Latest news with #Weah
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Total Weah rejection irked Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest are trying to save face after being rejected by Timothy Weah, implying they pulled out of the deal for the Juventus player. It had been reported in multiple sources over the last few days that Juventus and the Premier League side were on the verge of a double agreement for both Weah and Samuel Mbangula. Advertisement The cost of the pair was going to be circa €25m including add-ons, with the clubs ready to shake hands. However, it quickly became apparent that the American in particular was dead set against the move and refused to even discuss personal terms. This irritated Juve so much that they dropped both the USMNT star and Mbangula from the squad in last night's Club World Cup defeat to Manchester City. Juventus froze out Weah over Nottingham Forest snub epa11908638 Timothy Weah of Juventus FC celebrates the 1-1 during the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs 2nd leg soccer match between PSV Eindhoven and Juventus FC in Eindhoven, Netherlands, 19 February 2025. EPA-EFE/SEM VAN DER WAL Weah responded by quoting Bible verses on Instagram, then his agent Badou Sambague hit out in the media. 'This is shameful. While I am here, nobody will push my players to go play right or left like a puppet.' Advertisement It is therefore curious that Nottingham Forest sources have sent out the message to Give Me Sport correspondent Ben Jacobs suggesting they were the ones who 'chose to pull out following extensive data analysis' of Weah.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
USMNT summer transfer primer: Where will Weah, Tillman, Reyna and others go?
Most European transfer windows are set to open on July 1, and a number of U.S. internationals should factor in heavily and find themselves caught in the summer swirl of player movement. This window is especially important in that, one year out from the 2026 World Cup, many players will be looking for regular playing time so that they can lock down spots on Mauricio Pochettino's final roster. Advertisement The names that have been linked to moves range from expected starters in next summer's tournament to those who are trying to earn regular roles within the team. It includes players in MLS who could move abroad, as well as players abroad who could move to MLS. We spoke to sources around the players, teams and leagues to gather as much information on potential moves. Those sources were granted anonymity to protect relationships as many deals are still being completed. Here is a look at some of the players in the pool who could be on the move in the coming month: The Athletic can confirm reports of discussions between Nottingham Forest and Juventus regarding a move for the American winger. At this point, sources indicate that Weah and Forest have not spoken at all about personal terms or Forest's vision for Weah at the club. With Juventus playing in the Club World Cup, the winger has stayed focused on his on-field responsibilities. This could be an impactful move for the U.S. Weah logged 18 starts in 30 games for Juve, playing left wing, right wing and even as a right back and wingback. A chance to move to Forest and play as an out-and-out winger would be a positive development, especially considering the limited options at the position. Weah is a difference-maker and a good personality in the U.S. locker room. The right role in the right team could help to push his game, and his profile, to an even more elevated position with the group. The breakout player of the Gold Cup, Tillman could soon find himself back in Germany. The player has come to terms with Bayer Leverkusen, sources confirm, but there is a dispute as to whether or not Leverkusen can trigger a release clause in Tillman's contract. According to reports, PSV claims the release clause only applies to Bayern Munich, which sold Tillman's rights to PSV last year. Leverkusen, however, is attempting to trigger that clause to bring Tillman back to the Bundesliga for around €35 million ($40.7 million). Advertisement If the two clubs can come to an agreement on a transfer, or on the validity of the release clause, then this will be a big move for the player. Leverkusen finished second in the Bundesliga last season and will play in the Champions League, though it also lost manager Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid. Erik ten Hag has taken charge, meaning Tillman could be in line to become one of his first major signings. Amid a solid Gold Cup, Tillman has put himself into the picture to start when the full-strength U.S. squad is together. He'll need to continue playing — and playing well — either at PSV or a new club to hold on to that spot. This summer did little to inspire confidence that Reyna is anywhere close to figuring things out for club or country. He missed out on the Gold Cup with the U.S. because Dortmund wanted to keep him for the Club World Cup. Through two games in the competition, he hasn't played for Dortmund at all. Reyna is going to move this summer. The question is to where. The hope is that the player can find a possession-based team where he will get a chance to play regularly. That last part is the most important. Reyna has not been able to stay healthy or play regularly since 2020-21, his age-17 season. That is a long time. There is interest from clubs in Spain and Portugal. Other teams from Europe's top leagues have sniffed around. This decision is critical if Reyna is going to have any chance to get back on track. It didn't take long after the season for Musah's name to pop up in the swirl of rumors around the market. It seemed, at first, that Musah was destined to stay in Serie A, making a switch to reigning champion Napoli. That move, though, seems to have hit a snag. Most recent reports indicate Premier League side West Ham is trying to bring Musah back to London, where he came up through the Arsenal academy. Our sources, however, indicate AC Milan has not yet heard any solid interest from a Premier League team. Advertisement When Pochettino announced his roster for this summer, Musah was missing for what the manager called 'personal reasons.' Those reasons still have not yet been clarified, but Musah will hope to stay in Pochettino's rotation for the future. What's clear is he won't be back at AC Milan. 'I consider Musah an excellent player, but we are looking for profiles with characteristics that fit the project we have with coach Allegri,' AC Milan sporting director Igli Tare told reporters. 'We are seeking deep-lying midfielders for a three-man midfield. Musah doesn't have these characteristics. He can play in a two or three-man midfield but with different characteristics. This is the real reason why we want to do something different.' A potential move to West Ham – or anywhere he goes – would come with a clear directive. Musah has to find his position. He has seen time at central midfield, right midfield and even right back. Musah's ability to carry the ball out of pressure has always been an asset, but he hasn't provided enough going forward. If he can add some consistency and final product, Musah's stock will continue to go up. At the end of the Championship season, it would have been a solid bet that Sargent ended up back in MLS this summer. Now? It feels less likely. Sargent was arguably the best striker in the Championship last season. And while he now has Premier League aspirations, it's unclear if any team will meet Norwich's substantial asking price. Last year, FC Cincinnati had a massive offer in the range of $20 million turned down. Norwich wanted $25 million. Sargent, though, could be Norwich's best bet for promotion. For a player like Sargent, it could be about how the forward market shapes up and where the money moves that determines whether he stays or goes. When Johnny arrived in U.S. camp this summer, all indications were that a deal sending him from Betis to Atlético Madrid was wrapped up for €30 million. An attempt to stop Johnny in the mixed zone was met with a stern head shake and a smile. That's as close to a comment as the player has given. The deal seems to be reaching the final stages soon, though. GiveMeSport reported Tuesday that it should be completed this week. Johnny had an awful turnover in the U.S.'s 2-1 loss to Turkey, leading directly to a goal that changed the momentum of the contest. He hasn't started for Pochettino at the subsequent Gold Cup, totaling 10 minutes off the bench in two substitute appearances during the group stage. Advertisement Nevertheless, a move to play for Diego Simeone at Atlético could certainly help the Brazilian-American and his evolution as a midfielder. The hope is that his club form will eventually translate to the international level. It hasn't yet. The former FC Dallas homegrown product's red-hot form with PSV last season added some real intrigue and competition to the position battle at the No. 9, where no one has been able to stay healthy or in-form enough to grab the starting job. Pepi himself fell victim to a season-ending knee injury in February, and he hasn't played since. The question for Pepi at PSV is whether he can start consistently there and carry his form over to a more regular role. Would he get the chance, perhaps, to do so with a Premier League club? Is it worth the risk to make a move ahead of the 2026 World Cup? Pepi was the biggest snub from the U.S.'s 2022 World Cup roster, and his move to Augsburg in Germany may have contributed to that decision — though a loan to Dutch side Groningen and plenty of goals wasn't enough to sway Gregg Berhalter. Pepi, who is under contract through 2030, will have to make sure any potential move doesn't come at the cost of regular opportunities to get on the field and score goals. Interest is starting to heat up around Agyemang, who has been the U.S.'s starting No. 9 in this Gold Cup. Derby County looks to be the team that will take the Charlotte FC striker overseas to the English Championship. Talks are advancing, according to Fabrizio Romano, with the striker already giving a green light to the move. Sources said that Charlotte first started to receive offers and interest around Agyemang last summer, with more offers coming in January and another round now this summer. GiveMeSport was first to report interest from English Championship sides in the 24-year-old striker, as well as KRC Genk in Belgium. Advertisement It's a big move at a crucial time for Agyemang. His competition at the forward position is deep, and one of his rivals, Sargent, plays in the same league he's mooted to be joining, which allows for a more direct comparison. Keep an eye on Tanner Tessmann. With news of Lyon's potential relegation to Ligue 2 due to financial issues, Tessmann could be on the move this summer. There are a number of teams that had interest in the midfielder when he left Venezia, and they've started to sniff around already to see if he could be had for a bargain price. … It's also worth watching goalkeeper Matt Turner, who is expected to move from Crystal Palace to Lyon. Could that transfer be at risk now? Lyon is appealing the decision. … One other name to watch? New England left back Peyton Miller. He's been on the youth team rosters, but the player has been catching the eye of multiple Premier League teams. One source put it at as many as 15 teams that have inquired. He won't turn 18 until November, but it wouldn't be a shock to see a team purchase him now and loan him back through the end of the calendar year.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
President Trump Leaves Soccer Team Speechless With Question At White House
President Trump Leaves Soccer Team Speechless With Question At White House originally appeared on The Spun. President Donald Trump had a rather questionable encounter with Juventus players and staff members on Wednesday. Juventus is currently in the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup. Prior to the Italian club's match against Al Ain, several players and coaches took a trip to the White House to meet with President Trump. Although it wasn't necessary, Trump asked Juventus players for their view on transgender athletes. He kicked off the conversation by saying, "Could a woman make your team, fellas?" Juventus general manager Damien Comolli replied, "We have a very good women's team." That led to another interesting comment from Trump. "You do, but they should be playing with women," Trump said. "He's being very diplomatic." Juventus player Tim Weah, who also competes for the United States national team, didn't hold back his thoughts on meeting Trump. "It was weird," Weah said, via The Guardian. "I was caught by surprise, honestly, when he started talking politics, with Iran and everything. I was kind of like, I just want to play football … They just told us that we have to go, and I had no choice but to go. So I guess it was a cool experience, obviously being in the White House as a first time, it's always wonderful. But I'm not one for the politics, so it wasn't that exciting." Weah isn't the only person knocking Trump this week. Countless soccer fans said his question about women competing with men was uncalled Trump Leaves Soccer Team Speechless With Question At White House first appeared on The Spun on Jun 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Hill
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Juventus player: Oval Office moment with Trump ‘a bit weird'
International soccer stars on the Italian club Juventus found themselves in an unusual position on Wednesday – standing behind President Trump at the resolute desk as he fielded questions about the Israel-Iran war and other hot button issues. The club, one of the most renowned in world soccer, was in Washington, D.C., to play later that night in the first ever Club World Club. But the players were not expecting to stand by as Trump discussed politics using them as a backdrop. 'It was all a surprise to me, honestly — they told us that we have to go and I had no choice but to go,' said Timothy Weah, a Juventus player who is also well-known as a mainstay on the U.S. men's national team. The Club World Cup is a bit of a preview of next year's World Cup hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Weah, interviewed by The Athletic on video after the club's game on Wednesday, expressed surprise and some discomfort with the Trump event. 'I was caught by surprise, honestly. It was a bit weird. When he started talking about the politics with Iran and everything, it's kind of like, I just want to play football man.' Trump frequently hosts sporting teams at the White House, such as the Philadelphia Eagles, who made a visit after their Super Bowl win earlier this year. And the president often gets asked about domestic and world events if he takes questions from reporters invited to attend. Having a team from Italy behind Trump might have been a first. Juventus's roster includes players from a number of countries, and those attending Wednesday's event along with Weah included one of the best known U.S. players in Weston McKennie, as well as Dusan Vlahovic of Serbia, Federico Gati of Italy and Teun Koopmeiners of the Netherlands. It's unclear if Trump, who has a heavy background and interest in American football and once owned a team in the USFL, has a keen interest in soccer. At one point he asked the Juventus players if a woman could make their team. When none of the players answered, he asked the team's general manager, who noted that Juventus has a strong women's team. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, whose organization puts on the Club World Cup and the World Cup, was also at the White House on Wednesday – and not for the first time. Infantino has discussed both major tournaments with Trump, sometimes on-camera. The Club World Cup trophy is also spending time in the Oval Office. It could be seen there Tuesday not far from the resolute desk. Trump wished the American players luck during the visit, saying he hoped 'you're going to be the best two players on the field.'
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Juventus players befuddled by visit with Trump at White House: 'I just want to play football, man'
President Trump speaks to the press June 18 in the Oval Office of the White House as members of Italian soccer club Juventus (from left, Timothy Weah, Weston McKennie, Daniele Rugani, coach Igor Tudor and Dusan Vlahovics) stand behind him. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images) Members of the Italian soccer team Juventus visited with President Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon. Exactly why the gathering took place remains largely a mystery. Six of the team's players (Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, Manuel Locatelli, Federico Gatti, Teun Koopmeiners and Dusan Vlahovic), their coach Igor Tudor, a handful of team executives and FIFA president Gianni Infantino stopped by hours before Juventus' FIFA Club World Cup game against United Arab Emirates' Al Ain that night at Audi Field. Advertisement Trump was presented with a Juventus jersey and one for next year's World Cup, which the United States will be co-host with Canada and Mexico. But as Trump took questions from the media for about 15 minutes during the event, very little soccer was discussed. Instead, the players stood behind him patiently — fidgeting now and then, their faces mainly expressionless — as Trump answered questions that mostly related to the potential of U.S. involvement in Israel's war against Iran. Later that night, speaking to a different group of reporters after his team's 5-0 victory over Al Ain, Weah called the White House experience "a bit weird" and implied he and the other players weren't given the option of declining the visit. Read more: Hiltzik: How Trump could sabotage L.A.'s World Cup and Olympics Advertisement 'They told us that we have to go and I had no choice but to go," said Weah, a U.S. men's national team member whose father George is a past winner of the prestigious France Football Ballon d'Or award and was the president of Liberia from 2018-2024. "So [I] showed up.' FIFA declined to comment. The White House and Juventus did not respond to requests for comment from The Times. While Weah said he thought his first White House visit "was a cool experience," he added that 'I'm not one for the politics, so it wasn't that exciting.' 'When [Trump] started talking about all the politics with Iran and everything, it's kind of like, I just want to play football, man,' Weah said. Advertisement Fellow USMNT player McKennie had made critical comments about Trump during the Black Lives Matter movement in June 2020. Juventus players Weston McKennie, left, and Tim Weah take a selfie outside the White House after they and other team members met with President Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) 'I don't think that Trump is the right one for the job as the president," McKennie said at the time. "I think he's ignorant. I don't support him a bit. I don't think he's a man to stand by his word. In my eyes, you can call him racist.' Still, during his introductory comments, Trump briefly singled out Weah and McKennie as "my American players" when he mentioned that night's game. "Good luck," he said while shaking both of their hands in what had the potential to be an awkward moment. "I hope you guys are the two best players on the field." Advertisement Read more: Hernández: Dodgers visiting Trump's White House goes against everything they represent That's not to say, however, that there weren't any awkward moments. Because there were — none more so than when Trump brought up "men playing in women's sports," then looked over his right shoulder and asked: "Could a woman make your team, fellas? Tell me. You think?" When no players answered, Trump said, "You're being nice," then turned to face the other direction and asked the same question. 'We have a very good women's team,' Juventus general manager Damien Comolli replied. Advertisement Trump asked, "But they should be playing with women, right?" When he got no response, Trump smiled and turned back toward the reporters. Read more: With FIFA World Cup one year away, fans and politicians still aren't sure what to expect "See, they're very diplomatic," he said. Trump made a couple of other attempts to involve the soccer contingent in the discussion. At one point, the president used the word "stealth" when discussing U.S. military planes, then turned around and remarked, "You guys want to be stealthy tonight. You can be stealthy — you'll never lose, right?" Advertisement The players did not seem to respond. For the final question of the session, a reporter favorably compared Trump's border policy to that of former President Biden and asked, "What do you attribute that success to?" Trump looked behind him and stated, "See, that's what I call a good question, fellas." Once again, the players did not appear to respond. Read more: FIFA Club World Cup: Everything you need to know about all 32 teams Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
