The likes of Arsenal, Everton, Leicester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham all saw the majority of their players return to the training ground for the start of preseason today. Many other sides, like Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, will also begin their preparations this week.
It came straight from Paul Pogba’s mouth:
“Dab is Dab, now it’s gone.”
You read it. He's done with Dab.
Pogba’s quintessential move — the best thing to come to European soccer from America since Christian Pulisic — is done with.
In an interview with Esquire, Pogba said he’s moving on to what he’s calling the Billy Dance.
Everton have made a lot of noise in this summer’s transfer market after signing Jordan Pickford from Sunderland for £30 million and Davy Klaasen from Ajax for £23.5, but their most exciting signing yet was confirmed today, although 20-year-old Nigerian international Henry Onyekuru won’t be appearing at Goodison Park for another year.
Upon hearing the announcement of a new professional soccer team in San Diego, you’d probably expect to see Landon Donovan and Don Garber chumming it up. Donovan has been a main force behind bringing a MLS franchise to San Diego over the past six months. However, it’s the NASL and a group of European-based stars, led by Eden Hazard, returning soccer to the beach city.
Jurgen Klopp doesn't normally act like a super-rich person, but the Liverpool manager is in reality super-rich.
Jurgen Klopp's net worth was estimated at between $20 million and $28 million near the end of his tenure at Borussia Dortmund.
Arsenal and Chelsea will meet in the Community Shield in August, and both clubs will donate their match fees to victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. The match is expected to raise about £1.25 million. Both clubs announced their actions in statements on their respective websites.
From Chelsea:
Here it is: your complete guide to the 2017 summer soccer schedule.
For most sports, the offseason is a time of respite. Once the Super Bowl ends in February, NFL teams don’t suit up for another game, scrimmage or otherwise, for six months. Soccer, fortunately, doesn’t abide by such silly rules.
The European soccer season technically ends after the Champions League final around late May or early June, but preseason exhibitions pick up in early July. Then there are also international matches (friendlies and cups) to also fill the void.
Pep Guardiola's net worth has been estimated at around $40 million. That is less than Manchester City pays in transfer fees for many of the players Guardiola wants, but it's still quite a lot of money. More than I have, anyway.
When it comes to spending money, one would do well to follow the advice from the Carl Sagan-written movie Contact.
“First rule in government spending: Why build one when you can have two at twice the price?”
Everton converted that rule to the transfer market on Thursday when they spent a club-record $38.3 million on goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and then added midfielder Davy Klaassen later in the day for a cool $30 million.
Charlton Athletic is going to have a tough first round in the EFL Carabao Cup.
The tournament’s first-round draw was held Friday in Bangkok and apparently the graphics producers needed another can of Carabao, a Thai energy drink.
During the Facebook livestream Charlton was shown as playing both Exeter City and Cheltenham Town in the first round.
Tough luck.