leagues, he finished behind the Frenchman. 'The Portuguese league is a very good league, with a lot of technical players—it may not be as physical as in England, but the level is really good,' Gyokeres said, confident he will adapt to the Premier League. A hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League last season as Sporting thrashed Pep Guardiola's side 4-1 in November suggests he might be right. Two of those goals were penalties, however, and he scored 19 spot-kicks in total across all competitions, with some questioning if he really does belong in the top bracket of attackers. Both Gyokeres and Arsenal have Premier League points to prove in the upcoming 2025/26 campaign. – AFP
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Arab Times
MLS suspends Messi and Alba for skipping All-Star Game
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 26 (AP): Inter Miami's Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba were suspended one match by Major League Soccer for skipping its All-Star Game, the league announced Friday. Messi and Alba did not suit up for the match between the MLS and Liga MX of Mexico despite being voted to the game. Messi did not play to rest amid a packed schedule, and Alba was dealing with a previous injury. Per MLS rules, any player who doesn't participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club's next match. The players will miss Miami's home match Saturday against FC Cincinnati, which sits atop the Eastern Conference standings. As Inter Miami awaited the league's decision, both Messi and Alba practiced with the club on Friday in anticipation of playing in Saturday's match. "I know Lionel Messi loves this league,' said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "I don't think there's a player - or anyone - who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi. I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision. "Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision.' Garber added that the league will re-evaluate the policy and work with players to "determine how the rule should evolve.'
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Kuwait Times
England forward Rashford joins Barca on loan from Man United
Striker was out of favor under Amorim BARCELONA: Spanish champions Barcelona loaned Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford on Wednesday with a future purchase option. 'Barcelona and Manchester United have reached a deal for the loan of the player Marcus Rashford until June 30, 2026,' announced the La Liga champions in a statement. 'The agreement also establishes an option to buy the English forward.' Barcelona are paying around 75 percent of Rashford's £325,000-a-week wage ($435,000) while he is at the club, with the player foregoing the rest, according to Spanish reports. The 27-year-old England international was out of favor under Man United coach Ruben Amorim and spent the final months of the 2024/25 season on loan at Aston Villa. Rashford, who made his United debut in 2015, became an outcast at Old Trafford, with Amorim publically doubting his commitment and desire. In May Barca coach Hansi Flick said Rashford and Liverpool winger Luis Diaz were 'fantastic players' amid transfer links to both, with the club keen to reinforce on the left flank. Last season the Catalans were irresistible in attack, winning a domestic treble, but had little in the way of back up for key wingers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal. Rashford could also offer cover for veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who turns 37 in August. Barcelona had hoped to sign Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams to play on the left wing but the Spaniard signed a new deal at the San Mames. Rashford, who came through Manchester United's academy, last played for the Premier League club in December, scoring 138 goals in 426 appearances for the Red Devils. At Aston Villa he managed four goals in 17 games before a hamstring injury cut his season short in April. Rashford was criticized by former Manchester United great Teddy Sheringham after trying to make the Barcelona switch happen in recent weeks. 'From my perspective, if you go from Manchester United to Barcelona, that's a step up that he hasn't deserved,' Sheringham told SkyBet. Manchester United want to move on several more players this summer, including Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho. Barcelona had trouble registering signings last season with La Liga, including midfielder Dani Olmo, and according to reports may need to find ways to balance the books before registering Rashford and their first summer arrival, goalkeeper Joan Garcia. Few British players have joined Barcelona since the 1980s, when Gary Lineker, Steve Archibald and Mark Hughes all played for the club. Current Bristol City midfielder Marcus McGuane signed for Barcelona's reserve side in 2018, appearing once for the first team as a substitute in the Catalan Super Cup, before leaving in 2019 on loan to Telstar and eventually joining Nottingham Forest. In the summer of 2019 Louie Barry moved to Barca's youth academy from West Bromwich Albion but departed for Aston Villa in January 2020. Rashford appears to have secured the move he hankered after but there will be no hiding place at the Catalan giants. It was not supposed to be this way. The 27-year-old forward appeared to have the world at his feet when he signed a new five-year contract with United worth a reported £325,000 ($435,000) per week in July 2023. Fresh from scoring 30 goals in the 2022/23 season - the first time a player had hit that mark for the club since Robin van Persie a decade earlier - he appeared to be entering his prime. Rashford's approval rating was sky-high on and off the pitch after his role in forcing a British government U-turn over free school meals for disadvantaged children and his fights against racism and homelessness. The Manchester-born forward even featured on the cover of British Vogue in 2020 alongside supermodel turned mental health campaigner Adwoa Aboah as one of 'The Faces of Hope'. But Rashford clashed with former manager Erik ten Hag and the current boss Amorim, and his United career quickly unraveled. The left winger joined United at the age of seven and emerged as a teenage prodigy in 2016, scoring twice on his United debut against Midtjylland and repeating the feat in his maiden Premier League appearance against Arsenal. Aged 18, Rashford became the then youngest England player to score on his debut, against Australia. He has won the Europa League and lifted two FA Cups and two League Cups, scoring 138 goals in 426 appearances for United. But there is a nagging feeling that a player blessed with talent and athletic ability has failed to fulfil his early promise. Rashford has not entirely been to blame for his struggles as a succession of managers deployed him as both a winger and a central striker, denying him the chance grow into one role. And his career has coincided with a decade in which United have lurched from manager to manager, and crisis to crisis, following the glory years under Alex Ferguson. The roots of Rashford's United exit can be traced back to Dec 2022. Just back from the World Cup in Qatar on a high after scoring three times, the forward found himself in trouble with Ten Hag after oversleeping and reporting late for a team meeting prior to a match at Wolves. Dropped and chastised by the Dutchman, he came off the bench to score the winner. Rashford was in hot water again in Jan 2024 after reports he had been seen in nightspots in Northern Ireland - he missed training after reporting ill and did not feature in the club's 4-2 FA Cup win over Newport. As questions over his work ethic persisted, former United captain Gary Neville, now a Sky Sports pundit, warned him to 'calm down', saying: 'He's going through a dip in form but it can become your personality if you're not careful'. — Agencies But he endured numerous lengthy spells without a goal in Ten Hag's misfiring team. Rashford was left out of England's Euro 2024 squad and responded in limp fashion, managing six Premier League goals last season. A trip to New York, where he was pictured attending an NBA game during the November international break, was interpreted as further evidence that Rashford had lost focus. He scored the first goal of Amorim's reign in November but the Portuguese boss dropped a bombshell when he left him out of the squad for United's win at Manchester City in mid-December, questioning his attitude and work ethic. Days later a disgruntled Rashford said he was 'ready for a new challenge' as the relationship soured and he signed for Aston Villa on loan in February. The forward made enough of an impact at Villa Park to earn a recall for England, now under the leadership of Thomas Tuchel. But Amorim has made it clear there is no future for him at Old Trafford. Now Rashford has a chance to reset, knowing he must prove himself all over again at one of the most demanding clubs in the world. - Agencies
