By RYAN TOLMICH
Miguel Layun is set to depart Liga MX as a champion.
Fresh off winning the Apertura title, Club America announced Tuesday that Layun has been sold to Spanish side Granada. The 26-year-old will reportedly be immediately loaned to the English second division’s Watford, although the move is not yet official.
“Thank you to the board of directors and Club America for all the support you’ve offered me,” Layun said via Twitter. “This will be a new challenge and a dream to strive for.”
The fullback, who started all four of Mexico’s World Cup matches this past summer, joined America in 2010 after a stint with Serie A’s Atalanta.
Here are some more news and notes to kick off your Wednesday morning:
ROSSI SET TO TRAIN IN JANUARY; RETURN IN MARCH
Giuseppe Rossi is hoping to finally put a bad 2014 behind him.
The Italian forward has received some good news heading into 2015, as Fiorentina team doctors have revealed that Rossi’s injured knee has seen significant improvement. Rossi, who has been sidelined since September, looks set to return to training in January before aiming for a March return to game action.
“Pepito’s knee is very stable,” said Fiorentina doctor Paolo Manetti. “It’s clean and has developed some good muscle. Doctor [Singleton] has given the all-clear for him to increase the burden which will enable him to regain complete tone. In mid-January, Rossi will start with specific work out on the field before a further in-depth test which is foreseen for mid-February.
“A return to action is forecast for the start of March when we will get to see the real Giuseppe Rossi again.”
Rossi, whose last on-field appearance came in the final game of last season, was left off Italy’s World Cup roster due to his knee ailments, which required further surgery after a setback in September.
BLANC REQUIRES ‘EXPLANATIONS’ FROM CAVANI, LAVEZZI
The club futures of Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi appear to be up in the air.
The duo missed out on Paris Saint-Germain’s warm-weather friendly with Inter Milan Wednesday, fueling rumors that the pair are set to depart the club in the near future. Manager Laurent Blanc says that he requires “explanations” from the two before making a decision one way or the other.
“We’re waiting for certain explanations as they arrive,” Blanc said, “and we will take decisions from a sporting perspective and from the club’s.”
Cavani has previously been linked with a move to Arsenal, while Liverpool and Inter have shown interest in acquiring Lavezzi.
BALE QUIETS RUMORS OF MANCHESTER UNITED MOVE
Despite all of the rumors and speculation, Gareth Bale is not headed for Manchester United any time soon.
The Welch star said as much Wednesday, revealing that he expects to remain with Real Madrid for at least the next few seasons.
“Go to Manchester United? I am very happy in Madrid, a city, a climate and a club that I love,” Bale said. “My contract ends in 2019 and I could sign a renewal. I am very happy at Madrid and I hope to win many more titles in the future.
“It has been a fantastic year for me. I wanted to come to Real Madrid to win titles and work alongside the best players and that is exactly what I have done in a single year. I hope that we keep improving, winning more titles and that I can keep giving my all.”
QUICK KICKS
West Bromwich Albion is reportedly set to appoint Tony Pulis manager. (REPORT)
Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge is aiming for a mid-January return from injury. (REPORT)
Chelsea have reportedly acquired HNK Rijeka forward Andrej Kramaric, who will be immediately loaned to Vitesse. (REPORT)
Swansea City have “reluctantly” accepted a four-match ban for Jonjo Shelvey after the midfielder elbowed Liverpool’s Emre Can on Monday. (REPORT)
The infamous David Moyes “The Chosen One” banner is set to be auctioned off for charity. (REPORT)
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said that forward Mauro Zarate is not good enough to play for the team. (REPORT)
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How will Layun fare at Granada? What do you expect from Rossi from this point forward? Where do you expect Cavani and Lavezzi to end up? Are Real Madrid favorites to repeat as Champions League winners?
Share your thoughts below.
They still dont get it. Lampard is English , therefore I would not go out of my way to see him play . Screw the brits . they havent done anything in the USA but screw things up. Stay at home please, lets get someone in that has English as a second language and knows how to play the beautiful game. The brits dont. Screw him, I hope he never shows up. NYFC are bunch of wimps
Hello Mother, hello father…
dumbest moved layun could have done was go to such a small club. obviously didnt learn from the Ochoa ordeal.
What is the story with this from the Telegraph in England?
“Lampard’s current arrangement at City – a short-term deal rather than loan from New York – takes him up to the official start date of his MLS contract on Jan 1″
So Lampard is not employed by New York but has a short term deal with ManCity? Why are no US reporters digging into the Lampard issue. Are you all sheep mindlessly grazing on whatever MLS management feeds you? Is there any member of the U.S. media that has enough pride/guts to do a little investigative reporting? Please
Yes yes, mindless sheep. Lol. Either that or maybe we just don’t care so much about Frank Lampard?
“Don’t care so much about Frank Lampard”.
Yes, that is better advice. Thank you
If there are members of the U.S.media with pride and guts waiting to do a little investigative reporting, they can probably find more important things to investigate.
I was specifically referring to “soccer media” and I do think they are lagging on the Lampard/NYCFC/ManCity story which involves FIFA Financial FairPlay rules. That is a more important story than most others they report.