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Wednesday Kickoff: Milan closes in on Tevez, Mexico lines up friendlies & more

Tevez (Reuters Pictures)

Carlos Tevez appears to be inching closer to resolution on his future.

The much-maligned Manchester City striker has a major suitor in AC Milan, which has reportedly extended an offer to take the player on loan for the rest of the season before purchasing his contract during the summer.

Milan president Adriano Galliani told Italian media that the club has already agreed to terms with Tevez and just needs the green light to go ahead with the loan.

The situation isn't completely cut-and-dry, though, as City reportedly prefers a permanant transfer for the wantaway striker in the upcoming winter transfer window as opposed to sending him on loan. The ball would appear to be in the English club's court. It has a real chance to rid itself of the Tevez headache, which has been going on for months and reached its apex when the Argentine striker would not come off the bench to appear in a UEFA Champions League game.

Here are a few more stories from around the world to get your day going:

MEXICO TO PLAY IN HOUSTON, MIAMI

The Mexican national team's annual tour of the United States will kick off next month with the first of two scheduled friendlies against South American competition.

El Tri will face Venezuela at Houston's Relliant Stadium on Jan. 25 followed by a meeting with Colombia at Miami's Sun Life Stadium on Feb. 29.

The Venezuela game comes four days after the United States plays La Vinotinto in Arizona, and the Colombia match falls on a FIFA international fixture date.

Mexico faced both nations in 2011, playing Venezuela to a 1-1 draw in San Diego last March and Colombia to a 0-0 draw in June.

FOX TO AIR LIVE EPL GAMES PRIOR TO NFL PLAYOFFS

The Premier League's footprint on the United States is continuing to grow, and Fox is looking to capitalize on that by airing two games live on its network prior to NFL playoff games.

Manchester United is involved in both matches. The Arsenal-United clash will be shown on Jan. 22 in the run-up to the NFC Championship Game, and the Chelsea-United match will be aired on Feb. 5 as part of the Super Bowl Sunday lineup.  

Fox has had success from a ratings standpoint by showing a few Premier League games on tape delay this season: United-Chelsea, Tottenham-Arsenal and Chelsea-Liverpool.

JENAS OUT WITH ACHILLES INJURY

Jermaine Jenas loan to Aston Villa hasn't unfolded how either party hoped it would, and it appears that the player will be out for an extended time period after Villa manager Alex McLeish revealed that he believes Jenas tore his Achilles' tendon. The midfielder was forced out of Villa's 1-0 loss to Manchester United on Saturday with the injury after making just his third appearance of the season.

McLeish wouldn't give official word, because it is up to Tottenham, Jenas' parent club, to do so. Jenas joined Villa on a season-long loan prior to the closing of the summer transfer window

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What do you think about MIlan going for Tevez? Plan on going to Mexico's friendlies in the USA? What do you make of live EPL games being shown on network TV? Did you expect Jenas to have a bigger impact for Aston Villa?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. How did you figure that? I’m very curious how is it that USSF is entitled to profits from an exhibition/friendly for a National Team it doesn’t sanction?

    Reply
  2. Mexico would rather play all their matches on US soil. Even matches against the US itself. They get rabbid support, make money, play in the best stadia, are safe, eat great Mexican food or whatever food from around the world they want and are treated with all the royalty they’d receive in mexico city.

    Great to hear fox showing prem games before nfl games. Now all we need is an American playing on one of these top teams. Hopefully we won’t have to wait to long.

    Reply
  3. Anelka signed with the Chinese team. That’s weak. I wonder if it all just came down to money. What am saying? Obviously it did!

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  4. Anytime Mexico plays in the US, the USSF gets a cut of that money. That means more money for development in the US which is a good thing.

    Reply
  5. I think this subject was brought up long time ago and the main reason this is done is simply put….MONEY, the USF gets lots of it.

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  6. I’ve a problems mexico getting friendlies in US soil, than USNT, thats shows how mediocre USSF is. Especially, when youth teams aren’t prepare properly & USNT doesn’t activity needs during MLS break.

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  7. You mean they will show those games on Fox the regular channel? Sweet!

    Oh and Jozy team’s playing the 2nd half against Excelsior today.

    Reply
  8. Jenas definitely tore his achilles.

    when watching the match, you’ll notice Jenas turn around (as it snapped) and look around for the source of the immediate/sharp pain.

    common reaction as it feels like you’ve been kicked/shot.

    Reply

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