By FRANCO PANIZO
Alessandro Nesta has confirmed he will leave AC Milan at season's end, and MLS is among the places he might land at next.
Nesta said during a press conference on Thursday morning that he would depart the club after spending a decade there in part because of the rigors of playing for the Italian heavyweight. Nesta added he has not yet signed anywhere, but admitted he would be happy to join MLS.
The storied Italian international, who has been rumored to joining the New York Red Bulls, helped Milan to two Serie A titles and two Champions League trophies. Nesta also won a league title with Lazio earlier in his career, and was on Italy's World Cup-winning team in 2006.
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MANCHESTER UNITED WILL NOT ALLOW CHICHARITO TO PLAY IN OLYMPICS
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez will not be suiting up for Mexico at this summer's Olympics. Manchester United have denied the prolific Mexican striker from playing in the Summer Games in London, as they want him to get a full offseason's rest before the start of the next campaign. Hernandez has not lived up to his first-year standards during his sophomore campaign, scoring just 10 times this season.
ATLETICO MADRID WIN EUROPA LEAGUE TITLE
Atletico Madrid won their second Europa League title in three seasons on Wednesday, and Radamel Falcao played a big part in that happenining. The Colombian striker scored twice to help Atletico Madrid defeat Athletic Bilbao, 3-0, in the all-Spanish encounter. Falcao won the tournament last season with FC Porto, scoring the only goal in the final against Braga.
BOCA JUNIORS ADVANCE IN COPA LIBERTADORES
Former Argentina international Juan Roman Riquelme inspired Boca Juniors to reach the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores, scoring a goal and assisting on another in the club's 3-2 win over Chilean club Union Espanola on Wednesday night. The result pushed Boca Juniors through on a 5-3 aggregate over two legs. Boca is to face a Brazilian side in the next round, as Fluminense and Internacional are its possible opponents.
MONTERREY TIES CLUB AMERICA IN MEXICAN PLAYOFFS
CONCACAF Club champion Monterrey tied Club America, 0-0, in the first leg of their Mexican Clausura playoff semifinal on Wednesday night in Mexico City. America saw midfielder Paul Aguilar sent off in the 83rd minute, meaning he will miss the second leg on Saturday in Monterrey.
The other semifinal series, between Santos Laguna and Tigres, kicks off tonight.
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Fully expecting Nesta to join MLS this summer? Surprised United won't let Chicharito go to the Olympics? Do you see Boca Juniors winning the Copa Libertadores?
Share your thoughts below.
Who are you going to pay to watch, homegrown Connor Lade and Stephen Keel, or Alessandro Nesta and Gianluca Zambrotta? It’s a simple as that. If you say the former, I am certainly glad you have nothing to do with the players selections for teams in this country.
You apparently never been to Europe. Finland, Sweden, & Republic of Ireland didn’t empress me one bit when I visited… Spain & Portugal was aight, but no way in hell I pay 80 euros for MW2 or any Wii game! 6 euros for a Big mac? WTF? Try buying a Civic for $1500 anywhere in Europe, there is no such thing. A snickers bar for 65 cents, UNHEARD of. Car insurance for $40, yeeeeaah right. No such thing either in Europe. Pop for 89 cents for a 42oz, never happened in Europe. These were just some simple examples. I can go on with Mortgages and health care, but I’m pretty sure you can do your own research.
I take my U.S “second world country” over any supposedly first world country you believe exist out there.
I just had to reply to this loco comment.
Back to Futbol!
It is not BS.
If you got honest answers from most EPL managers, my guess is they would prefer their players not play internationals.
There is a long list of negatives for the clubs concerning their guys pulling international duty.
The only possible positive is if their player does well in a tournament, it might add to their transfer value and it might give the player a confidence boost. Man U. or any other club, would not stand in the way of a player who wanted to play in the World Cup , the Euros or even the African Cup of Nations.
However, the Olympics are not considered a major deal , as far as soccer goes, in the rest of the world.
Especially for a star or a regular player, going away on international duty really has no upside for the club team.
So hate SAF as much as you want but on this issue, he is just like everyone else.
If the individual who made the political comment in a soccer blog is so upset with the US becoming a third rate country I have yet to see any law or laws forbidding one’s leaving to live elsewhere. Has this individual looked at the financial stability of some of the European countries lately and believe that the best of times and easy street is just ahead of them. Godd Luck and when you are ready I know of a bridge for sale that can purchased for the right price.
There are a lot of people who only go to games to see Henry and the like.
While development of the young American player is vital, so are ticket sales.
… and who is to say that a young American cannnot learn a thing or two from an aging European star.
Head to Head collisions are fewer in Soccer…but when they do occur the damage is often more severe since they don’t have protective helmets. There are some studies associated to the repetitive heading of the ball and the occasional head collisions, but they have yet to get the press coverage that those in American Football have received.
I would fully expect that to change as Soccer in America becomes more high profile over the next 10-20 years.