Portland’s Antony Wins Goal of the Matchday for Matchday 18

Portland Timbers winger Antony has won AT&T Goal of the Matchday honors for Matchday 18, earning 49.2% of the fan vote. The Brazilian scored a brilliant solo goal, curling a shot into the top corner after a slick run to equalize in Portland’s 2-1 win over St. Louis CITY SC at Providence Park. It marked his sixth goal of the season. 2nd place, Daniel Ríos (37.6%): Starting with Brian White on Gold Cup duty, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC striker hit a long-range rocket that nestled into the side-netting as part of a 3-0 win over Cascadia rival Seattle Sounders FC. 3rd place, Philip Zinckernagel (8.1%):Zinckernagel joined in on Chicago‘s goalscoring onslaught with a well-taken strike from atop the penalty area in the Fire’s 7-1 rout at D.C. United. 4th place, David Ayala (5.1%): Ayaladelivered the Timbers that 2-1 result over St. Louis, tucking a clutch volley into the bottom corner in the dying moments of the match.

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Obed Vargas: Seattle Sounders homegrown star has “no ceiling”

Sounders FC’s Obed Vargas is rapidly becoming one of the most-watched young players in the world. When the Sounders face Botafogo in their FIFA Club World Cup opener on Sunday, the 19-year-old midfielder from Anchorage, Alaska will be under the microscope of European scouts and clubs looking for the next breakout star. “At this point, what I’d say is I don’t know if there’s a club in the world that doesn’t know who he is,” Sounders general manager Craig Waibel said. “I mean, anyone who’s got analytics, he’s triggered and kind of set off the red alarms.”

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Eriksen: Thomas Frank a “Perfect Match” for Tottenham

Christian Eriksen has backed Thomas Frank as an ideal fit for Tottenham Hotspur. He called the Brentford manager a “perfect match” for the club.  Frank is widely expected to take over at Spurs, following their recent Europa League triumph and the departure of Ange Postecoglou. Eriksen, who worked under Frank during his time at Brentford in 2021/22. He believes his former coach would thrive at the north London club. “Now of course it has to happen first, but if he gets it, then I certainly wish him the best of luck,” said Eriksen. Danish national team coach Brian Riemer has also endorsed the move.  If appointed, Frank would become the first Danish manager in Tottenham’s history. Eriksen is clearly excited about the potential reunion between club and country.

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Zubimendi’s Quality Could Be the Missing Piece in Arsenal Jigsaw

Martin Zubimendi quietly delivered one of the night’s standout performances and Mikel Arteta may have been watching closely. The Real Sociedadmidfielder scored the opening goal for Spain. He posted a superb 94.4% pass accuracy, completing 101 of 107 passes. His composure and control in the middle of the park were vital in Spain’s eventual triumph. By contrast, Pedri( who had a perfect 100% passing rate) made only 52 passes. This showed how much of the game flowed through Zubimendi. More than his numbers, Zubimendi’s positional intelligence and versatility stood out. He’s not one to rack up goals because that’s not his role. He shields the defense when needed, recycles possession efficiently, and sets the tempo from deep. At 26, he’s entering his prime and could bring exactly what Arsenal’s midfield lacks. He’ll become the anchor who allows more attacking players like Ødegaard and Rice to roam freely. With Arteta known for valuing positional play and technical precision, Zubimendi could be the perfect addition to complete Arsenal’s midfield puzzle.

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Atletico announce signing of Musso from Atalanta

Atletico Madrid have signed Argentine goalkeeper Juan Musso from Atalanta. The three-year contract deal was announced by both clubs said on Tuesday. The 31-year-old joined Atleti on loan last season, serving as a backup to first-choice goalkeeper Jan Oblak. He made nine appearances during his loan spell, featuring in seven Copa del Rey matches and two LaLiga games. Musso, who has played twice for Argentina since making his debut in 2019, spent three seasons at Atalanta and won the Europa League with the Serie A side last year.

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Chivu confirmed as new Inter Milan coach

Inter Milan have chosen Cristian Chivu to lead the Serie A club into a new era. The former Romania defender as Simone Inzaghi’s replacement ahead of the upcoming Club World Cup. Still reeling from humiliation at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, Interhave gambled on novice Chivu after failing to get Cesc Fabregas from Como. Chivu has agreed a two-year contract with Inter worth 2.5 million euros ($2.85 million) a season. He takes charge of one of Europe’s biggest clubs only a few months after beginning his senior coaching career with Parma. Parma confirmed Chivu’s departure earlier on Monday. He’ll be resuming at Inter where he won three Serie A titles and the 2010 Champions League as a player. Chivu’s first match in charge of Inter will be against Monterrey in the Club World Cup next week, in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. He will lead a group of players who looked dead on their feet during their 5-0 hammering against PSG in the Champions League final late last month.

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Jobe Bellingham Joins Borussia Dortmund

Jobe Bellingham has completed a high-profile move from Sunderland to Borussia Dortmund. Both clubs confirmed on Tuesday that he signed a five-year contract. The 19-year-old midfielder follows the path of his older brother Jude Bellingham, who also rose to prominence at Dortmund before moving to Real Madrid.  The transfer fee, while undisclosed officially, is reported to be €33 million. This is made Jobe the second-most expensive signing in Dortmund’s history after Ousmane Dembele. Sunderland described the deal as a club-record sale, and included a sell-on clause as part of the agreement. Bellingham is set to feature in this month’s FIFA Club World Cup. During his two seasons at Sunderland, Jobe helped the team secure promotion to the Premier League after finishing fourth in the Championship and winning the playoff final against Sheffield United. Now with a move to Dortmund, Jobe Bellingham will aim to carve out his own legacy in black and yellow.

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Man City Sign AC Milan Star Reijnders

Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan. This is the club’s fourth signing of the summer. The 26-year-old Dutch midfielder joins on a five-year deal until 2030, with the transfer fee reported to be around £46 million. Reijnders follows Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Marcus Bettinelli as Pep Guardiola continues to bolster his squad ahead of the Club World Cup later this summer. “I am ecstatic to be signing for Manchester City,” said Reijnders. A standout for AC Milan last season, Reijnders netted 15 goals across all competitions and was named Serie A’s best midfielder. He also boasts 22 caps for the Netherlands and featured off the bench in their recent 8-0 win over Malta. City’s director of football Hugo Viana praised the signing: “He arrives here with extensive top-level experience in Europe, both at club level and with the Netherlands.” Reijnders adds depth and quality to City’s midfield as they gear up for another demanding campaign on multiple fronts.

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Sporting Deny Cut-Price Deal for Gyokeres

Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has dismissed reports that Viktor Gyokeres could leave the club this summer for a reduced fee, dealing a blow to interested clubs including Manchester United and Arsenal. The 27-year-old Swedish striker is coming off a phenomenal season, scoring 97 goals in 102 matches for the Portuguese champions. His form has attracted interest from top Premier League sides, but Sporting are standing firm. While previous reports suggested a £59 million agreement had been made to facilitate his departure, Varandas firmly denied this, stating: “There is no such agreement in place.” Gyokeres’ contract includes an £85 million release clause, and Varandas hinted that any club wishing to sign him must meet that valuation. Although a reunion with former Sporting coach Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford has been speculated, Varandas made clear that Gyokeres remains central to their plans and that no decision on a “discounted” sale has been made. With three years left on his deal and now in his prime, any move for Gyokeres will likely require a significant investment.

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Sancho Returns to Manchester United After Chelsea Loan Ends

Jadon Sancho has officially returned to Manchester United following the end of his loan spell at Chelsea. The club confirmed this on Wednesday. Sancho made 41 appearances for Chelsea, scoring five goals and providing nine assists. Among these is a memorable strike in the Conference League final against Real Betis. Chelsea had an option to buy the winger for €30 million, but the deal reportedly collapsed over salary negotiations with the player. As a result, the Blues paid €6 million in compensation to United instead. Sancho now re-joins United with one year left on his contract. He will not feature for Chelsea at the upcoming Club World Cup. His future at Old Trafford remains uncertain.

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