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      Inter Miami fans fuming after paying ‘exorbitant amount’ to watch Lionel Messi play but legend doesn’t turn up

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      FANS who paid “exorbitant amounts” to watch Lionel Messi play were left fuming when he didn’t turn up to this weekend’s match.The superstar footballer, 36, has taken the MLS by storm since his high-profile transfer to Inter Miami this summer with 11 goals in 11 games.
      Lionel Messi missed Inter Miami’s trip to Atlanta UnitedCredit: Getty
      Tickets for matches are selling for hundreds if not thousands of dollars, with supporters and A-list celebrities alike desperate to watch the icon in action.
      However, those who stumped up big cash expressed their frustration when it became clear he would not feature for his new side away at Atlanta United last night.
      Not only did Messi not take to the artificial field at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but he did not even make the journey to Georgia.
      That is because he had just been on international duty with Argentina where he left the World Cup qualifier against Ecuador early and missed the Bolivia game – but did take his place on the world champions’ bench as an assistant manager.
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      Inter Miami boss Gerardo Martino stated Messi is “fine” and trained on Friday but was clearly unprepared to risk him.
      And it came back to haunt the manager as David Beckham’s club were thrashed 5-2.
      But fans – many of whom travelled for thousands of miles – were more annoyed about the lack of Messi rather than the result.
      One said: “Messi deciding not to travel to Atlanta and missing his first game in the MLS at the event I paid an exorbitant amount to get tickets for is a really bad beat!”
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      Another wrote: “Learning experience for me. I paid a lot for the tickets to this game. Soccer is one of my least favourite sports.”
      A third added: “I spent $750 (£605) for two tickets to watch Messi for the first time in my life but he didn’t travel…”
      A fourth commented: “My sister sold her ticket so fast when she found out Messi wasn’t playing.”
      And a final user fumed: “Flights, hotel, scalped tickets… And he’s not playing!”
      As his team-mates were in Atlanta to finalise their preparations, Messi was back in Miami, prompting resale tickets for the sold-out fixture to be flogged for as little as £32.
      And he spent his Saturday recovering from his controversial pizza on Friday night and watching his son Thiago playing with the Inter Miami academy.
      The Argentine sat out the World Cup qualifier win over BoliviaCredit: Getty More

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      Forgotten Premier League star joins MLS revolution on free transfer after four months unemployed

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      A FORMER Premier League star has ended four months of unemployment by joining MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps.Winger Junior Hoilett has been a familiar name in the upper echelons of English football for the past 15 years.
      Junior Hoilett has signed a one-year deal with Vancouver WhitecapsCredit: Twitter @@WhitecapsFC
      The winger left Reading after last season’s relegation to League OneCredit: Getty
      Now the Canadian international has returned to his homeland on a deal until the end of the season following this summer’s departure from Reading.
      The 33-year-old snubbed a move to link up with his former Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock at Huddersfield Town in order to join the Whitecaps.
      And the club’s director, Axel Schuster, is delighted to have him on board.
      He said: “Junior brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our group.
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      “He has played a key role with Canada’s men’s national team over the years, having most recently helped Canada finish at the top of Concacaf qualifying for the World Cup and was the captain at the Gold Cup.
      “We are very pleased to welcome Junior and his family to the club.”
      Hoilett arrived at Blackburn Rovers in 2003 from amateur club Oakville SC and he quickly progressed through their academy alongside the likes of Phil Jones.
      After loan spells in Germany with Paderborn and St Pauli, he went on to become a regular in the Premier League for Rovers and made his debut against Manchester City on the opening day of the 2009/10 season.
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      Hoilett left in 2012 to sign for QPR but tasted relegation with the Hoops.
      However, he played a key role in helping them return to the Premier League after just one season but he departed in 2016 when his contract expired to sign for Warnock at Cardiff.
      He once again tasted top-flight action and then relegation with the Bluebirds during his five-year stint in Wales, which produced 23 goals in 173 league appearances.
      Having fallen out of favour under Mick McCarthy, he left Cardiff to sign for Reading in 2021.
      But his second season there ended in relegation to League One from the Championship and he snubbed a contract extension to become a free agent in June.
      “Wonderful surprise! Welcome to Vancouver,” wrote one fan reacting to his latest transfer move.
      Another declared that Hoilett was “gonna tear it up” while another tweeted: “Looking forward to those smooth silky moves that Junior has.” More

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      MLS star banned for LIFE after being caught playing under fake name and punching rival in the face

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      A MAJOR Soccer League star has reportedly received a lifetime ban from an amateur division after punching a rival in the face while also playing under a fake name.Dans Les Coulisses claims Matko Miljevic, 22, played anonymously at a much lower level despite being contracted to MLS giants CF Montreal.
      Montreal’s Matko Miljevic has been banned from an amateur leagueCredit: Getty
      Apparently unhappy with a lack of playing time at his club, former USA U20s midfielder Miljevic signed up for a local team in Laval, northern Montreal, under a false name.
      He featured three games in the QCSL league, scoring six goals for his team Rage while winning a Man of the Match award.
      But league officials quickly cottoned on to the fact Miljevic was a pro player and demanded he feature under his real name.
      Miljevic, registered on QCSL’s website as Matko Milojevic, did not return to play again.
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      But it’s claimed he did turn up to support a friend in another amateur match earlier this week.
      The report adds Miljevic got into a spat with an opposition player, before allegedly “striking him directly in the face.”
      The match was then stopped by the referee, who made Miljevic leave the game.
      And he has since been “suspended indefinitely” from the QCSL league.
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      A source said: “The guy is out, the league doesn’t want to see him anymore, not just one the field but in all its facilities.
      “He did not act like a pro, not even an amateur worthy of the name.
      “The QCSL is a serious league that has never accepted such gestures. It was not his first ‘story’ in the league.
      “The victim is doing well and should not have any after-effects, but is still seriously considering filing a criminal complaint for assault.”
      It’s added that CF Montreal were not aware of the situation, with the MLS club adding they will do all the necessary checks on Matko’s situation. More

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      Fans say ‘the King doesn’t deserve this’ after hearing LA Galaxy supporters’ cheesy chant for Billy Sharp

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      FANS online have been appalled by the cheesy chant LA Galaxy fans have come up with for Billy Sharp.Sheffield United legend Sharp has taken to life at Galaxy exceptionally since swapping Yorkshire for the States, scoring two goals in his opening four matches despite playing just 88 minutes in total.
      Billy Sharp clearly saw the funny side of having his name sung to the tune of ‘Baby Shark’Credit: Twitter @secondtierpod
      Sharp has two goals in his four LA Galaxy appearances despite only playing a total of 88 minutesCredit: Twitter @secondtierpod
      Sharp joined Galaxy on a year-long deal but has the option to extend by anotherCredit: Reuters
      LA Galaxy fans have clearly taken the 37-year-old into their hearts already but their chant for him has left British supporters less than impressed.
      A video taken after LA Galaxy’s 2-2 draw with St Louis showed Sharp going over to a pocket of Galaxy fans named the “LA Riot Squad”, who serenaded him to the tune of Baby Shark.
      For those fortunate enough not to remember the tune, Baby Shark was a children’s song that went viral in 2016.
      Sharp then posed with the fans of David Beckham’s old club as he fulfilled some club media duties.
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      It didn’t take long for the clip to go viral, with one fan on Twitter saying: “The King doesn’t deserve this.”
      Another wrote: “Americans never fail to surprise you.”
      A third chimed in with: “Why are American chants so cringe?”
      While a fourth wrote: “This is as American as it gets.”
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      Sharp certainly appears to have found a home away from home at Galaxy, having spent the majority of his career at Sheffield United.
      The Sheffield-born star played a total of 377 times for the Blades and captained the club up until his departure this summer.
      His 82nd minute equaliser for Galaxy against St Louis no doubt continued to endear him to his new supporters – despite their chants failing to impress English supporters online. More

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      Wayne Rooney linked with shock managerial return to England with Man Utd legend unsettled in MLS

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      WAYNE ROONEY could be set for a shock return to English football as Birmingham reportedly eye up a move for the Three Lions legend.The DC United boss, 37, cast doubt over his future with the MLS club earlier this week with his contract set to expire in December.
      Wayne Rooney could be set for a managerial job in EnglandCredit: Reuters
      And now he could be given a way out as Championship side Birmingham emerge as a possible destination for the Manchester United icon.
      The Blues, part-owned by NFL legend Tom Brady, have made a strong start to the season under John Eustace – who has a contract until 2025.
      SunSport understands the club are preparing for the eventuality of Eustace leaving the club.
      There is no indication he will be sacked after three wins and two draws from their opening five league games.
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      However, he has been mooted as a possible successor to Michael Beale at Rangers should the Scottish giants seek a replacement.
      Rooney last coached in England during the 2021/22 season when he took charge of crisis-stricken Derby.
      The Rams had a 21-point deduction and were relegated from the Championship despite him doing an impressive job under the circumstances.
      He then took the DC United job last year – who were also struggling and finished bottom of the Eastern Conference.
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      They sit ninth out of 15 teams in the 2023 campaign, with Rooney recently vocalising his discontent at his own situation as the club prepare for the final six weeks of the regular season.
      Earlier this month, he told the Washington Post: “I am slightly disappointed and frustrated 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.
      “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

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      Sidemen Charity Match star Miniminter reveals just how close he came to becoming a professional footballer

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      MINIMINTER has revealed how close he came to having a career as a professional footballer.The YouTube star – whose real name is Simon Minter – will be one of the stars of the Sidemen Charity Match this weekend.
      Simon Minter missed out on being able to play in front of a football scout in his childhoodCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Team-mate at the time Jonathan Bond did get the chance and went on to have a career in footballCredit: Reuters
      Simon, 30, has featured in the social media star football match in the past and often wowed with his football skills.
      The YouTuber and Leeds fan has admitted that he is not good enough to make it as a footballer.
      However, Simon still has a thought that if he had been in an academy and played football every day then he could have had a shot.
      During his childhood, he almost had the chance to shine in front of a scout, but because of a clash of fixtures, he missed out while team-mate Jonathan Bond got signed.
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      Bond, 30, went on to have a career in the professional game with clubs such as Watford, West Brom and Reading.
      He is now playing for MLS outfit LA Galaxy alongside the likes of Javier Hernandez and Douglas Costa.
      Simon however, just wishes he had played in that game so he would know if he could have earned a spot at an academy.
      He told the What’s Good Podcast: “I’m salty I was not signed when I was four, I think I could have made it.
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      “If I was signed to an academy when I was four and made to play football every day, I would have had a chance.
      “I have never had a scout watch me play, I know I am not good enough now at all, but at school level I never had a scout watch me play.
      “The scout that watched Jonathan Bond play that game he watched we had a club and school tournament on the same day.
      “We had me, Jonathan Bond and two other mates that played for the club and the school.
      “The club and school came together because they were both big occasions and agreed to take two each.
      “Me and one of my mates played for the club and then the other played for the school.
      “Jonathan Bond got scouted there as well as another game, but my thing is I wish I was there so I would known I would not have been scouted.
      “Now it is like, what if I played that game, I know I was not good enough, but what if I played.
      “I wish I had played that game so I knew.”
      Simon has gone on to have a successful career on YouTube and boasts over 18million subscribers on his various channels on the platform, plus an estimated fortune of £9million.
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      He is also a part of the Sidemen group, who have 16.5 million subscribers on their main YouTube channel.
      The Sidemen Charity Match will feature two teams of internet stars such as KSI, Mr Beast and IShowSpeed as they face off at the London Stadium. More

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      Forgotten David Beckham team-mate went on blind date with Kim Kardashian and appeared on reality TV show

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      ALECKO ESKANDARIAN once went on a blind date with Kim Kardashian and even appeared on her reality TV show.The retired American striker played alongside David Beckham during his time at LA Galaxy.
      Alecko Eskandarian went on a blind date with Kim KardashianCredit: Getty
      Kardashian was set up with Eskandarian by her mum Kris JennerCredit: Instagram
      However, they would appear in the same match just once, a 3-1 win away to the New York Red Bulls in July 2009.
      The pair were team-mates for eight months before Eskandarian retired aged 27 in 2010.
      Just months after hanging up his boots, the forward made a surprise appearance on Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
      During the episode, he went on a date with Kardashian, who had been set up with the footballer by her mum Kris Jenner.
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      Eskandarian failed to score on their date, though, with Kardashian explaining: “I absolutely love [Armenian men]. [But] I don’t know if this one worked out that well.”
      There were no hard feelings for the pair, however, as Eskandarian tweeted after the episode had aired.
      “Thank you @KimKardashian for being a fun date and a down to earth person,” he wrote.
      “I had a great time and have nothing but good things to say about u.”
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      Prior to his date with the model and businesswoman, Eskandarian had scored 32 goals in 125 MLS appearances.
      Two of those goals came in his three matches for the Galaxy, along with spells at DC United, Chivas, Real Salt Lake and Toronto.
      He even won a league title during his time in DC before hanging up his boots in 2010.
      Eskandarian later had a stint in coaching with the New York Cosmos and now works for the MLS.
      David Beckham played alongside in Eskandarian in one game at LA GalaxyCredit: The Times
      Eskandarian played with David Beckham during their time at LA GalaxyCredit: Getty More

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      Wayne Rooney FAILED in attempt to lure TWO ex-Man Utd stars to MLS in transfer window including cult icon

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      WAYNE ROONEY tried to bring former Manchester United players Jesse Lingard and Ravel Morrison to DC United.DC manager Rooney went back to his old Premier League stomping grounds in search of reinforcement for the 2023-2024 MLS season.
      DC United manager Wayne Rooney wanted to sign Jesse LingardCredit: Rex
      Rooney also wanted to bring Ravel Morrison back to DC UnitedCredit: Getty
      Rooney failed in his attempt to bring both former Manchester United playersCredit: Getty
      According to the Washington Post, Lingard held talks with the American club this summer after becoming a free agent following his departure from Nottingham Forest.
      The versatile midfielder was seeking a guaranteed long-term contract and that led to negotiations hitting a snag.
      Rooney also cited salary cap issues during a recent press conference and confirmed DC United were unlikely to add any free agents.
      The 30-year-old had been spotted training across from Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium as he revealed he was “considering all options”.
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      Lingard told Sky Sports: “I’m considering all options. I’ve never ruled out any team or club out, so for me it’s just picking the right team and it’s got to be right for me.
      “I just want to play football at the end of the day and that’s all I want to do.”
      Rooney also tried to bring United cult hero Morrison back to his team during the summer.
      The playmaker joined DC last year and amassed two goals in 14 appearances.
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      The 30-year-old also trained with Rooney’s side during the summer as both sides searched for an agreement.
      The former England international said Morrison has been “brilliant” but the club initially declined to bring him back for a second season.
      Therefore, the MLS giants bought out the Jamaica international’s $850k (£675,000) contract this summer. More