Monthly Archives: August 2006

MLS is certainly up to the challenge this year. First, the MLS All-Stars outplayed a tired and lumbering Chelsea during their 1-0 victory in Chicago; then MLS leaders D.C. United outplayed the Galacticos of Real Madrid in 1-1 draw last night in Seattle. The Washington Post said United’s goal was “the stuff of European excellence: […]

Zlatan Ibrahimovic finally got his wish: he will be transferred from relegation-hit Juventus to Inter Milan for approximately $31.95 million less than half of Juve’s original asking price, which was at one point thought to be in the neighborhood of $70 million. However, it’s still the most expensive move of the offseason in Italy. The […]

After a World Cup filled with flashes of brilliance and being blamed by the English for influencing the sending-off of Wayne Rooney against Portugal in the quarterfinals, Cristiano Ronaldo knows exactly what to expect from England’s club supporters in the Premier League this season: boos, whistling, ridicule, the occasional projectile. England’s new scapegoat got a […]

Following the massive international media play that was the 2006 World Cup, basketball star Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers wonders what could have been had he and other athletes in the NBA decided to play soccer growing up. “If myself, Tracy McGrady and LeBron James had a soccer ball at our feet instead […]

The Washington Post has a great story detailing the ins and outs of coordinating the massive pan-global public relations event that is Real Madrid visiting America. Tonight’s game between D.C. United and Real (in Seattle of all places) was put together so last minute that the event’s planners worried they would embarrass one of the […]

Arsenal captain Thierry Henry spoke out publicly for the first time about the likely exit of left back Ashley Cole, saying it would be a “massive” blow if the England international were to trade Ashburton Grove for Stamford Bridge. ‘I don’t know anything about the situation with Chelsea but if he goes there it will […]

Following the disingenuous affair that was Fiorentina owner Diego Della Valle’s “change of heart” press conference with star striker Luca Toni yesterday, Inter owner Massimo Moratti issued an apology to Toni, whom he had been pursuing for several weeks until the deal finally broke apart yesterday. Moratti blamed his poor relations with Della Valle as […]

It’s been nearly two years since we’ve seen the best from Italian striker Antonio Cassano, who emerged as a crucial player for Roma in the 2003-04 Serie A season under then-coach Fabio Capello. After Capello chose to leave the debt-ridden club at the end of that season, Cassano’s considerable talents fell by the wayside as […]

Jose Antonio Reyes is desperate to return to Spain with Real Madrid, and the Arsenal winger is having a hard time figuring out what exactly he should say to the press about the matter. The player has given several conflicting accounts about the speculation. Reyes most recently said he wants to sort things out “as […]

It’s a seller’s market out there in transfer world, writes Kevin McCarra of The Guardian. That translates to a glut of money and a shortage of talent, which means clubs with talented players know they can hold out for the right price. How else can you explain Michael Carrick’s $35 million transfer from Tottenham to […]

Fiorentina boss Diego Della Valle confirmed that Luca Toni will not be leaving the Florence club before the start of next season. Della Valle appeared at a press conference with the striker himself and sporting director Pantaleo Corvino, effectively putting the issue of his departure to bed. Inter Milan had been pursuing 29-year-old World Cup […]