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      I’ve played in the Premier League & MLS… English fans are ignorant, I knew after first trip to US I’d never come home

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      BRADLEY WRIGHT-PHILLIPS believes English fans are ignorant of other leagues and he would encourage players to move to MLS.The former striker started his playing career at Manchester City and made 32 Premier League appearances for the club.
      Bradley Wright-Phillips is New York Red Bulls record goalscorerCredit: Getty
      The former striker played alongside Thierry Henry at the clubCredit: Getty
      Wright-Phillips also played for Southampton, Plymouth, Charlton and Brentford in the EFL with varying success, but proved he had an eye for goal when he struck more than 20 goals in successive League One seasons between 2010-2012.
      But his career really took off following a transfer to New York Red Bulls in 2013.
      Wright-Phillips played alongside the likes of Thierry Henry in the Big Apple and loved the club from the moment he touched down in the US.
      He became the club record goalscorer with 126 goals in all competitions and now works as assistant sporting director at New York Red Bulls.
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      In an exclusive interview with SunSport the 38-year-old reflected on his MLS move and revealed he was never going to return to England after his first visit to the Red Bulls.
      Wright-Phillips said: “I enjoyed my stint here. There was something about playing in England – it was my dream to play in the best league in the world.
      “It just wasn’t my story and I felt at a certain time when I went on loan to Brentford it just felt like I wasn’t supposed to be here. I was supposed to find a different path and adventure and it worked out well for me.
      “I went to New York on holiday. My agent had told me ‘listen they’re interested in you signing here but go over and train for a while’.
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      “I just wanted to go on holiday. It was New York and I get to train with Theirry Henry, but when I got there I saw the facilities, the standard of player, I was never coming back home.
      “It was eye-opening for me, us English folk are ignorant to every other league almost, and rightly so we grow up with the Premier League, EFL and we think that’s the only thing in the world. I was very surprised when I got to the MLS and New York, it was amazing.”
      Asked whether he would encourage young players to move to the US, Wright-Phillips added: “Yes 100 per cent. Without being disrespectful you can play in lots of places around England, but [in the US] you can play in Boston, New York, LA, Portland, St Louis.
      “All amazing cities to play football in, these are unbelievable places with great atmospheres.”
      Wright-Phillips has moved into punditry since hanging up his boots but it has proved to be more difficult than his first anticipated.
      Luckily his dad Ian Wright was on hand to point him in the right direction, and provided a key bit of advice to help him ease into the world of analysis.
      Wright-Phillips explained: “He told me to be myself, [and] as long as you can take that comment you made about a team or a player to bed with you, then I guess it’s okay.” More

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      Lionel Messi Signs With Inter Miami and M.L.S.

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      Messi is expected to join the team this week on a contract that runs through the 2025 Major League Soccer season.The greatest soccer player of his era, and maybe the greatest of all time, is coming to the United States for the twilight of his career. Lionel Messi, 36, officially joined Inter Miami of Major League Soccer, the club announced in a release on Saturday.His contract commits him to the team through the 2025 M.L.S. season.“I’m very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States,” Messi said in a statement. “This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project.”Messi had revealed his plans to play for Miami last month and was spotted shopping with his family at a Miami-area grocery this week.He is expected to join the team in the next week, which would put him on track to make his debut for Inter Miami in a Concacaf Leagues Cup game against Cruz Azul of Mexico on July 21.A soccer prodigy as a child in Argentina, Messi moved to Spain to sign with Barcelona at age 13 and soon became a talked about young player. He made his debut with the first team at 16 and went on to a spectacular career, winning every major trophy and six Ballons d’Or as the world’s best player. He moved on to Paris-St. Germain in 2021, where he won another Ballon d’Or, and his team dominated the French league, although it failed to win the Champions League.He has been the leader of the Argentine national team almost since his 2005 debut, and added the final trophy missing from his collection when he won the World Cup with them last summer.The consensus of fans and historians has been that his greatness as a player is rivaled perhaps only by Cristiano Ronaldo in his own era and by Pelé and Diego Maradona from any era.Messi’s signing completes what could be described as the quiet Barcelona-fication of Inter Miami that preceded his formal arrival. The team’s chief business officer and its top operations and facilities executive are both former Barcelona employees. Last month, Inter Miami announced that Messi’s former midfield teammate at Barcelona, Sergio Busquets, would be its second marquee signing of the summer.Then, two weeks ago, Gerardo Martino, the Argentine known as Tata who had coached Messi at Barcelona, was hired as Inter Miami’s coach. At his introductory news conference, he spoke openly of working with Messi and Busquets, and left little doubt that he saw his new challenge as more than a reunion.“Sometimes we associate the United States, Miami, are linked with the idea of a vacation,” Martino said. “This isn’t that. We want to compete.“They are not players who are going to come here to not compete.”The signing is reminiscent of 2007, when Los Angeles Galaxy of M.L.S. signed the world’s most famous player, if not the best, David Beckham, at age 32. Beckham played in L.A. for six years, winning two championships, and brought the league unprecedented exposure.M.L.S. has long spoken of eventually matching the quality and visibility of the world’s top leagues. It will hope that Lionel Messi’s golden years help push it in that direction. More

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      I’m an ex-Premier League star and thought I knew it all about football until first punditry role… Ian Wright saved me

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      FORMER Manchester City striker Bradley Wright-Phillips has revealed how advice from his dad Ian Wright helped him to establish himself as a pundit.Wright-Phillips first followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a professional footballer.
      Bradley Wright-Phillips is part of Apple TV’s MLS coverage
      Ian Wright gave his son crucial advice to succeed in punditryCredit: Dan Charity / Newsgroup Newspapers Ltd
      And like Arsenal legend Wright he was also a forward, playing up-front for the likes of City and Southampton before moving to MLS in 2013 where he became New York Red Bull’s record goalscorer.
      He hung up his boots in 2022 and took on a role as assistant sporting director at the club – a position he still holds.
      Wright-Phillips also works as a pundit on Apple TV’s MLS 360 show, but the 38-year-old admitted he underestimated how tough it is to provide analysis on matches.
      In an exclusive interview with SunSport, Wright-Phillips explained what his punditry experience has been like.

      He said: “Whirlwhind. Unexpected. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do after I retired. I was going to be working at Red Bull, still am, assistant to the sporting director.
      “I got an opportunity to work with MLS and Apple TV and next thing you know I’m talking weekly about football.
      “It’s tough. I underestimated it. I went in, I’ve learned that I need to prepare better.
      “As an ex-player you think you know everything about the game, you think you know how to talk about the game and I quickly learned that I didn’t.”
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      Fortunately Wright-Phillips had an expert pundit he could lean on for advice in the form of his father.
      Wright, 59, has worked as a pundit on Match of the Day and covered England matches for both the BBC and ITV.
      So when his son came to him for help, Wright had the perfect advice.
      Wright-Phillips explained: “He told me to be myself, [and] as long as you can take that comment you made about a team or a player to bed with you, then I guess it’s okay.”
      The ex-forward also loved playing in the US and revealed he never looked back after visiting New York Red Bulls for the first time.
      He went to the Big Apple on holiday and has since spent ten years across the pond.
      Wright-Phillips added: “I went to New York on holiday. My agent had told me ‘listen they’re interested in you signing here but go over and train for a while’.
      “I just wanted to go on holiday. It was New York and I get to train with Theirry Henry, but when I got there I saw the facilities, the standard of player, I was never coming back home.
      “It was eye-opening for me, us English folk are ignorant to every other league almost, and rightly so we grow up with the Premier League, EFL and we think that’s the only thing in the world. I was very surprised when I got to the MLS and New York, it was amazing.” More

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      Inter Miami terminate contract of star to make space for Lionel Messi as they prepare to announce star’s arrival

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      INTER Miami have terminated the contract of one of their stars to help make room for Lionel Messi.The Miami club beat Barcelona and Saudi Arabian sides to Messi’s signature by offering him a deal worth £830,000-a-week.
      Midfielder Rodolfo Pizzaro has had his contract terminated to make room for Lionel MessiCredit: Getty
      MLS rules dictate that each club can have only three designated players – so Pizzaro has been moved to make room for MessiCredit: Getty
      The wages will be partly paid for by third parties such as Apple, Adidas and the MLS.
      But before Messi joins, the club have been forced to terminate the contract of one of their stars to make room for the World Cup winner.
      The MLS rules dictate that each team can only have three ‘designated players’ which are stars that earn above the club’s salary cap.
      And to make room for the former Barcelona forward, Inter Miami have terminated the contract of attacking midfielder Rodolfo Pizzaro.
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      Pizzaro was one of three DPs alongside captain Gregore and forward Leonardo Campana.
      According to Transfermarkt’s Manuel Veth, Pizzaro will join Greek side AEK Athens on a free transfer.
      The 29-year-old played 15 times for Inter Miami this season, registering no goals and one assist.
      Messi will arrive to a struggling Inter Miami team who sacked head coach Phil Neville due to poor results last month.
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      Miami are currently rock bottom of the MLS table and sit 11 points off the league’s play-off places.
      There is no relegation in the MLS so Messi will not have to worry about soon playing for a second tier side.
      He is expected to make his debut for the club next week on July 21 when Miami play Mexican club Cruz Azul in the Leagues cup.
      The Leagues cup sees the top MLS sides face off against their Mexican Liga MX counterparts.
      There was speculation that Messi would play against Arsenal as part of the MLS all star team in a friendly on July 20.
      However, MLS comissioner Don Garber confirmed that the two international picks in the all star side would be Kei Kamara and Mathieu Choiniere – therefore ruling Messi out of the game. More

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      Fans are only just realising the first MLS was won by a Premier League side… who beat Aberdeen in the final

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      LIONEL MESSI will be introduced to his new Inter Miami fans in a glamorous unveiling party in Florida on Sunday.But the world’s greatest footballer has no idea he owes his lucrative move, at least in part, to WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS!
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      Wolves won the North American Soccer championship in 1967Credit: Instagram/Wolves
      They were the first-ever team to do soCredit: Instagram/Wolves
      They beat Aberdeen in the finalCredit: Instagram/Wolves
      In fairness to the Argentina legend, few Molineux fans realise the huge part their club played in introducing professional football to the USA.
      Or the fact that the first ever North American Soccer championship was won by Wolves- or Los Angeles Wolves as they became known in the States!
      Now a soon-to-be-released documentary will tell the incredible story of how the Midlands club blazed a trail for football across the pond.
      A decade before superstars such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, George Best and Rodney Marsh made soccer sexy Stateside – and 30 years before the formation of the MLS, Messi is now part of!
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      The untold story of how Wolves wooed America is about to be brought to life by a new documentary from Wolves Studios – 1967: When Wolves Conquered the USA.
      The film focuses on the summer of ’67 when LA Wolves won the first-ever United Soccer Association (USA) league title – exactly 56 years ago today.
      England’s World Cup triumph in 1966 was the catalyst as it was the first World Cup to be beamed by satellite to the United States.
      It proved so popular a decision was taken to form North America’s first professional league – which proved to be the birth of the beautiful game in the USA.
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      Without players of their own, the USA League imported entire teams from Europe and South America for the inaugural season, giving them time to build their own squads for the following campaign.
      Wolves had just won promotion to the old First Division and players such as Phil Parkes, Mike Bailey, Derek Dougan, Gerry Taylor and Terry Wharton headed to the ‘City of Angels’ as LA’s chosen team.
      They played in a Western Division consisting of clubs such as San Francisco Golden Gate Gales (ADO Den Haag), Vancouver Royal Canadians (Sunderland) and Houston Stars (Bangu AC from Brazil).
      Former Wolves goalie Phil Parkes told SunSport: “Our manager Ronnie Allen called a team meeting and said we’d been offered this tour to Los Angeles for nine weeks, who wants to go? 
      “I’d never been out of England, I’d never even been to Wales, so yeah I was up for it! 
      “We didn’t have a clue what we were getting into – but what an experience.
      “We stayed in a lovely hotel with a pool for nine weeks, we were given $30 a day spending money and had the time of our lives.
      “Every game involved a flight and we went to Washington, San Francisco, Dallas and the like.
      Pele was one of the first stars to join the MLSCredit: Getty
      Lionel Messi has joined Inter MiamiCredit: Getty
      “The game in Dallas was played in 100 degree heat and they had to put giant fans in the dressing-rooms so we didn’t pass out.
      “On the 4th of July the sponsors entertained us with a barbecue at the beach and the lads got pissed but I was only 19 and you had to be 21 to drink out there.
      “Dave Burnside was about 34 and BALD yet even he was being asked for ID so I had no chance!”
      Wolves made it to the play-off final against Eastern Division champs Washington Whips (Aberdeen) in the 100,000 capacity LA Coliseum in front of a crowd of 18,000 – and served up a classic.
      Parkes and his pals lifted the inaugural Presidents Cup beating the Whips 6-5 in an epic final which produced 11 goals, two hat-tricks, three penalty kicks, last minute equalisers in normal and extra-time, a red card, punch-ups, and a golden goal winner!
      The beautiful game had officially arrived in the USA.
      Parkes said: “The final was a marathon which went on forever in the heat of LA. We played the 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time and then kept playing for a golden goal.
      “Aberdeen only had 10 men after Jim Smith was sent off early on so when Ally Shewin scored a ‘golden’ own goal we loved him for it – and so did the Aberdeen boys because everybody was knackered!
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      “We each got a little trophy as the first champions of America and I’m proud of what we achieved as LA Wolves.
      “Lionel Messi might never have made it to the MLS if it hadn’t been for us introducing  the professional game to the States.”
      No monkeying aroundNO-ONE could accuse Wolves of monkeying around as they stormed to the first ever North American Soccer League title.
      Off the pitch however, it was a very different story as Ronnie Allen’s trailblazers lived it up in LA at the height of the swinging 60’s.
      That led to them forming an unlikely bond with one of the most iconic pop bands of the era – as Wolves got into the groove, partying with chart-topping heart-throbs The Monkees!
      Phil Parkes revealed: “David Jones the singer from The Monkees went to school with Waggy (Dave Wagstaff) in Manchester.
      “He read in the papers that we were there and he came to our hotel to see Waggy.
      “He was a great little fellow and he told Waggy to invite us all to the TV studios to see them film an episode of their TV show which was huge at the time.
      “We didn’t believe him at first but then a fleet of limousines turned up at the hotel to take us to the studios!
      “In fact Dave Jones did me a massive favour which saved me a club fine.
      “I’d gone to the beach with Paddy Buckley and I fell asleep and got badly sunburned.
      “Ronnie Allen had warned us anyone who got sunburned and couldn’t train would get fined a week’s wages.
      “Dave took one look at me and told me to go to the pharmacy and ask for a can of solar cream.
      “In fact, looking at you, you’d better ask for TWO cans!
      “But it worked and took the sting out of the burns so I managed to get through training.
      “So Dave was a great lad as far as I was concerned.” More

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      David Beckham breaks silence on ‘massive moment’ that allowed him to sign Lionel Messi for Inter Miami

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      DAVID BECKHAM has broken his silence on the “massive moment” that allowed him to sign Lionel Messi for Inter Miami.The former England captain is the co-owner of the Florida-based MLS franchise.
      David Beckham has broken his silence on the signing of Lionel MessiCredit: Getty
      Lionel Messi has joined Inter Miami from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transferCredit: Getty
      Messi is set to officially become an Inter Miami player on Wednesday as he completes his free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.
      The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner confirmed last month that he had agreed to move to the MLS.
      He reportedly turned down offers from former club Barcelona and Saudi Arabia to leave Europe for the USA.
      Ahead of the deal becoming official, Beckham has now lifted the lid on how he learned he had completed the signing.
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      Speaking to The Athletic, he recalled: “A couple of weeks ago, I woke up to about a million messages on my phone.
      “I was thinking, ‘What’s gone off? I don’t usually get this many messages’.
      “All of a sudden, I hear Leo has come out and announced he’s coming to Miami. Obviously, it wasn’t a surprise to me.
      “I have always said, from the word go, that if I had the opportunity to bring the best players in the game to Miami, at whatever time of their careers, I would do that. I have always made that commitment to our fans.
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      “So when I hear that one of the best players — if not the best player — who has won everything in the game, who is still a great player, still young and still doing what he’s doing, wants to play for my team, it’s a massive moment for us.”
      Messi will reunite with former Barcelona and Argentina boss Gerardo Martino in Miami, after his compatriot replaced Phil Neville as manager.
      Ex-Barca team-mate Sergio Busquets has also signed for the MLS’ bottom side following his exit from the Nou Camp.
      Fans will have to wait to see Messi make his debut for his new club, though.
      The Leagues Cup clash with Cruz Azul on July 21 is the first chance the 36-year-old will have to play for Inter Miami.
      Meanwhile, his league debut will not come until at least August 20, with the MLS taking a mid-season break for the Leagues Cup.
      Inter Miami will be looking to climb off the foot of the Eastern Conference when they host Inter Miami on their return to league action.
      David Beckham is the co-owner of MLS franchise Inter MiamiCredit: AP More

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      When will Lionel Messi play his first game for Inter Miami?

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      THE LIONEL MESSI effect is in full swing in Florida as the Argentine superstar prepares for his first game with Inter Miami CF.Messi announced he had joined the MLS club on June 7, 2023, after turning down deals from Barcelona and Saudi Arabia.
      Lionel Messi announced his commitment to Miami in June 2023Credit: Getty
      When will Lionel Messi play his first game for Inter Miami?
      Inter Miami have struggled in MLS this season with defeats to fellow Floridian side Orlando City as well as both New York City and New York Red Bulls.
      Although the David Beckham-owned side continues to play in games, Messi will not be able to take to the field until July 2023.
      The Argentine forward’s contract with Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain ran until June 30.
      But even then, Messi will have to wait to make his MLS debut, with his first game for Inter Miami expected to be against Cruz Azul on July 21 in the Leagues Cup.
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      “Having the world’s greatest player here is something that is significant for our league, and for the football ecosystem in the United States,” Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said in an interview with The Miami Herald.
      “Lionel Messi is coming to this country to win cups and make a difference. I think it’s incumbent upon myself and my partners in the league, the other owners, to seize the moment.”
      When will Lionel Messi make his MLS debut for Inter Miami?
      Messi will likely have to wait until August 20 before he makes his Major League Soccer debut as the MLS takes a break for the Leagues Cup.
      The international tournament pits teams from the MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX in a mini-competition in North America.
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      Yet, should the Argentine come through unscathed, he will play his first game in the league against Charlotte FC.
      Messi is expected to play with the team for the remainder of the season after making his July 21 debut.
      Inter Miami’s remaining MLS games include:

      August 20: Inter Miami vs. Charlotte FC at DRV PNK Stadium (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
      August 26: New York Red Bulls vs. Inter Miami at Red Bull Arena (Harrison, New Jersey)
      August 30: Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC at DRV PNK Stadium (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
      September 3: Los Angeles FC vs. Inter Miami at BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, California)
      September 9: Inter Miami vs. Sporting Kansas City at DRV PNK Stadium (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
      September 16: Atlanta United FC vs. Inter Miami at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia)
      September 20: Inter Miami vs. Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
      September 24: Orlando City SC vs. Inter Miami at Exploria Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
      September 30: Inter Miami vs. New York City FC at DRV PNK Stadium (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
      October 4: Chicago Fire FC vs. Inter Miami at Soldier Field (Chicago, Illinois)
      October 7: Inter Miami vs. FC Cincinnati at DRV PNK Stadium (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
      October 21: Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami at Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)

      Why will Lionel Messi not play for MLS All-Stars vs Arsenal?
      Before Messi has the opportunity to play for his new club Inter Miami, the MLS All-Stars will face Premier League side Arsenal at Audi Field in Washington, DC on July 19.
      With the arrival of such a global superstar, some had expected the Argentine to be called up to feature in the team made up of the best the league has to offer.
      Although rules state that they should have already played for a club in the MLS, the league’s commissioner Don Garber had two picks of his choice where he could have selected Messi.
      However, Garber chose Kei Kamara and Mathieu Choiniere, meaning that Messi’s debut in the US will have to wait a little longer.
      Lionel Messi will make his Miami debut on July 21, 2023Credit: Getty
      How much is Lionel Messi’s contract?
      Details on Messi’s contract have been released sporadically since he made the announcement.
      At this time, the exact numbers have not been revealed, but it will reportedly include profit sharing with Apple and Adidas, two of MLS’s biggest commercial partners, according to NBC Sports.
      Messi will also reportedly have the option to purchase a minority stake in Inter Miami.
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      NBC Sports states that Messi could earn close to $60million per year with this new deal.
      Prior to signing with Miami, Messi turned down a three-year, $1.6billion offer from Saudi Arabia. More

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      Treble-winning Man City boss Pep Guardiola loses ANOTHER member of his staff as assistant manager leaves in shock move

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      MANCHESTER CITY manager Pep Guardiola has lost ANOTHER assistant coach after the club’s remarkable Treble triumph.City confirmed Rodolfo Borrell has left his role at the Etihad to become the new sporting director of Austin FC in the MLS.
      Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has lost his assistant manager Rodolfo BorrellCredit: Getty
      Borrell became Guardiola’s assistant manager last season and helped the Citizens win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
      City director of football Txiki Begiristain said: “I would like to wish Rodolfo the best of luck in his new role at Austin FC.
      “He has played a significant role in the Club’s achievements over the past nine years, both as Global Technical Director and after joining Pep Guardiola’s backroom team.
      “The manager has often spoken about how important his coaching staff have been in helping him and the team achieve what we have.
      “Rodolfo has, of course, been a major part of that during his time at Manchester City.
      “I have every confidence that he will be a huge asset to both Austin FC and United States soccer.”
      Borrell joined City from Liverpool in 2014 global technical director and also worked as head of coaching for their academy before joined Guardiola’s backroom staff two years later.
      The Spaniard joins Enzo Maresca at the exit door after the Italian coach took over as Leicester’s new manager.
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