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Lionel Messi has become “like Tiger Woods, Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps” for MLS, says Inter Miami’s chief business officer Xavier Asensi.

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Argentine icon moved to America in 2023Made stunning impact on & off the fieldAttracted new audience to game in USAWHAT HAPPENED?

The Argentine icon has attracted more attention to the domestic game in America following his stunning move to Florida in 2023. A mad scramble for tickets is sparked every time that he takes to the field, with A-list guests falling over themselves in a bid to catch a glimpse of the all-time great in action.

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Messi is the biggest draw in MLS, with history being made on and off the field, and those pulling strings behind the scenes are determined to maximise a unique opportunity. Few figures in world sport boast the global appeal of Messi, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner forming part of an exclusive club.

WHAT ASENSI SAID ABOUT MESSI

Asensi has said in the of MLS enjoying the kind of boom that the NBA once did when a certain Chicago Bulls legend captured the imagination of a new audience: “The arenas were not full pre-Michael Jordan. That has changed completely. It’s like Tiger Woods in golf or Usain Bolt in track and field, Michael Phelps in swimming. He’s the greatest of all time in the biggest sport worldwide in terms of viewership. It’s an opportunity we have to seize.”

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LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney, who will be lining up against Messi and Inter Miami on Sunday, agrees. He played in David Beckham’s MLS debut in 2007 and added on a new superstar taking the game to even greater heights in the United States: “The greatest player of all time is now in our league. And it’s pretty exciting. We’ve really entered the global market of the sport. It drives more attention to our league. People will watch and they’ll understand that the league has a higher level than maybe they perceived. It just continues to help the league grow. With the arrival of David and then the eyeballs that came on the league, the sport started to become a business. It started to transform and cross different avenues.”

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Newcastle United are among the clubs interested in taking Yannick Bolasie on loan from Everton, according to TEAMtalk.

Bolasie recently returned to the Toffees after a loan spell with Aston Villa – something TEAMtalk report his parent club wasn’t happy about; but how do the numbers stack up for the DR Congo international?

How did he fare at Villa Park?

Bolasie, per the aforementioned report, invoked a clause in his contract at Villa allowing him to return to Goodison Park earlier this month.

According to Transfermarkt, the 29-year-old made 21 appearances in the Championship, scoring two goals and laying on five assists.

Check out the video below for Emma Conybeare’s rundown of which clubs need what in the January transfer window…

The wide man struggled in the second-tier, however, completing 90 minutes just twice.

Per WhoScored, Bolasie’s statistics are far from brilliant, particularly when it is considered that he has been playing in England’s second-tier.

In each appearance, Bolasie made an average of 11.5 passes, with only one of those being a key one. In 12 games, he may have provided four assists, but he scored just twice.

Despite those numbers, TEAMtalk say that Newcastle are one of the Premier League clubs interested in securing the African’s services.

The verdict

Newcastle do need attacking reinforcements, but the numbers do not seem to stack up.

The Magpies have yet to do any business in the January transfer window and recently missed out on signing Gelson Martins from Atletico Madrid; per Chronicle Live, the winger snubbed the move once he realised AS Monaco were interested. He eventually moved to the French club on loan.

Bolasie, while he has Premier League experience and offers searing pace and trickery that is currently lacking at St James’ Park, is not the in-form marquee winger that the north-east outfit need.

They would also have to send Kenedy back to Chelsea to free up space in their squad; due to the loan registration rules, as per premierleague.com, they are only allowed two at any one time, and they are unlikely to try and send Salomon Rondon back to West Bromwich Albion given he has established himself as Rafa Benitez’s first-choice centre-forward this term.

The DR Congo international is more experienced than Kenedy but the jury is out as to whether he’s actually better as things stand right now.

Wrexham suffered a major injury blow against Harrogate Town on Tuesday after losing goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo to injury.

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Okonkwo injured in first halfTaken off at half-timeFears he's suffered jaw injuryWHAT HAPPENED?

Okonkwo started the game at Harrogate but suffered an early injury in a collision. The goalkeeper received lengthy treatment on the pitch but was initially able to continue. He was subsequently seen taking painkillers, after receiving further medical attention in another stoppage, and did not emerge after the break. Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson opted to send on Mark Howard in his place at half-time.

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There are fears that Okonkwo has suffered a jaw injury which could see him forced onto the sidelines. Wrexham will certainly be hoping that their goalkeeper is not set for a lengthy lay-off. The 22-year-old has become a regular with the Red Dragons this season after arriving on a season-long loan from Premier League giants Arsenal.

DID YOU KNOW?

Wrexham's Okonkowo had the best save percentage for stopping attempts in the whole of League Two heading into the game.

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Wrexham will be sweating on Okonkwo's fitness ahead of their next match. Parkinson's side continue their FA Cup campaign next time out when they host National League South side Yeovil Town in the second round of the famous competition. If Okonkwo is ruled out then Howard will be expected to take his place between the sticks.

Gary Neville was left outraged by the red card shown to Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones in the first half of their clash against Tottenham.

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Jones initially given yellow cardChanged to red after VAR reviewDecision angered pundit NevilleWHAT HAPPENED?

Jones was initially shown a yellow card for a challenge on Yves Bissouma, but play was delayed as VAR reviewed the challenge. Referee Simon Hooper was soon called over to have a look at the replay and the punishment was soon upgraded to a red card.

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The sending off was a key moment in the game as Jones was sent off just 26 minutes in with the match still tied at 0-0.

Less than 10 minutes later, Luis Diaz had the ball in the net for Liverpool, but it was ruled out for offside and, shortly afterwards, Spurs went up to the other end and snuck in the opening goal through Son Heung-min.

WHAT THEY SAID

Neville predicted that the red card would be a turning point as he said it would spoil the match during the VAR review.

"A yellow is right, they are checking it. [VAR is] showing [referee Simon Hooper] the end motion, which looks bad," Neville said while on commentary duty for . "That's not how it's ended up there. His foot just slips off the top of the ball. Not for me a red card. He's probably going to get one and it's going to ruin the game, probably.

"You can slow it down all day long and it looks like a leg breaker but I think he's gone in genuinely and his foot's just slipped over the top of the ball. My initial reaction as an ex player was that wasn't a player looking to do the opposition player."

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After Saturday's game, Liverpool are in action against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League on Thursday, while Tottenham's next match is away to Luton on October 7.

After suffering another setback in the race for the Scudetto, Juventus must face the reality that they are now in the race for a second place finish.

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Juve draw 2-2 with Hellas VeronaRabiot argues Serie A title dreams are overSays Juventus in race for second placeWHAT HAPPENED?

After drawing 2-2 with Verona on Saturday, their fourth-straight match without a win in Serie A, Adrien Rabiot admitted that a first-place finish in Serie A no longer feels achievable. Inter are nine points clear and also have a game in-hand over the Bianconeri.

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Rabiot said: "We must be realistic right now, Inter are on their path and we must fight to keep hold of second place. We got here with 53 points being what we were, we just need to rediscover that again and fight it out for second. We were too sluggish tonight."

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The Bianconeri are in their worst form of the season so far, winless in their last four – only two of which were draws. Their early February loss to Inter in a title-contenders clash set the tone for their miserable run, but now, they have to adjust if they want to save their season. AC Milan sit just two-points back from Juventus in third-place, and they have a game in-hand as well. If they claim victory on Sunday against Monza, they'll leapfrog the Old Lady into second.

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The Bianconeri take on Frosinone next Sunday, while boss Massimiliano Allegri will surely be feeling the heat heading into the clash. As the highest-paid coach in Italy, the Italian has high expectations – and they have not met them over the past few weeks. The likes of USMNT stars Weston McKennie and Tim Weah will hope to help inspire the Turin team back to winning ways before long.

Julian Nagelsmann is on Borussia Dortmund's shortlist should they part ways with Edin Terzic, adding to a long list of suitors for the German manager.

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Dortmund considering Nagelsmann as Terzic replacementMan Utd, Newcastle also interested in hiringGermany boss not guaranteed contract beyond Euro 2024WHAT HAPPENED?

The German manager is expected to be on the market this summer, after overseeing the national team at Euro 2024. His next job, though, has been a topic of debate, and Dortmund have now entered the race, according to .

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT JULIAN NAGELSMANN SAID

In an interview with , the Germany manager spoke openly on his sudden sacking from Bayern Munich last March. "I was signed by Bayern with the proviso that I would change things,” he said. “There are clubs that give you time. Jürgen Klopp was at Liverpool for five years before he became champion there for the first time. Pep Guardiola only won the Champions League title with Manchester City after seven years. The coaches at Bayern Munich don’t get as much time to develop something."

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Man Utd are yet to make a clear decision on the future of Erik ten Hag, but the former Ajax boss is in the hot seat after Sir Jim Ratcliffe completed a partial takeover of the club. Terzic's job, too, is under scrutiny, with Dortmund currently fourth in the Bundesliga.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR JULIAN NAGELSMANN?

Nagelsmann's future seems to be up in the air, with a handful ofclubs chasing his hiring. His immediate focus will be the German national side, with friendlies against France and the Netherlands scheduled for the international break.

Mikel Arteta admits that Arsenal “have to be in the conversation” for players like Kylian Mbappe, but accepts that he appears to be heading elsewhere.

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World Cup winner heading towards free agencyLinked with a move to the Premier LeagueAppears destined to head for Santiago BernabeuWHAT HAPPENED?

The France international forward is preparing to hit free agency in 2024. With his contract at Paris Saint-Germain running down, Mbappe has been free to enter into talks with teams outside of Ligue 1 since January.

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He has stopped short of making a public declaration on his future, but reports suggest that a deal has been agreed with La Liga giants Real Madrid. If Mbappe is to become another ‘Galactico’ at Santiago Bernabeu, then Premier League suitors will be left disappointed.

WHAT ARTETA SAID ABOUT MBAPPE

Arsenal fall into that category, amid talk of Mbappe being “willing” to join the Gunners in order to emulate Thierry Henry’s legacy in north London, but Arteta concedes that no move to Emirates Stadium will be made. The Spaniard has said when asked about links to the 2018 World Cup winner: “When there is a player of that calibre we always have to be in the conversation. But as you said it looks in a different way.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

The Gunners are considered to be in the market for more firepower, after seeing the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah fail to convince as a leading No.9, but attention will shift to alternative striker targets heading towards the summer transfer window.

Rory McIlroy has explained why he could not “go anywhere near” investment at Leeds, but is still hoping to get a “0.0001% share” in Manchester United.

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Spieth and Thomas involved at Elland RoadRed Devils fan refused to join projectForms part of Alpine investment groupWHAT HAPPENED?

The Northern Irishman, who recently helped Europe to Ryder Cup glory in another epic clash with the United States, is an avid follower of the Red Devils. As a result, he could not bring himself to join fellow golfing superstars Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in forming part of the £170 million ($207m) takeover of Leeds by the 49ers Enterprises group.

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report McIlroy as saying: “They asked me if I wanted to come on board and I was like, as a Man Utd fan, can't go anywhere near that.”

WHAT THEY SAID

While steering clear of the United outfit in Leeds, McIlroy would like to get involved with the one in Manchester – with the Glazer family having opened themselves up to offers that now see Sir Jim Ratcliffe leading the race to acquire a 25 per cent stake in the club. McIlroy added: “I would love to have taken a 0.0001% share. If another opportunity comes my way I will definitely look at it. To be able to own even a tiny, tiny, tiny percentage of the club you grew up cheering on would be very cool.”

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Getty/GOALWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

McIlroy is not involved in football just yet, but he is one of the investors – alongside the likes of Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Trent Alexander-Arnold – in the Alpine Formula 1 team. He has said of joining that group: “It's a great opportunity, I've always been a big fan of F1. There has been quite a bit of Northern Irish/Irish connection there with Eddie Jordan and Eddie Irvine back in the day. It's always been something I followed. And then when this opportunity came up, I just think with the popularity of F1, how much it's booming in the US in particular – and I have invested in a few things – but this has got more of a story and a journey. It's no surprise they went to market and got some investors in but I think it obviously stabilises the team and it gives them some confidence going forward. F1 as a whole they do it so well. Golf could learn quite a bit from F1 in terms of some of the set-up stuff and how they do things.”

Folarin Balogun scored a goal for Monaco and set up another, but it wasn't enough to upset Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Friday.

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Balogun scores fourth of yearSets up another for MinaminoMonaco fall 5-2

Balogun and Monaco were unable to take down PSG in Friday, as they failed to take a chance to go level with the Ligue 1 giants atop the Ligue 1 table.

The U.S. men's national team star did score in the 75th minute, though, but by that point the game was effectively over thanks to a second-half blitz from PSG.

GOAL analyzes Balogun's performance from the Parc Des Princes…

GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The hosts seized an early lead in the 18th minute, with Portuguese star Goncalo Ramos netting his third goal of the season.

Monaco fought back with a goal of their own just two minutes later, with Balogun's pressing leading to a Gianluigi Donnarumma mistake. The Italian's attempt to play the ball out of the back ended in a Takumi Minamino goal, equaling the score at one a-piece.

PSG wouldn't be denied, though, as Kylian Mbappe made it 2-1 from the penalty spot in the 39th minute, giving the hosts the momentum going into halftime. It was a bit nervy in the second half, but PSG eventually put the game to bed via a world-class Ousmane Dembele goal. Moments later, Vitinha added a fourth, totally ending Monaco's hopes of a comeback.

It didn't stop Balogun, though, as the American broke through in the 75th minute go make it 4-2 and end his own day on something of a high. The goal didn't mean much, though, as Randal Kolo Muani essentially erased it with a fifth for the Parisians in stoppage-time.

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WIth the loss, Monaco squandered a chance to really make a statement in the title race, as they entered the match just three points behind league-leaders PSG with Nice sandwiched between the two. However, with the win, PSG now have a six point advantage on Monaco, who will remain in third place after this weekend regardless of what happens elsewhere.

Getty ImagesUSMNT IMPACT

Even aside from his goal, it's fair to say that Balogun did have a good game leading the line for Monaco.

His holdup play was solid throughout as he did feel involved in the attack. More importantly, his pressing was relentless, as he single-handedly created Monaco's first by pressing what should have been a lost cause. It wasn't though, as his effort led to a Donnarumma mishap for Monaco's first.

Monaco's second, though, was all him. The forward broke through all alone and provided a composed finish, leaving Donnarumma no chance.

Ultimately, there was no way back for Monaco, but Balogun certainly did his part.

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GettyGOAL'S RATINGS

Folarin Balogun (8/10):

Got his goal and set up another one, even if he won't be credited with the assist. Now has four goals on the season and performances like this will certainly keep him in the Monaco XI.

Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag says he left Raphael Varane out of the starting XI for the derby against Manchester City for tacitcal reasons.

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Varane named on bench for City matchLindelof, Evans & Maguire startedTen Hag said decision down to 'tactics'WHAT HAPPENED?

Centre-back Varane was left on the bench for the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire all getting the nod to start ahead of him.

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Varane has started just one Premier League match since returning from injury in late September but has been trusted to start in the last two Champions League matches, including their midweek win against Copenhagen.

The Frenchman was, however, left out of the squad for the home win against Brentford at the start of October and came off the bench late on in last week's victory against Sheffield United.

WHAT THEY SAID

Asked why Varane was not named in the first-team for Sunday's match against their rivals, Ten Hag said: "Tactics".

When pressed further and asked if Evans and Lindelof's experience in the fixture was behind the decision, he replied: "Yeah but that’s not the argument to make the selection as I said it’s just tactics. That’s the answer."

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Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

United's next game is against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.