MNUFC in the news
Minnesota United kicked off their preseason training this week at the National Sports Center in Blaine, MN. Notable additions include Shae Bottum, on trial with the team after his Division III Player of the Year campaign at St. Thomas University. Also present is midfielder Rasmus Schüller, returning from a brief loan stint with Finnish club HJK Helsinki.
The absentee list includes Cameroon international Frantz Pangop and forward Christian Ramirez, as both are currently away on national team duty. The roster may grow over the coming days, as an announcement of another Cameroonian international is expected soon. Reports also surfaced today that the Loons made a $4 million offer to Colombian side Deportivo Cali for attacking midfielder Nicolás Benedetti.
Minnesota United and Surly announced this week the first ever Rising North Boot Soccer Tournament. The event is part of MNUFC’s Countdown to Kickoff and will be held at Surly Festival Field near the brewery in Minneapolis on Sunday, February 18.
Club and league news across the U.S.
NWSL side Boston Breakers will fold, according to multiple reports surfacing today. The club had reportedly been behind on league payments. Boston Breakers were the longest running women’s soccer team in the U.S.
Questions have been raised by the North American Soccer League’s recent announcement to move to an international calendar, delaying the beginning of their 2018 season until September. Jeff Rueter muses over these and other issues the NASL faces in the coming months.
United Soccer League (USL) President Jake Edwards speaks this week about securing Division 2 sanctioning from the U.S. Soccer Federation, expansion to include a Division 3 league, and the potential for promotion and relegation between USL Division 2 and 3.
David Beckham is expected to announce his MLS team in Miami early next week. Beckham has been working since 2014 to launch a team amidst issues securing a stadium location and changes to the proposed ownership group.
News bits
- Johan Venegas scored his first goal for Deportiva Saprissa.
- Ezequiel Barco’s transfer to Atlanta United points to a growing trend of young players from South America looking to use MLS as a springboard to further their career in Europe.
- MLS side New England Revolution is playing hardball with midfielder Lee Nguyen, who has recently asked for a trade and remains absent from preseason training.
- TV ratings data from 2017 reveals match viewership for both club and country, domestic and abroad.
- Former MNUFC defender Tiago Calvano returns to USL side Penn FC for the 2018 season.
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