MLS

An MLS expansion team will soon call Sacramento home.

Tony Bizjak and Marcos Breton of the Sacramento Bee reported that the California capital will have the MLS' 29th expansion team, marking the league's fourth club in the state and second in Northern California.

"Sources said league officials will hold a press conference in downtown Monday followed by a fan event in the afternoon, celebrating the franchise award," the Bee reporters wrote.

MLS declined comment when asked about the league's reported expansion to Sacramento.

The 24-club league added six franchises from 2015 to 2019, with FC Cincinnati joining this season. Inter Miami CF (2020), Nashville SC (2020), Austin FC (2021) and a to-be-named St. Louis team (2022) are set to begin MLS play shortly.

Bizjak and Breton offered more details, noting that a group led by Los Angeles billionaire Ron Burkle "has said it plans to begin construction immediately on a $250 million, 20,000-plus seat stadium on undeveloped land in the downtown railyard east of Seventh Street."

Per Bizjak and Breton, the Sacramento MLS team "will take over" the banner of the United Soccer League's Republic FC side. The club released a statement on Twitter soon after the report dropped.

The investment group received help from the Sacramento City Council to land the team, per Bizjak and Breton:

"The City Council this year agreed to offer the soccer investment group a $33 million incentive package to help it seal the deal with MLS. That included setting up an infrastructure financing district that would use future increased property tax to reimburse the soccer development group for building an estimated $27 million worth of streets, sewers and other new infrastructure on land near the stadium. The deal also includes $2.4 million worth of building permit fee waivers and other tax rebates, and up to $3 million worth of traffic control and policing on city streets adjacent to the stadium during soccer matches."

The new Sacramento MLS team will mark the second major American sports franchise, with the NBA's Kings, calling the city home since 1985. The WNBA's Monarchs played in Sacramento from 1997 to 2009 before dissolving.

It is currently unknown when Sacramento's MLS team will begin play, but until that date, the MLS is about to enter its 2019 postseason. The 14-team playoff will begin Saturday.

L.A. Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has refused to rule out returning to play in Serie A or the Premier League when his contract with the Major League Soccer side expires in December.

The 38-year-old told Sky Sport Italia that he is confident he can still do a job in Europe (h/t Jordan Seward for MailOnline).

"Oh, 100 per cent, I know I could still make the difference, both in Italy and in other countries," he said. "I'd do better than the players who are there now. My contract expires in December, and I don't know what will happen after that."

Ibrahimovic joined the Galaxy in March 2018 and has been a hit for the MLS side, scoring 35 goals in 46 appearances. He netted his 30th goal of the season in Sunday's 4-2 defeat to Houston Dynamo.

The retired Sweden international has described himself as the best player to feature in the MLS:

Yet it remains to be seen whether he will stay in Los Angeles when his contract expires. L.A. Galaxy general manager Dennis te Kloese told ESPN Deportes that Ibrahimovic's future will not be decided until the end of the season (h/t Tom Marshall at ESPN FC).

Meanwhile, Boca Juniors director Jorge Anro told Mundo Boca Radio that the forward "wants to play" for his side and that the club "would be able to pay Zlatan's contract" (h/t Goal's Matt Dorman).

Ibrahimovic's glittering career has seen him play for a host of Europe's top clubs, including Serie A sides Juventus, Inter and AC Milan, La Liga giants Barcelona and Ligue 1's Paris Saint-Germain.

The striker joined LA Galaxy after leaving Manchester United in 2018 and joked in August that he could return to the Red Devils:

Ibrahimovic celebrated his 38th birthday at the start of October but has shown few signs of slowing down in his 30s:

The Swede is not quite the same dominant force of old but is still unlikely to lack for offers if he does decide to leave the north American league in search of a new challenge in December.

David Beckham knows a thing or two about glamour. After his time at Manchester United, he played for Real Madrid, L.A. Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain—a worldwide tour of the globe's most stunning cities.

So it comes as no surprise that he is looking to bring a sense of beauty and charm to his MLS franchise, Inter Miami, when they kick off the 2020 MLS season.

Becks made waves when he headed across the Atlantic Ocean to move to Los Angeles in 2007—raising the league's profile to levels never seen before.

Now he's looking to do the same thing as an owner. Along with co-owner Jorge Mas and sporting director Paul McDonough, Beckham has been searching for the perfect players to help him launch their new club. It's an exciting time for him and everyone attached.

"Beckham seems to be loved and embraced by the majority of soccer fans in South Florida," explains Michelle Kaufman, a sportswriter for the Miami Herald. "Every time he comes to town, there is a buzz."

From the moment Beckham got the green light for his Miami MLS franchise team in January 2018, it has been expected that big names would be linked with him.

The rumours have been mouthwatering: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann, Gareth Bale, Edinson Cavani, David Silva, Radamel Falcao, to name just a few.

But how realistic is it that Inter Miami will sign superstar names at a time when most MLS clubs have stopped adopting such an approach?  

"Beckham, Jorge Mas and the others in the group (as well as sporting director Paul McDonough) are being very ambitious and selective in their player acquisitions," Kaufman told Bleacher Report. "Major League Soccer has salary restrictions that do not exist in most leagues around the world, so MLS owners can't just open their chequebooks and sign whatever players they want.

"Each team is allowed up to three 'Designated Players'—players whose salaries are above the team's salary cap. Some teams have just one DP, some have two, some have three. This team will have three, and I believe two of the three will be big-name players from Europe. 

"The rest of the roster will be made up of young talent from Latin America, up to five players from current MLS teams (through the Expansion Draft on Nov. 19) and a few college players."

It has helped to build anticipation around the city.

Already there are three main fan groups building a base for the club's inaugural campaign, and Max Ramos—who is "Coordinator of the Cohort" for The Siege Supporters Club—knows the team mean serious business.

"The buzz is really starting to ramp up," he told B/R. "The Siege is Inter Miami CF's most inclusive supporter's club. We started technically earlier this year, but we've been part of an effort to bring MLS to Miami since 2013 when Beckham announced he would bring a team here.

"We currently have 200 paid members and are looking to grow and build for March 2020. 

"Miami will come out to see stars, a good, winning team made of some recognisable names with talented youngsters from the communities that make up our region as well.

"We expect some big names to be rumoured, obviously, but really only want big-time names added to our roster if it makes sense for the team on the field because winning is the best marketing tool."

The club has begun putting together its roster, with Julian Carranza, Matias Pellegrini, Christian Makoun, David Norman Jr. and George Acosta on board so far.

But bigger names are coming, so here is how we see the rumours shaping up.

Get Excited: Edinson Cavani

MLS has moved away from its label as a retirement league, with most clubs taking a fresh approach to recruitment and veering away from European-based talent at the end of their careers.

Beckham does not believe that an ageing player is necessarily such a bad thing, though—if they can still provide a sense of excitement, class and professionalism.

Most big names linked to Miami are quickly dismissed by league insiders who are in the know, but interestingly, the potential signing of 32-year-old forward Cavani is never knocked down.

His contract at Paris Saint-Germain is due to expire in 2020, and the club has not opened talks over a new deal.

His Uruguayan roots are enticing, along with the fact that he is regarded as a lethal goalscorer who could have a similar game-changing impact to Zlatan Ibrahimovic at L.A. Galaxy.

Cavani is believed to be open to this move—which makes sense on many levels.

Looking Good: David Silva

At the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign, Silva announced this would be his final season at Manchester City, and sources are convinced his next destination will be Miami.

Much of this is driven by an article in The Independent, in which journalist Tony Evans reported that Silva would make the switch.   

B/R sources have confirmed the interest and state that a firm offer has been pushed in the direction of the Manchester City midfielder, but Silva has not agreed to terms. However, they do feel it is the best offer he has had.

Beckham was 31 when he announced he would be joining the Galaxy from Real Madrid, and now he is looking for someone of similar stature, condition and ability to help Inter Miami make an impact.

Silva, who would not be able to join Inter Miami until the Premier League season ends in May, is 33 but has a style of play that should allow him to continue to perform at a high level. You can build a team around him, and his CV would inspire his team-mates.

Don't Rule Out: Luis Suarez

Beckham wants signings the local community already adore, and Suarez has been one of the most intriguing targets since the beginning.

There is a feeling this could be his final year in Barcelona, and because of that, Beckham and his team have been making it clear they would be interested in taking him to the U.S.

The player is aware of the option, but nothing is moving forward. Word from sources in Spain suggests he wants to see how this term goes both personally and for the team before making any major decisions on what happens next.

Suarez would have a good financial offer on the table if he fancies it—but Miami are having to presume this is not a signing that is likely for their first season.

Very Unlikely: Zinedine Zidane

Beckham and Zinedine Zidane have a good relationship from their time together at Real Madrid as players. One year ago, Beckham seriously began drawing up candidates to become Miami's head coach, and Zidane was top of the list.

He was out of work at the time, and sources said he showed some interest in the role. But in March, he returned to the Santiago Bernabeu—and even though things have not been great this season, Beckham does not expect him to become available soon.

Because of his ambition, Beckham has even thought about the prospect of getting Jose Mourinho as manager since then, according to sources. But as he narrows down his targets, the names now considered more likely by local insiders are former Madrid boss Santiago Solari and even former United manager David Moyes.

Not Happening Yet: Lionel Messi

Becks is super ambitious—so why not set the bar as high as possible? 

Early on, after the Miami project was launched, there was talk about Ronaldo arriving. But more recently, it is Messi who has been discussed as the dream signing.

A report in Goal has revealed how Messi has a clause in his contract that allows him to walk away at the end of every season, which kicked in once he turned 32.

Sources say inroads have been made to let the player know the door is open to him whenever he fancies a new challenge—but the time for him to quit La Liga is not here just yet.

David Silva is reportedly primed to join David Beckham's Major League Soccer club Inter Miami next summer. The Manchester City playmaker "is attracted by the idea of becoming the franchise's marquee signing for Miami's inaugural season," per Tony Evans of The Independent.

Meanwhile, former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Beckham "is keen to bring in a Spanish-speaking superstar to maximise interest from south Florida's large Hispanic community."

Beckham, Jorge Mas and Paul McDonough are putting together the Miami squad. So far their efforts have yielded midfielders Matias Pellegrini and Christian Makoun, as well as forward Julian Carranza.

Evans noted how these signings show "the emphasis is on appealing to the Hispanic market." Pellegrini and Carranza are Argentinian, while Makoun hails from Venezuela.

However, Silva will be the key figure, the fulcrum Beckham's team will be built around. It's an idea already appealing to those connected to sport in the city.

The 33-year-old is contracted to City until the end of the season so would miss the start of the new MLS campaign, beginning in March. Silva extended his contract with the Citizens by one year back in 2017, helping the club win a pair of Premier League titles since.

He remains a valuable performer for Pep Guardiola and is still acting as the creative heartbeat for City:

Moving to Miami would represent an about-turn for Silva, who has previously expressed a desire to play for his "local team" Las Palmas once his career with City draws to a close.

Las Palmas likely need Silva's brand of ingenuity more, but there is no doubt having him on the books would be a fillip for Beckham's attempts to make Miami a marketable and competitive force in MLS.

Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has said that he is open to a move to Major League Soccer before he finally hangs up his boots.

The 32-year-old told RMC Sport (h/t Julien Laurens at ESPN FC) that he could be tempted to head for North America in the future.

"MLS, for my family, my children who speak English...it is interesting," he said. "In a year? Two years? I don't know when. But of course, I will be opened to a new challenge. It is not only MLS which could interest me."

Giroud was linked with a move away from Chelsea in the summer transfer window. Ligue 1 sides Nice, Bordeaux, Marseille and Lyon were all interested in the striker, per Metro.

However, the France international also said in the interview he had not seriously considered leaving the Blues in the summer, per Laurens.

"There has been no discussions because the club had an option for an extra year, and they took it because they were happy with my contribution to the club. It is even more than that. There is real trust. It was not really my desire to leave anyway, so I never asked myself about a possible departure."

The longtime Arsenal player opted to sign a one-year contract extension with Chelsea in May after a strong season:

Giroud managed 13 goals in all competitions for Chelsea as the team finished third in the Premier League and claimed the UEFA Europa League. The Frenchman played a key role in their European triumph and was the tournament's top scorer with 11 goals.

Chelsea were unable to add to their attacking options over the summer due to a transfer ban, but Giroud faces competition for a place in the starting XI this season from Tammy Abraham.

The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Aston Villa but has already made an impact back at the Blues with four goals in four appearances:

Giroud will have decisions to make at the end of the season about his future. He will be available as a free agent unless he signs another contract extension, but he may not want to remain at the club unless he is guaranteed regular football.

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has joked he would be "ready" to answer the call of Manchester United should they be interested in signing him again.

Ibrahimovic is currently shining in Major League Soccer in the twilight of his illustrious career. He was previously one of the best strikers in European football, enjoying spells with the Red Devils, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Barcelona and other high-profile names.

After another brilliant performance from the Swede in the Galaxy's 3-3 draw with local rivals Los Angeles FC on Sunday, the 37-year-old said he still thinks he would be able to cut it in the Premier League, but dismissed any prospect of a return to Europe, per Kieran Francis of Goal.

"I could play easy in the Premier League, so if United needs me, I'm here. But Galaxy has me, so I'm sorry," he said. "Nah, I did my job in Europe. I enjoyed it, I have 33 trophies that I brought with me here and hopefully I can get something here. And then we will see where that adventure finishes."

The 37-year-old has established himself as one of the best players in MLS and was on target twice in the thrilling draw with LAFC. He opened the scoring with this pinpoint left-footed effort:

Ibrahimovic moved to United in the summer of 2016 and enjoyed a fine debut season, helping the team to EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League success. The striker scored 28 goals in all competitions that term before an injury curtailed his campaign; he then moved to the Galaxy in March 2018.

Ibrahimovic was asked about the Red Devils' disappointing result in the Premier League, as they were stunned 2-1 by Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday.

"I saw [United's] last game and I think they were unlucky," he said. "If they score the penalty, it's a different game but a game in England is not finished until it's finished. Anything can happen, especially in the last minutes where everything is in the heat of the moment."

Although Ibrahimovic's comments about another stint at Old Trafford appear tongue-in-cheek, Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does appear short of attacking options.

According to BBC Sport, Alexis Sanchez is close to following Romelu Lukaku out of Old Trafford to Inter Milan. Football journalist Sam Pilger noted how thin United are in the final third:

While Ibrahimovic is thriving in MLS, in his second season at United following his injury layoff, the same spark that was so vivid in his debut term appeared to have faded.

As such, it's no shock that the veteran's focus is squarely on bringing some success to the Galaxy. After 27 games in the regular season, they sit in fourth place in the Western Conference and are on course to secure a playoff spot having narrowly missed out last term.

Former Major League Soccer midfielder Colin Clark died on Monday at the age of 35 after suffering a heart attack. 

Kevin Lytle of the Fort Collins Coloradoan (h/t USA Today) reported the news, noting Clark played nine seasons for the Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy during his MLS career.

He also made one appearance for the United States national team in 2009.

The three MLS teams he played for reacted to the news on Tuesday:

Clark finished his MLS career with 15 goals and 13 assists and scored a career-best five goals during the 2007 campaign.

He started for the national team during a game against Haiti in July 2009 and trained with Aston Villa of the English Premier League.

The supporters for the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders fell silent for the first 33 minutes of Friday night's matchup between the clubs in protest of the MLS ban on political signage at games, according to Jeff Carlisle of ESPN.

The Timbers Army, Emerald City Supporters and Gorilla FC all were protesting, in particular, the banning of "the Iron Front symbol, which was used by an anti-Nazi paramilitary organization before World War II."

While the supporters' groups contended that the symbol represents anti-fascism and inclusion, the MLS countered that the symbol is an affiliation with Antifa groups in the United States. The supporters' groups chose a 33-minute silence "to commemorate 1933, the year the Iron Front was disbanded in Nazi Germany," per Carlisle. 

Most of the other fans in attendance also remained silent during the first third of the contest.

In a statement, the trio of supporters' groups called the MLS' use of the word "political" in its fan code of conduct "inherently arbitrary" and requested the MLS reshape the code in a way that "reflects and supports radical inclusion and anti-discrimination."

Both clubs showed their support for the groups ahead of the game:

The Sounders won the rivalry matchup, 2-1.

An environmental analysis has found the proposed site for David Beckham's Major League Soccer franchise in Miami contains toxic and illegal levels of soil.

As Joey Flechas of the Miami Herald reported, an assessment at the Melreese golf course has found that "arsenic contamination levels" have reached twice the allowed limit.

"A report by a consultant paints an ugly picture of what lies beneath the golf course—and in some spots, the contamination is right near the surface, as shallow as a half-foot deep," Flechas wrote. "Nearly the entire site is sullied by ash from an old municipal incinerator that was shut down decades ago."

A consultant's report quoted by Flechas noted that assessors have encountered tile, metal, glass, wood fragments and concrete on the plot of land. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez was reportedly informed of the findings on Monday.

World Soccer Talk noted that this is a potentially significant setback for the football club:

Chris Wittyngham of TUDN commented on what appears to be a serious issue for the area:

The 131-acre site was earmarked to be the future home of Inter Miami, as well as a mall and offices.

Suarez said the findings represent "great concerns." 

Per the Associated Press (h/t the Guardian), Commission Chairman Ken Russell said "this is the largest contaminated park in the city's portfolio." 

Environmental firm EE&G found that the amounts of barium and lead also exceeded regulations, according to Flechas. Inter Miami officials estimated the cost to sterilise the site may be in the region of $50 million.

Beckham confirmed last September that his much-anticipated franchise would be called Club Internacional de Futbol Miami. The club will enter MLS in the 2020 season.

Major League Soccer announced Tuesday that St. Louis has been awarded an expansion franchise and will begin playing in the competition in 2022:

Commissioner Don Garber welcomed the new arrival to MLS and said the city has been under consideration for some time, according to Jeff Carlisle at ESPN FC.

"It is with great pride that we welcome St. Louis to Major League Soccer, " he said. "St. Louis is a city with a rich soccer tradition, and it is a market we have considered since the league's inception."

The announcement means St. Louis becomes the first female majority-owned team in the league's history:

St. Louis has long been under consideration by MLS due to its footballing history. The city has produced some American greats, as highlighted by Men In Blazers:

MLS stars such as Will Bruin and Josh Sargent have also emerged from St. Louis youth programs along with Fulham's Tim Ream and Josh Sargent of Werder Bremen.

Enterprise Holdings president Carolyn Kindle Betz, part of the club's ownership group, said the club is working on plans for its stadium but still has details to finalize:

Supporters were offered a glimpse of how the stadium could look in April:

The stadium will be located in the Downtown West district and will be part of a "major development project," according to the official MLS website.

The new ground is expected to have a capacity of 22,500 spectators and will also feature "a translucent canopy that will provide covering for the fans while allowing light to reach the field."

The club will also now need to begin work on other important details such as the name of the team, badge, logos and colors of the franchise.

St. Louis will become the 28th MLS franchise and will follow Inter Miami CF, Nashville SC and Austin FC into the league. MLS announced in April plans to expand to 30 teams.