Seattle Sounders FC introduced Freddie Ljungberg to the masses on Tuesday, showing off the club’s first designated player and the player Seattle is hoping will be its own answer to David Beckham.
Seattle is certainly spending close to Beckham money on Ljungberg. Reports have Ljungberg signing a multi-year contract with a base salary of $2.5 million, though sources have told SBI the contract is a two-year guaranteed deal valued at $3.5 million per season.
While Ljungberg is clearly talented and, at 31, still relatively young, he is also an injury risk, arguably the biggest injury risk designated player signing since Claudio Reyna.
Ljungberg’s official unveiling was just one of Tuesday’s big stories. Here are some more stories from early Wednesday to get your day going:
Ronaldo eyeing Brazil move
Nearly fully recovered from his latest knee surgery, Brazilian legend Ronaldo has stated that he’s ready to give up soccer in Europe for a chance to return to his native Brazil and play for Flamengo.
A free agent after having his contract with AC Milan expire last summer, Ronaldo has been fielding a variety of offers, but appears ready to settle in with Flamengo, the club he has been rehabbing with.
No word yet on whether Major League Soccer has made one of the many offers Ronaldo is weighing.
Heinze slams Sir Alex comments
Real Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze probably didn’t expect to hear Sir Alex Ferguson talk about him ever again after his departure from Manchester United more than a year ago, which is probably why the Argentine fullback was just a bit displeased to hear Ferguson state that the only reason Real Madrid signed Heinze was to lure Cristiano Ronaldo to Spain.
"This theory of Ferguson’s — that I went to Real so the club could persuade Cristiano (to sign) the following summer– is a work of absolute science fiction," Heinze said in published reports on Wednesday.
Ferguson’s remarks came in the same interview with GQ magazine where he tore into Sepp Blatter, comparing him to African despots and questioning whether Blatter was too old to do his job.
These are just some of the stories making the rounds this Wednesday morning. What do you think of the stories? Think Seattle is insane to play Ljungberg so much? Think Ljungberg will be a full-blown star in MLS? Disappointed to see Ronaldo returning to Brazil? Glad he isn’t coming to MLS?
Share your thoughts on these, and any other stories from Wednesday morning, in the comments section below.