Major League Soccer

WAYNE ROONEY has decided to leave DC United.The MLS club confirmed his departure late on Saturday evening, with officials insisting that it was a “mutual” agreement.
Wayne Rooney has left DC UnitedCredit: AP
A statement from DC United CEO and Co-Chairman Jason Levien read: “We have spoken with Wayne and agreed it is best for us to part ways at this time.
“This decision creates the avenue for our next General Manager to have the full opportunity to impart a new philosophy and structure onto our sporting operations, which begins with the critical identification of a Head Coach who will best align with this.
“We are grateful to Wayne Rooney for all he has done for our club and for soccer in the Nation’s Capital, first as a D.C. United player and captain and most recently as our coach.
“He remains an important part of the D.C. United family and a valued and cherished friend.”
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Addressing his departure, Rooney said: “It’s the right time. I’ve done everything I can to get this club into the playoffs. It’s not a single thing that’s happened. It’s about timing.
“What lies ahead, I don’t know. I’ve seen a lot of reports in the media. I’m going back with nothing lined up.”

Rooney returned to DC United in July 2022 after leaving Derby County.
He was in charge of the Washington-based side for 52 games, racking up just 13 wins and 26 defeats.
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The Manchester United legend is now set to return to England, but he is yet to find a new job.
Rooney has been heavily linked with a move to Birmingham City, with current manager John Eustace tipped for the vacant Rangers position.
Blues co-owner and NFL icon Tom Brady has been in constant contact with the former striker in recent weeks over the job.
Brady believes Rooney will be able to attract big players to St Andrew’s and eventually lead the club back to the Premier League. More

LIONEL MESSI has been nominated for Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player award, despite playing just FOUR Games. World Cup winner Messi only arrived in the United States in July as he linked up with Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi has been nominated for the MLS MVP awardCredit: Getty
Messi has been nominated for the award despite playing only four regular season gamesCredit: Getty
Messi promptly came into the team and used his magic to fire Inter to their first-ever silverware with the Leagues Cup, scoring ten goals and adding one assist.
However, those were not regular season games for the MLS.
The 36-year-old has appeared in four regular season games for David Beckham’s franchise.
In those games, he has scored once and also contributed two assists.
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Despite these less-than-impressive numbers and low sample size, Messi has been nominated for the League’s MVP award – which is named after USMNT legend Landon Donovan.
Responding to the news, fans were left stunned, with one remarking: “What kind of joke 🤡.”
A second said: “Ridiculous whoever put his name on that list.”
A third joked: “Might as well nominate him for Emmy, Golden Globe, Oscar and Grammy while we are at it.”
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Messi helped Inter Miami to win the Leagues CupCredit: EPA
Inter Miami owner David Beckham hugged Messi after the winCredit: Getty
Another added: “There is a better argument for giving Taylor Swift NFL MVP than giving the injured Messi MLS MVP on a team that will miss playoffs.”
Regardless of Messi’s late introduction into the team, Inter’s poor start to the season means they are set to miss out on the post-season play-offs.
Last season’s play-off final saw Gareth Bale score in extra-time as Los Angeles FC beat Philadelphia Union on penalties.
MLS teams can nominate a maximum of two players for the award.
Voting will begin on October 10 and conclude on October 23 at the end of the MLS regular season.
The winner is determined by three voting factors, each with a third of the weighting:

Current MLS players
MLS coaches, technical directors/general managers
Select media members representing local and national outlets who consistently covered the 2023 MLS regular season

Messi was also nominated in the Newcomer of the Year category.
The Barcelona legend reportedly plans to return boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys when his current contract runs out in 2025. More

SIR ALEX FERGUSON has given a typically brutal message to David Beckham over the superstar’s move to LA Galaxy back in 2007.Becks was one of the biggest names in football and shocked the world when he made the switch from Real Madrid to the MLS club 16 years ago.
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed exactly what he thought about David Beckham’s move to LA GalaxyCredit: Getty
Beckham swapped Real Madrid for the MLS club back in 2007Credit: Getty
The star made 124 appearances for La GalaxyCredit: Getty
And former boss Fergie has revealed exactly what he would’ve said to Beckham had he come asking for his advice over the transfer.
Speaking on Beckham’s new Netflix documentary, the managerial legend opened up on his thoughts about the move.
He said: “I couldn’t agree with it. I could not agree with it.”
Before going on to explain the blunt four word message he would have given Becks at the time.
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“If he’d have asked my advice, I’d have said: ‘not in your life!'” He explained.
But Beckham never did ask him for his advice and instead spent six seasons with the Galaxy making 124 appearances.
The former England International left LA with 20 goals and 42 assists and put an impressive imprint on the MLS as a whole.
Not only did he start a wave of new superstars making the switch stateside such as Gareth Bale, Wayne Rooney and Thierry Henry.
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Thierry Henry also played in the MLS for New York Red BullsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Gareth Bale is one of a new group of star players to try out the American leagueCredit: AP
But he also started up his own franchise, Inter Miami, just five years after calling time on his career in the US.
And the Florida club are now home to one of the greatest footballers of all time in Lionel Messi.
Messi followed in Beckham’s footsteps in joining the MLS as a marquee name and has continued to leave football fans in awe of his incredible numbers.
Since arriving in the US he has scored 11 goals and provided five assists in just 12 appearances for The Herons.
Beckham signed Messi for his club Inter Miami this summerCredit: Reuters More

WAYNE ROONEY could only have one more game in charge of DC United after yesterday’s crushing defeat to Austin.Manchester United’s all-time top goalscorer, 37, returned to his former club as manager in July 2022 following a stint at Derby County.
Wayne Rooney is under huge pressure at DC UnitedCredit: Alamy
But his time there could be over in a matter of days after their faint play-off hopes were all-but crushed on Wednesday.
Rooney’s team were hammered 3-0 at Austin – which left him even admitting that it would need “almost a miracle” to progress.
DC United can still mathematically reach the Eastern Conference playoffs, but having played more games than their rivals, it would need a huge stroke of luck for the 11th-placed side to make it.
Speaking after their latest setback, which saw them two down at the break, Rooney told Washington Post: “I spoke to the players before the game about not giving up cheap goals.
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“We’ve done that with all three goals, but the goals in the first half were very poor.
“The first half wasn’t good enough. I could’ve taken 11 players off at halftime.”
Even with a win over New York City in their final game on Sunday, DC United are now relying on others to avoid being leapfrogged by the time the rest of the league wrap-up their regular campaigns on October 21.
And that could mean that the upcoming clash could mark Rooney’s final game in charge with his contract due to expire this summer, although there is an option to extend it for 12 months.
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But the former England striker did recently reveal that he and the club’s executives are yet to discuss his future.
He said: “I am slightly disappointed and frustrated that there has been no contact for two months.
“We asked about a new deal. We can sit down and talk about it. We haven’t heard back. Either way, I can take whatever the situation is. I was hoping we would have, either way, at least spoken about it. That hasn’t been the case.”
Rooney added: “We asked to sit down and speak because planning for next season needs to go ahead.
“So we asked two months ago where everything was at, are we moving forward or not moving forward — if that’s the case from their point of view — and we haven’t heard back. 
“That’s frustrating because, either way, I’d rather know what’s the plan because we have to plan for next season. We need to do it earlier rather than later.
“The fact we haven’t heard back is probably signalling one thing, but I’m sure they’ll have their reasons for that. So I’ll wait and see.” More

LIONEL MESSI has reportedly already planned his next transfer despite only joining Inter Miami three months ago.The forward announced he was joining the Major League Soccer outfit in June, before making his debut in July after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
Lionel Messi’s next club has been revealedCredit: Reuters
Messi made his Inter Miami debut in JulyCredit: Reuters
However, the 36-year-old has already plotted his next destination once he leaves US soil.
According to Catalan outlet El Nacional, Messi will head home to Argentina to link up with boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys.
Newell’s were the first team Messi joined at the age of six, spending five years at the club before Barcelona took him under their wing.
This being said, Messi first plans to honour the contract he signed with David Beckham’s franchise.
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That means the move is not expected to happen until 2025 when his contract expires.
The report also indicates the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will hang up his boots at Newell’s.
Back in 2018 Messi revealed his desire to return to his boyhood club, saying: “Every time I’m more clear that in Europe, Barcelona will be my only place.
“In Argentina I would like to play six months or some games in Newell’s.
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“When I was little I had a dream to play in the Colossus. I was left with the thorn of playing on Newell’s court.
“I have a family and my children come first, and then me. I want them to grow up in a calm place, being able to enjoy life with security.”
He has made brief return’s over the years, including an appearance at the testimonial of former team-mate Maxi Rodriguez in June.
After originally leaving the team he supported, Messi as gone on to become arguably the greatest football player of all time, with an endless list of accolades including the World Cup.
Messi has scored 11 goals and added five assists in 12 games with Inter Miami so far. More

LORENZO INSIGNE shouted “F**K YOU” at one of his own Toronto FC fans during their MLS clash with FC Cincinnati.The Reds slumped to a 3-2 defeat to their Eastern Conference rivals on Saturday, with a first-half brace from Brandon Vazquez and a second-half strike from Aaron Boupendza doing the damage.
Toronto FC slumped to a 3-2 defeat to FC Cincinnati on SaturdayCredit: AP
A crocked Lorenzo Insigne was in the crowed and got into an angry verbal exchange with a fanCredit: TWITTER@AYIK_DANIEL
The 32-year-old exploded and said ‘f**k you’ to the fanCredit: TWITTER@AYIK_DANIEL
Frustrated fans appeared to vent their Fury at a crocked Insigne, who was in one of the boxes at BMO Field.
And the Italy international didn’t take the criticism lightly, being caught on camera shouting: “Hey, f*** you! Respect!”
A fired-up Insigne angrily turned away and stormed back to the hospitality section after dropping the F-bomb.
Insigne, 32, joined FC Toronto from reigning Serie A champions Napoli two years ago.
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He’s been nothing short of prolific during his time in Canada, scoring 11 goals and registering six assists in his 32 appearances
Defeat to Cincinnati has left FC Toronto ROCK BOTTOM of the MLS’ Eastern Conference table with just 22 points from 31 games.
After the match, under-pressure interim boss Teddy Dunfield said: “I think they’re a very good side that’s well balanced.
“And they don’t give you a ton and then keep coming and punish mistakes.”
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“They’re a top, top team and have found a way to win in this league.”
Dunfield is set to pass the reigns over to John Herdman once the season comes to an end.
But there is intense speculation the Englishman could take charge of the club at an earlier date.
Dunfield said: “I’ve been saying this for the last 15 weeks that I’m very fortunate to have had the opportunity.
“It’s been tough for sure. But there’s been some nice moments as well.
“I will need more time to breathe to go through it. I’m sure there’s some stuff we do differently, too.”
FC Toronto will be back in action on Thursday, travelling to North Carolina to take on Charlotte FC. More