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MLS commissioner Don Garber admitted that without David Beckham joining the league in 2007, Messi wouldn't be at Miami in 2024.

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MLS commissioner does Q&AReveals Beckham influence on Messi transferLeague learned a lot from 2007 superstar moveWHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking to ESPN in a Q&A session, Garber revealed how important the 2007 arrival of Beckham was to the league, and how integral it was to bringing in someone like Messi to Inter Miami. After joining the LA Galaxy, the Englishman brought worldwide status to the league, with both Manchester United and Real Madrid fans following his blockbuster move to the USA.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT MLS COMMISSIONER DON GARBER SAID

"There's no Messi in MLS if David didn't come into our league in 2007. It really was the first real statement that MLS can be a league of choice for the top, most well-known players in the world. And David's experience, albeit a little challenging in the beginning, was just fantastic for him, for the Galaxy, for the league, and really morphed into him becoming an owner in MLS. I can't imagine what MLS would be like if David didn't make that decision. If he didn't make that decision, I'm not sure what MLS would look like today."

Garber followed it up by admitting the league did indeed learn some big lessons from Beckham's transfer, while adding what attributes a player of that caliber needs to be successful on and off the pitch in MLS.

"I think some of the lessons are that you can't just take a big-name player and put them on the field and expect that everything is going to work perfectly. That player needs to really believe in the league, you need to manage around him and ensure that his family is well positioned and ensure, again, that it's the right fit for the club. And that's worked so well in so many cases, but it hasn't worked well in others. So I think it's not just about the experience with David, it really is the experience with all of the well-known, big-name players from overseas who've come into MLS. Some of them have worked really well, and some of them haven't. And by the way, that's OK."

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After Messi signed for Inter Miami last summer, he instantly connected and linked-up with Beckham, who played a key role in orchestrating the move for the Herons. In his first season in MLS, Messi was a finalist for MLS Newcomer of the Year, won the Inaugural Leagues Cup – while being named tournament MVP and claiming the Golden Boot – and also won his eighth Ballon d'Or over Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

Now, 2024 awaits, and it's an exciting time for both MLS and Inter Miami fans.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR LIONEL MESSI AND MLS?

The Herons are back in action Wednesday evening, opening up their 2024 campaign against Real Salt Lake. Then, it's a Sunday clash against the LA Galaxy in a big match for Beckham, as the Inter Miami co-owner will visit his former club.

Tottenham Hotspur have been widely linked with a move for Adrien Rabiot in recent days, but the 23-year-old’s problematic history should force Mauricio Pochettino to focus his efforts on signing another reported target, Youri Tielemans. 

According to a recent report from Metro, Rabiot has already rejected a move to Spurs in favour of Liverpool. Various reports have all pointed towards a different conclusion to the ongoing Rabiot saga, but a report from TEAMtalk suggests that Daniel Levy and Pochettino have their eye on another midfield target.

According to the report, Spurs are in the hunt for Monaco’s Youri Tielemans, with Leicester City boss Claude Puel appearing to rule out a potential move following a string of reports linking his side with a January bid.

On paper, both Tielemans and Rabiot would be excellent additions to Tottenham’s squad. That Barcelona have been consistently linked with a move for the PSG misfit vindicates Rabiot’s reputation as one of the best young midfielders in Europe, but his attitude problem is a notable concern.

Rabiot’s most public display of petulance arrived shortly before the World Cup after he was omitted from Didier Deschamps’ France squad. He was selected for the standby list but he declined the opportunity to wait in the wings, a decision which was presumably born out of anger in the wake of his omission from the 23-man squad.

The presence of a player of Rabiot’s temperament would be detrimental to the harmonious environment Pochettino has created in north London, so the Argentine should target Tielemans instead.

The 21-year-old Belgium international signed for Monaco in a deal worth £21.63 million in 2017, and he has been a regular for the struggling Ligue 1 outfit this season, scoring five goals from 20 appearances.

While Spurs will undoubtedly be looking for much more than just goals in a potential midfield recruit, his tendency to find the back of the net is a factor which will naturally capture their attention.

Tielemans is best known for his playmaking qualities and his desire to influence the game in the final-third, and the fact he scored 35 goals and provided 31 assists from 185 appearances at Anderlecht proves that reputation is thoroughly justified.

The Monaco man may be two years younger than Rabiot but he already has 13 more caps at international level, and the fact his history is yet to be blighted by acrimonious displays of unprofessional behaviour suggests he would be the far wiser addition of the two Tottenham-linked midfielders.

And, if Tielemans makes the switch to Tottenham, he could yet represent the club’s long-term replacement for Mousa Dembele.

Tottenham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

Wrexham co-chairman Ryan Reynolds had better watch out as world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has challenged Deadpool to a fight.

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Red Dragons eased to victory over the ShrimpsLancashire native wants to exact revengeMarvel superhero called out by the 'Gypsy King'WHAT HAPPENED?

The enigmatic boxing superstar has reacted to Wrexham’s 6-0 mauling of Morecambe in their latest League Two fixture – with Fury a native of the Lancashire town. He has previously launched a bid to complete a takeover of the seaside-based outfit, which would have put him in direct competition with Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in the chairmanship stakes.

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For now, Fury wants to exact revenge of sorts by squaring up to Reynolds’ famous Deadpool character in the ring. He has asked his loyal legion of social media followers to choose who would win in a fight if he were to trade blows with the Marvel superhero.

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Fury had revealed back in September, after seeing Wrexham join Morecambe in League Two, that he intended to “call out Ryan Reynolds” when attending a meeting between the two clubs. He has been as good as his word, with the larger-than-life 35-year-old currently readying himself for a unification fight against Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on February 17, 2024.

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Wrexham will face Morecambe again shortly after that battle in the Middle East – on March 9 – with it possible that Fury will be in attendance at Mazuma Mobile Stadium. Until then, he is reflecting on a crushing defeat for the Shrimps that saw Red Dragons striker Paul Mullin add another hat-trick to his collection.

Cristiano Ronaldo is not setting long-term “targets” any more, with the all-time great reluctant to speculate on whether he will play into his 40s.

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Legendary forward still going strongNo slowing down at the age of 38Enjoying football with club & countryWHAT HAPPENED?

Given that he is already 38 years of age and showing no sign of slowing down, the likelihood is that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will still be turning out at the highest level when another notable birthday is reached.

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He has continued to star for Saudi Arabian employers Al-Nassr this season, while he is up to 125 goals for Portugal after helping to fire them to Euro 2024 qualification. As long as he can steer clear of injury, Ronaldo should still be going strong in 2025 and beyond.

WHAT THEY SAID

Ronaldo has told reporters when asked about his future plans: “Things have happened in my life, both on a personal and professional level, that make me think more in the short term nowadays. People say I’m going to play on until I’m 40 or 41 years old. I don’t set these targets. It’s a question of just enjoying the moment, which is a good moment. I feel good. My body is responding to how I’ve treated it over the years. I’m happy both at my club and in the Selecao. I’ve scored plenty of goals, I feel in good shape physically. It’s a question of enjoying the moment.”

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Ronaldo is reportedly keen on figuring for his country at the 2026 World Cup, which would see his career extended to at least 41 years of age, and his ability to keep himself in peak condition – while forever striving for continuous improvement – suggests that it will be some time before the most distinguished of boots are hung up for good.

Aurelien Tchouameni admits that Real Madrid's players are already discussing the potential arrival of Kylian Mbappe this summer.

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Real heavily linked with MbappeReports suggest he has chosen to move to SpainSquad discussing superstar's potential arrivalWHAT HAPPENED?

Mbappe has been heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu and recent reports have suggested that he has decided to move to the club on a free transfer this summer, when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires. Real have long been chasing the signature of the World Cup winner and Tchouameni, who plays with Mbappe for France, admits that the squad are already discussing his potential arrival, although recent reportage claims that the Spanish club may have to improve their offer to secure his signature.

AdvertisementWHAT TCHOUAMENI SAID

He said, per Relevo: "We talk about it in the locker room, because we know that it is an important issue. This has been the case for quite a few years. So we hope that things will be resolved in the coming weeks."

Asked if Mbappe had spoken to him about the prospect of joining Real, he replied: "To me, personally, he didn't announce anything. Besides, if he had told me, I wouldn't say it!"

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Mbappe remains a vital part of PSG's project and has scored 30 goals in all competitions this season, in just 29 games. Real, by comparison, are top of La Liga and looking to once again taste Champions League glory; if they can sign Mbappe, both tasks become a little easier.

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Mbappe's future will continue to dominate headlines until he actually puts pen to paper. In the meantime, Real face Rayo Vallecano this weekend, while PSG are next in action on Wednesday, against Real Sociedad in the Champions League.

Barcelona are reportedly looking elsewhere for a Xavi successor after discovering how 'complicated' it would be to sign Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi.

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De Zerbi linked with BarcelonaDeal to sign Brighton boss 'complicated'Search for Xavi's successor continues(C)Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Seagulls head coach De Zerbi has been linked with the Catalan side but a report in Spanish publication Sport says it will not be easy to recruit him. Therefore, the Blaugrana's search to replace Xavi, who is stepping down from the role this summer, is likely to continue.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE EXPLANATION

The report states Barca are likely to be unwilling to pay De Zerbi's exit clause, which is approximately €15 million (£12.8m), due to the club's precarious finances. Moreover, Liverpool – who are keen to find a replacement for outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp – are keeping tabs on the Italian and if they were to sign the former Sassuolo boss they would need to act soon.

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De Zerbi – who joined Brighton in September 2022, led them to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season and has guided them to the last 16 of the Europa League this term – has a contract that runs until 2026 at the Amex.

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WHAT NEXT?

While Barcelona continue their search for a new manager, on the pitch Xavi will hope his side, who sit third in La Liga, can beat Athletic Club on Sunday night. The defending champions can close the gap to leaders Real Madrid to six points with a win.

Veteran Chelsea defender Thiago Silva could miss out on playing in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday.

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Silva doubtful for Carabao Cup finalSuffered groin injury against Crystal PalaceMissed playing against Man City last weekendWHAT HAPPENED?

Thiago Silva, who picked up a groin injury during Chelsea's 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on February 12, is yet to fully recover from his knock and is doubtful to feature in the Blues' upcoming Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday.

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Ahead of their clash with Manchester City last weekend, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino had confirmed that the Brazilian was ruled out of action against the reigning Premier League champions. He further claimed that the defender's condition was assessed on a daily basis.

In the absence of the 39-year-old, Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill paired up in central defence. The young defensive duo had an impressive outing, with Disasi declared the Man of the Match.

DID YOU KNOW?

Since joining the Blues, former Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan defender Silva has featured in three domestic cup finals – FA Cup in 2021 and 2022 and Carabao Cup in 2022 – and has lost in all of them.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR THIAGO SILVA?

It remains to be seen if the Brazil international will recover in time to take the field at Wembley on Sunday. With his contract expiring at the end of the current season, the Carabao Cup final could be his last chance to win a trophy with Chelsea.

Romelu Lukaku got the “40,000 whistles” reception at Inter that Nerazzurri fans had promised, with ultras defying a ban on the handing out of gifts.

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Striker won league title at San SiroReturned on loan last seasonNow with Serie A rivalsWHAT HAPPENED?

The Belgium international striker was once a fan favourite to San Siro, with Serie A title glory savoured back in 2020-21. After enduring a forgettable second stint at Premier League giants Chelsea, Lukaku returned to Milan on loan last season.

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He was then linked with a move to Inter’s arch-rivals Juventus over the summer, before ending up back in Italy working under Jose Mourinho at Roma. Lukaku was never going to get a warm recerption from the home support when returning to familiar surroundings, with passionate supporters vowing to make his “life on the pitch hell”.

DID YOU KNOW?

Inter ultras were ordered not to hand out whistles prior to a meeting with Roma, but that advice was ignored and Lukaku was welcomed onto the pitch for his pre-match warm-up by a deafening noise.

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Lukaku knew what was coming and was able to see the funny side. He calmly applauded the Roma fans in attendance before going about his business with a smile on his face. Inter followers had, however, made it clear that they would whistle his every touch, with the 30-year-old forward unable to escape the most ear-splitting of sounds in the stands.

A "devastated" Thiago Silva apologised to Chelsea fans in an emotional message after an awful error gifted Newcastle a goal in a 4-1 defeat.

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Silva issues apology after silly errorChelsea convincingly beaten by NewcastleBlues drop to 10th spotWHAT HAPPENED?

The defender was at fault after a critical error led to Joelinton's goal that helped the Magpies to further extend their lead. Silva's sloppy pass was cut off by his compatriot and Joelinton made no mistake to score past a helpless Robert Sanchez between the sticks.

AdvertisementWHAT THIAGO SILVA SAID

Silva posted an emotional message after the defeat which read: "I'm devastated. It wasn't a good day for us. I would like to apologise to everyone for the defeat, especially to my teammates who believe in me and support me every day. I take full responsibility. Let's gather strength and come back stronger."

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After coming out second-best to an injury-ravaged Newcastle, Mauricio Pochettino was naturally left "upset". Alexander Isak scored the opener but Raheem Sterlingensured that they were back on level terms soon after scoring a brilliant free kick. However, after the break, the Magpies upped the ante and Jamaal Lascelles made the most of the inspired start and put his team back in the lead. After Silva's howler, things went further south for Chelsea as Reece James was handed his marching orders. Ten minutes later, Anthony Gordon scored the fourth of the match for Newcastle to seal a memorable evening for the fans at St. James' Park.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR THIAGO SILVA?

Silva is one of the leaders in the dressing room and became the oldest player to ever feature for the Blues at 39 years and 64 days when he was named in the starting XI against Newcastle. The centre-back will look to put this disappointment on the back burner and move ahead as Chelsea are set to host Brighton next on December 3.

Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman yet to hold talks with Manchester United as confirmed by Steve Parish.

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Freedman yet to hold talks with Man UtdServing Crystal Palace as sporting director since 2017John Murtough could lose his job nextWHAT HAPPENED?

The Crystal Palace chairman, Parish, heaped praise on the club's sporting director while confirming that Freedman has not held talks with Manchester United over joining them. As per a report by , incoming INEOS CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe was planning to rope in Freedman from Palace as the club's new sporting director once he secured a 25% stake at the club.

His first move was to remove Richard Arnold as the club's chief executive, who himself stepped down on Tuesday.

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The 49-year-old former Palace striker has been with the club for some time, first as a manager from 2011 to 2012 and then rejoining The Eagles as their sporting director in 2017. Freedman has been instrumental in signing young players like Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Marc Guehi who have been major hits at the club. He also played an important role in finalising the successful loan move of Conor Gallagher from Chelsea in 2021.

WHAT STEVE PARISH SAID

Speaking on , Parish said, "You would have to get into the minds of those people (Manchester United decision makers) wouldn't you? I certainly don't think there's been any conversations. It's flattering for the club. You guys live in the world where 50 per cent of the stories in the media are true. 50 per cent are not. We just don't know which ones yet. (He's been) really important."

The chairman added, "He's a brilliant guy. He was the second manager I had at the club. He was instrumental in us getting promoted. He's been instrumental, he saved the club (as a player) when we were about to get relegated from the Championship with a last-minute goal at Stockport. He got us promoted while playing for Wolves. He's got a real affinity to the club and works really hard. We have signed some really good players and most importantly – the transfer window which is probably the hardest part of the job – it's fun being involved in it with him. The fact he's being linked with clubs like that shows he's doing the right thing."

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

After Arnold's removal, the incumbent sporting director John Murtough is also running the risk of losing his job once Ratcliffe formally comes on board. Murtough has been criticised for making big-money signings like Jadon Sancho and Antony in the last couple of years which have turned out to be woeful.