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West Ham have reportedly lodged an €8 million offer for Botafogo star John Victor following links with Manchester United.

Man Utd in market for new keeperLinked with Botafogo's VictorWest Ham submit offer for himFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Fabrizio Romano, West Ham have bid €8m for Botafogo goalkeeper Victor. Galatasaray and Everton are also said to be keen, with United 'monitoring' the 29-year-old in recent months. 

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Huge question marks have been raised over whether Andre Onana should be United's first-choice keeper, with Ruben Amorim's side reportedly scouring the market for replacements. Ahead of the new season, it seems the Cameroon international will be in between the sticks; potentially ruling out a Victor pursuit.

DID YOU KNOW?

The 6ft 5in keeper Victor, whose deal with the Brazilian side runs until the end of 2028, has made 84 appearances for Botafogo and has kept 36 clean sheets along the way. The former Brazil Under-17 international has also played for Brazilian giants Santos during his career.

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

It remains to be seen if United or another rival suitor will try and outbid West Ham's offer for Victor. The Hammers are looking for a new keeper after letting veteran Lukasz Fabianski leave the club earlier this summer. 

Manchester United have opened their renovated men's training building, three years after Cristiano Ronaldo complained about the facilities at Carrington.

New facility built with help of Ratcliffe's investmentBiggest renovation at training ground since 2000 openingRonaldo previously said facilities 'stopped in time'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

United have completed work of the £50 million ($67m) redevelopment of the men’s first team building at their training ground at Carrington, which they believe will offer 'world-class facilities' to players and staff. The project, which was directed by award-winning architect Sir Norman Foster – who is also leading the design of the club's proposed £2 billion ($2.7bn), 100,000 seater stadium, took one year to complete and was finished on time and on budget, opening more than a week before the Premier League season starts.

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The work was funded with help from co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's injection of $300m of capital into the club upon purchasing his 27.7% stake in February 2024. It is the first major upgrade to the men's facilities since the training ground opened in 2000 and Ronaldo described the facilities as out-of-date in his infamous interview with Piers Morgan in 2022, which led to him leaving the club by mutual consent and moving to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo said at the time: "Nothing changed, surprisingly. Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym. Even the kitchen, the chefs, whom I appreciate, lovely people. They stopped in time. It surprised me a lot. I thought I would see other things, technologies and infrastructure. Unfortunately, we see a lot of what I used to see at 21, 22 and 23 years old. It really surprised me. Since Ferguson left, I haven’t seen an evolution at the club. Progress is zero. You have to tear it down and rebuild it."

WHAT RATCLIFFE SAID

Ratcliffe said: "Following a review of the facility last year, we made a quick decision to invest significantly in the creation of a world-class performance environment for staff and players to reflect our ambition and vision for Manchester United. We are delighted with the outcome and are confident the new facility will play an important role in building a winning culture at the club."

United's chief executive Omar Berrada said: "This project represents a clear step towards unifying every part of the club around a shared footballing vision. By bringing our staff and players closer together in one integrated environment, we are creating a culture of collaboration and high-performance."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Many of United's executive team will now work in the new building after being previously stationed at Old Trafford. The building was designed with input from players and staff, with priority being placed on functionality, openness, and connectivity, with increased natural light and open workspaces. Equipment and technology have been upgraded throughout the new facility, with a focus on fitness, nutrition, recovery and team unity.

Mumbai Indians suffered their tenth defeat of the season despite three-wicket hauls from Thushara and Chawla and Rohit Sharma’s 38-ball 68

Sreshth Shah17-May-2024On a bittersweet evening for Mumbai Indians (MI) fans at the Wankhede Stadium, a high-octane Rohit Sharma fifty gave them something to be happy about, but they also saw their side slump to their tenth defeat of the season to finish bottom of the points table.The victors, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), too, were left with a what-could-have-been feeling as their seventh win of the season took them to the important landmark of 14 points, but a straggling net run-rate of -0.667 left them just outside the top four. In any case, despite scoring 214 batting first, LSG needed an impossible margin of victory to get their NRR where it would have been useful.On the night, it was Nicholas Pooran who rescued LSG from a familiar situation. With their top order struggling again, his 29-ball 75 brought life to a sluggish innings against an inexperienced MI attack that played without Jasprit Bumrah, Arjun Tendulkar his replacement.MI began the chase in dazzling fashion on the back of Rohit’s barrage of boundaries on either side of a short rain delay, but they slid from 88 for no loss to 120 for 5 in the middle overs, effectively ending their chances of putting up a realistic fight.The result meant MI, under new captain Hardik Pandya, finished last for the second time in three seasons. LSG will end up missing the playoffs for the first time in their three-season history.3:21

McClenaghan: Rahul could have gone harder

Pooran goes 360!LSG gave Devdutt Padikkal another go this season at the top. But he finished the way he had started, with a duck.Nuwan Thushara got the new ball to sling into Padikkal, and Tendulkar too troubled No. 3 Marcus Stoinis early with the swinging delivery. Piyush Chawla also kept LSG quiet enough to prise out Stoinis and Deepak Hooda in quick succession, and at 69 for 3 in the tenth over, LSG’s innings was moving without direction.But Pooran changed that, even masking KL Rahul’s inability to get quick runs. As Rahul moved to only 40 in his first 33 balls, Pooran bashed 22 runs off Anshul Kamboj’s 12th over, and then hit consecutive sixes off Hardik in the 13th.He saved his best for the 14th when Tendulkar’s first two balls went for 12, and after an injury forced the bowler to leave the field, replacement bowler Naman Dhir got pummelled for two sixes. That over went for 29.Not all of Pooran’s shots were pretty, but he rode his luck. Even though he and Rahul fell as part of three wickets in three balls, their partnership and the late assault from Ayush Badoni (22 in ten balls) gave LSG 214 for 6.1:59

A season to forget for Hardik Pandya and Mumbai Indians

Rohit finishes on a highRohit came into the match with scores of 6, 8, 4, 11, 4 and 19. Among India’s batters for the T20 World Cup, he was the most out of form. But, on his way out of the season, Rohit batted the way he was expected to when captaincy was taken away from him at the start of IPL 2024.He hit boundaries on either side of the wicket alongside new opening partner Dewald Brevis to get MI off the blocks early in the 215 chase. He also made up for a streaky early boundary to hit Matt Henry for sixes over midwicket and long-off in the second over.Then, through the fifth, sixth, and seventh overs, Rohit enjoyed the pace-on deliveries and hammered Mohsin Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq for six fours and a six in the space of 18 balls. It got him to his fifty in 28 balls and put MI ahead in the chase.Krunal, Bishnoi trigger collapseBut MI and Rohit found themselves in a squeeze as the LSG spinners came on. Krunal Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi, occasional boundaries aside, made an impact with tidy spells to slow MI down. The two of them also took sharp outfield catches to help LSG’s cause.After holding on to a spectacular sliding catch at long-off to dismiss Brevis in the ninth over off Naveen, Krunal got Suryakumar Yadav sweeping to deep third for a three-ball duck in the tenth over. Bishnoi, who took the tough juggling catch for that Suryakumar dismissal, then had Rohit slicing to Mohsin at short third in the 11th.Hardik couldn’t do much, and Nehal Wadhera then became Bishnoi’s second victim. All told, the six overs Bishnoi and Krunal bowled between eight and 17 gave away 44 runs and netted three wickets.2:36

McClenaghan: ‘Piyush has probably bowled himself to a contract in IPL 2025’

Dhir shows his worthWith Ishan Kishan looking off-colour from No. 4, MI’s game looked done after Wadhera’s dismissal in the 15th over. But Dhir gave the home fans some positives for next season with a dazzling unbeaten 28-ball 62 that took MI to 196.His second boundary of the evening, a scoop off a short ball behind the keeper, showed off his intent, and he followed it up with more big shots.The three sixes in the space of five balls across the 19th and 20th overs gave MI a bit of hope, but another spectacular fielding effort from Krunal on the boundary line stopped a second six to start the final over, and that took the wind out of the chase.

The Cityzens conceded their most goals for 15 years in 2024-25 and the best solution is to gazump Arne Slot's side and land the England centre-back

Marc Guehi has been one of the most coveted centre-backs in the Premier League for the last three years, but Crystal Palace have always managed to resist offers for their captain when the top sides came calling. They were rewarded for their stubbornness when Guehi led them to the FA Cup final and then their first-ever major trophy after their heroic win over Manchester City back in May.

Guehi ascended the Wembley steps again on Sunday to lift the Community Shield after another shock Palace win over a giant of English football as the Eagles edged out Liverpool on penalties. But just moments later, it became apparent that could be Guehi's final act as an Eagle.

Liverpool have already had a couple of bids for Guehi knocked back, but Palace chairman Steve Parish admitted his side would eventually have to give in and accept one to prevent the England international entering the final year of his contract and leaving for free: "We'd have to do that, of course. For players of that calibre to leave on a free, it's a problem for us unfortunately."

Parish's words are likely to persuade Liverpool to return to the negotiating table, but they should also alert other clubs and remind them that one of the best defenders in England, if not Europe, is finally on the market. And the club that should be paying the most attention is Manchester City.

Getty Pep's biggest problem

City have bought five players this summer, but none of them really address their biggest problem of last season: their terrible defence. Yes, Rayan Ait-Nouri is a left-back, but he is a highly attacking one and the main impact of his arrival will be going forward rather than tidying things up at the back.

Last term, City shipped 44 goals in the Premier League, their highest amount since 2009-10 – the last time they failed to qualify for the Champions League. Their leaky defence not only played a big part in them finishing third and nervously looking over their shoulder at the other teams chasing a top-five finish, it was integral to their failure in the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola's side conceded 14 goals in their eight league phase matches, including three times in the space of 15 minutes against Feyenoord and four times in the second half against Paris Saint-Germain. They were then beaten 3-2 and 3-1 by Real Madrid as they were knocked out of the competition at the earliest stage since 2012-13 while conceding an average of two goals per game.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesNo patience for projects

City did invest a combined £63 million ($84m) in centre-backs Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis in January, but neither signing has gone particularly well. Reis was hauled off at half-time of his debut against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup fourth round and only played one more match thereafter, the fifth-round tie against Plymouth Argyle. He made one subsequent appearance at the Club World Cup but has since been loaned out to Girona.

Khusanov, meanwhile, endured a very shaky debut against Chelsea, and although he showed some improvements in his next few games, he was completely discarded by Guardiola for the final two months of the season. Both Khusanov and Reis were long-term projects who will not help City make the improvements they need in order to compete for the title this season or go deep in the Champions League.

Guehi, however, is a ready-made Premier League defender and England regular, and his contract situation means he will not prove much pricier than the two youngsters. Liverpool's last bid of £40m ($53.5m) was batted away by Palace, but £45m ($60m) is expected to be enough to secure his move to Anfield. And City would be mad not to try and hijack the move and bring him to the Etihad instead.

Getty Images SportComposure required

Guehi is the type of defender Guardiola loves. He is adept in bringing the ball out from the back and at finding attacking team-mates with his long-range passes. He also has outstanding positional awareness, meaning he rarely has to resort to last-ditch tackles. He is more Paolo Maldini than Sergio Ramos, you might say.

But when needed, Guehi does have the recovery pace to sprint back and sweep up loose balls, such as when he coolly snuffed out an opportunity for Mohamed Salah in the Community Shield. He also prevented Jeremie Frimpong from making more of a run down the flank thanks to some clever shepherding. 

One might say that City are already well stocked with central defenders and do not need to spend more money on Guehi. Even after letting Reis go to Girona, Guardiola has six centre-backs – Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Khusanov – at his disposal. And yet only Dias and Gvardiol can truly be relied upon.

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Getty Images Sport'Not reliable'

Stones only made six Premier League starts last season as, for the second consecutive campaign, he was riddled by injury which left him to deal with several "dark days". Ake, meanwhile, started only eight times in the league, enduring five periods of absence which culminated in him undergoing surgery on his foot. 

The pair's fitness struggles tested Guardiola's patience, who said in April: "Nathan Ake and John Stones have been injured all season. I've said to the club the most important thing is which players are reliable for the future. You cannot perform if you're not reliable, if you are injured."

For his part, Akanji had three spells out, including when he missed two months between February and April with a muscle problem. Indeed, City were left so short in defence at times last season that they had to call upon Jahmai Simpson-Pusey from the academy.

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including Crystal Palace winning the Community Shield

As soft launches go, the weekend for Americans Abroad was an unconditional success. Many of the European club heavy-hitters are still waiting to kick off, but the opening weekend of the season proved to be no mere appetizer. From trophy lifts to momentous goals, some of the U.S men’s national team’s big stars made their mark. 

Chris Richards and Crystal Palace were the headliner as they won the Community Shield with a shootout win over Liverpool. He wasn't the only American cornering, either, as both Sergino Dest and Josh Sargent found the back of the net, while Damion Downs made his own mark in his Southampton debut by contributing to a late goal. 

More games are ahead as players all over Europe begin their seasons. The USMNT, then, will hope this is a sign of things to come.

GOAL looks at the major takeaways from this weekend's Americans Abroad.

Getty ImagesDowns' first impression

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression, as the saying goes. In truth, Damion Downs' first impression at Southampton came with a goal in his preseason debut. Then, on Saturday, in his first real game in the Championship, Downs marked his debut with an assist, helping the Saints win in the final seconds.

Down a goal against media darlings Wrexham entering second-half stoppage time, Southampton pulled level in the 90th minute. Then, six minutes later, they won it, with Downs flicking the ball straight to Jack Stephens to steal three points at home in the first match of the season. It was an incredible tone-setter – and it wouldn't have happened if not for Downs.

The former Koln midfielder, who joined Southampton after earning his first USMNT caps this summer, didn't start the match. He came on in the 60th minute and did little, in truth, until his assist, amassing just six touches across his 30 minutes. It took him just that one late to help change the game.

It may not have been totally intentional but they all count. So, too, do the three points.

We'll have to see how Downs progresses with Southampton, and that progress will ultimately determine his World Cup candidacy. Saturday will be a huge confidence boost for a young player in a new environment who has clear hopes of achieving more.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSargent out of the gates

On the other end of the spectrum, Josh Sargent was not making a first impression. His pedigree is well-known in the Championship. He's a Golden Boot contender, as he has been over the last two years and –  while his pursuit of that trophy is up in the air due to transfer speculation – he's off to a good start.

To be fair, Sargent's season-opening goal was handed right to him. Millwall goalkeeper Steven Benda banked his clearance off of him and into the back of the net. Sargent won't get many easier goals than that. You can call it good fortune, if you want, but Sargent will surely say that strikers make their own luck.

Norwich, unfortunately for the striker, went on to lose 2-1. It was a rough start for a club hoping to finally make that promotion push. With Sargent, they'll have hopes of making it happen, even with this early loss. Without him, though, it could be tough.

With a few weeks left in the transfer window, Sargent's future will be a major talking point around the USMNT. He's a player who clearly has something to prove and, given his struggles scoring for the national team, Championship goals may not be enough to prove it. They all help, though, and with this start to the season, Sargent is off and running.

Getty Images SportDest at his best

He scored last week to help seal a trophy and he scored this week to help PSV to a lopsided win. Sergino Dest is well and truly back, and USMNT fans should be celebrating.

Dest was far from the only standout in a 6-1 beatdown of Sparta Rotterdam in Saturday's Eredivise opener. He smashed in his goal just before halftime, making it 3-0 en route to the lopsided win. It was a fantastic finish for a fullback, but anyone who has followed his career knows that Dest is not just a fullback – when fit, he's an attacking force, one that the USMNT has sorely lacked.

PSV are benefitting from his return, as his ACL injury seems behind him. Dest could be a true difference maker for PSV this season as they look to claim yet another league title. They'll likely have to ease him back into things in these opening weeks and, of course, there will be adjustments when he does make his first appearances under Mauricio Pochettino with the USMNT.

Two goals in two weeks, though, exemplify Dest at his best. The USMNT will need that desperately over the next year.

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Getty Images SportRichards and Palace lift trophy

Chris Richards and Crystal Palace had hopes of another Wembley triumph. They were back as a reward for winning the FA Cup, playing for a Community Shield for the first time. In their way? The defending Premier League champions Liverpool. Not easy but, in the end, Richards and Palace outlasted them in a shootout, sealing another legendary win in England’s most famous stadium. 

Two of Liverpool’s new stars, Hugo Ekitike and Jeremy Frimpong, got on the scoresheet, but Richards and Palace stood strong. A late goal forced a 2-2 draw and a shootout and, once there, Liverpool blinked. Palace won, 3-2, sending their fans into euphoria for the second time in a matter of months.

Richards, in particular, was solid. He was inches away from blocking Ekitike’s opener in his one down moment of the day, but he otherwise handled Liverpool’s big-money, high-octane attack. He was also dangerous on set pieces, putting in a decent first shift of the season.

If this was a sign of things to come, Richards will have a strong season ahead. And that's good news for Palace, as they celebrate another trophy lift. 

Jonathan Rowe and Adrien Rabiot sparked chaos in Marseille’s dressing room as Medhi Benatia reveals why the club chose to sell both players.

Dressing room clash unsettled Marseille squadBenatia cites leadership breakdown behind saleClub acts swiftly to restore orderFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Marseille’s season has exploded into chaos just one match in, as tempers flared inside the dressing room  following their 1-0 defeat to Rennes in the Ligue 1 opener. What started as angry words over the team’s performance spiralled into a violent altercation between Rabiot an Rowe. According to witnesses, punches were thrown, security had to step in, and one young player even collapsed amid the tension.

The fallout was immediate. Within days, Rabiot was informed he has no future at the club and England U21 winger Rowe is being sold to Serie A. It was a drastic but decisive move from Marseille’s hierarchy to re-establish control after what sporting director Benatia described as a “scene of chaos” rarely seen in football.

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Instead of focusing on late-window reinforcements, Marseille now find themselves forced into damage control, negotiating exits for two players they expected to rely on this season. With Rowe already close to Bologna and Rabiot attracting Serie A interest, OM’s market plans may be reshaped entirely. And with Champions League qualification a priority, losing squad depth to internal conflict could prove disastrous.

WHAT BENATIA SAID

Speaking to , Marseille’s football director Benatia didn’t hold back when recounting the extraordinary events: "There are key players who came back frustrated, who started to make comments to the whole team, about the defeat, about the behavior, that we have to do more, we're at Olympique de Marseille, you can't afford to go and lose like that against a team that's been 10 against 11 for an hour, etc. So until then, well, it was just words and then it started to get a bit heated, it got up… You know how it goes in a locker room, people get up, they shout, there are always normally two, three guys who come, who separate.

"I was there, normally you calm down. There are still matches left and the season has just started. Not here, we got into physical confrontations, punches. We had a kid (Bakola) who at that moment had a kind of vagal malaise, who fell to the ground, and all that in a locker room… A scene of chaos, I've never seen that. I spent, I don't know, 17-18 years in a locker room, I argued as captain. In clubs, we can sometimes have heated exchanges. Reflections that maybe you can take a little badly after a defeat, it happens… It's the truth, but that said, it can get a little heated. But you can't get to a physical assault, a punch in the mouth and stuff, and security coming to separate you, but where are we? We're here to play football."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?

The priority now for Marseille is restoring order, Roberto De Zerbi must steady the ship quickly to prevent the locker room’s combustible atmosphere from wrecking the season. At the same time, the club faces a tight transfer deadline. 

Expectations were high, but Pumas and Puebla played out a dull 0-0 at the Olímpico Universitario

Pumas sit 13th with six pointsRamsey subbed on in the 62nd minuteAtlas visit CU on SundayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

The long wait is over: Aaron Ramsey has finally pulled on a Pumas shirt. Fifty-two days after being unveiled as one of the club’s marquee summer signings, the Welsh midfielder made his long-anticipated debut on Sunday night in a scoreless draw against Puebla.

Head coach Efraín Juárez urged patience with the former Arsenal and Juventus star, noting that fitness and adaptation will be key in the coming weeks. 

“We’re happy he’s finally on the pitch. He needs to keep adapting to get fitter," Juarez said. "He gave us glimpses of what he can bring, but he’ll improve step by step.”

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The occasion, however, lacked the drama many had expected. A 0-0 result against Puebla, chances were few and far between. Keylor Navas had little to do in goal, while Ramsey himself saw limited touches after coming on in the 62nd minute. The closest moment of flair came when the 34-year-old attempted a backheel pass that didn’t quite come off.

Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

The game also marked Hernán Cristante’s debut as Puebla’s manager, as were left without a coach before the Leagues Cup following Pablo Guede’s resignation.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR RAMSEY AND PUMAS?

After dropping two points, they are currently stuck in 13th place, with just six points from their first six matches of the Apertura 2025. Ramsey is expected to play a greater role moving forward, as the club prepares to host Atlas next Sunday in Jornada 7.

Tottenham fans have reacted with unbridled joy following news that Spurs are poised to land RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons ahead of London rivals Chelsea.

Spurs appear to have landed SimonsFans buzzing to have 'beaten' ChelseaBlues won't bid again for himFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Spurs fans awoke on Friday morning to the news they had been dreaming of, with reports revealing they had agreed a deal with Leipzig for attacking star Simons. It represents the perfect tonic, coming just a week after north London rivals Arsenal hijacked their deal for Eberechi Eze. Allied to the fact Chelsea were also keen on his signature makes it a near-perfect move and Tottenham supporters have been keen to celebrate on social media.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

Tottenham fans can't wait to see Simons in their famous white shirt and some are even pleased he's joining instead of Eze. 

Isaac Kimes said: "I am literally trembling with excitement over Xavi Simons. This isn’t some old, overpriced Arsenal worshipper. This is a young, proven talent, about to enter his prime years. We deserve this."

Kim McCauley made the observation: "Xavi Simons rules and he should have been Tottenham's primary target from the start. Cannot believe they fell ass backwards into the perfect signing."

Dr Nazreel had this to say: "Expect Chelsea fans to go crazy when Xavi Simons starts balling in Tottenham."

Agenda turned the knife, by saying: "Chelsea has been following Xavi Simons for nine years just to lose him to Spurs. Crazy."

But Chelsea fan Bella had a different view on how the transfer has panned out: "You will not convince me that Tottenham hijacked Simons from Chelsea lol. The club didn’t want him badly enough. Simple."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Tottenham fans won't need reminding that they've been here before. The bunting was up and celebrations planned because they were convinced they were signing Eze and look how that panned out. Reports suggest Chelsea aren't planning an Arsenal-style 11th-hour bid for Simons, but Spurs fans won't be popping the corks until an official announcement is made by the club.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM?

Thomas Frank has hinted the deal for Simons is close, revealing in his pre-match press conference: "I think we are close to signing someone, but I want to speak about the players in the team." Frank's side have made the perfect start with wins in both their first two league games and could find themselves top of the table on Saturday if they beat Bournemouth at home.

Weah stood by his comments about criticism from ex-USMNT players, and discussed his decision to join Marseille

Weah doesn't regret comments on in documentarySays he's focused on the USMNT goalsDiscusses what he calls "fun" move to Marseille GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

In a recent episode of the "PULISIC" docuseries, U.S. international Tim Weah called former USMNT stars "evil" for calling out Christian Pulisic after skipping the Gold Cup. At this week's USMNT camp, Weah stood by the comments.

"One hundred percent don't regret anything I said," Weah said to reporters.

Weah and teammate Pulisic were referencing criticism from ex-U.S. stars such as Tim Howard, Alexi Lalas and Landon Donovan.

“I think those guys are chasing checks,” Weah said in the docuseries “And for me, I just feel like they're really evil, honestly, because they've been players and they know it's like when you're getting bashed and those are the same guys, that'll turn around and shake your hand and try to be friendly with you at the end of the day.”

Despite essentially doubling down on his comments, Weah said he was ready to move on.

"I'm fully focused on the positive," he said. "Now I'm leaving all that negative energy out there, and then I think right now, it's important to kind of shift the focus to what we're doing as a group and what this team is doing. How we can execute performances, and kind of take our game to that next level in order to be prepared for the World Cup? One hundred percent focused on that. 

"And if that means blocking out all the noise, that's what we're gonna have to do. And yeah, we're just focused on what our main goal is. And you know, we're here at each camp, trying to try to build it. Yeah, I'm so happy to be back with the boys."

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Weah explained his decision to join Olympique de Marseille after spending two seasons with Juventus. 

"First off, the move to Marseille was a fun one, obviously," he said. "With my family history, my dad played six months there. So, you know, joining the club for me was a no-brainer. I know the history of Marseille, how passionate that city is, and how the fans are., and how you know the team is. I knew it was the right place for me to be before the World Cup and building up to one of the biggest tournaments of our lives."

While several USMNT players are out of the September camp as they adjust to their new European clubs, the winger insisted it wasn't an option for him. 

"I never thought about not coming into camp," he said. "Marseille is a priority, [but] the national team is also a priority to me as well. So coming here and being with a group and kind of building up on what we already have, and fine-tuning a lot of things for me is important. Because at the end of the day, the goal is nine months.

"We have to perform and be on top of our game. So any chance I get to come in and kind of build with these guys, I'm 100 percent for it."

DID YOU KNOW?

Weah wasn't on the USMNT Gold Cup roster due to Juventus' participation at the Club World Cup.

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WHAT NEXT FOR USMNT?

The U.S. will take on South Korea on Saturday in New Jersey, and will face Japan three days later in Columbus, Ohio.

From nearly having to go home on his first day at the tournament to preparing to play for the trophy, the India pacer’s journey in this competition has been reminiscent of the rest of his career so far: a fight

Shashank Kishore in Mount Maunganui02-Feb-2018Ishan Porel’s Under-19 World Cup was nearly over even before he realised he was playing in one. In India’s tournament opener, against Australia, he landed awkwardly in his followthrough and hobbled off after bowling just 4.1 overs. For the next 12 hours, he’d be extremely anxious. The extent of injury would be known only in the morning, after which a call was to be taken on his immediate future. Just one thought kept replaying in his mind: ‘Would I fly home or would I stay back and train with the squad in the hope of being ready for the second half of the tournament?’Three weeks on, after picking up a four-wicket haul against Pakistan to bowl India into the final, a much calmer Porel looked back at the night of January 13. He is training hard for the final and should make the XI. When he does, it will be one of the biggest moments in his career, as in the case of all his team-mates.”I was shattered,” Porel said of the injury. “The doctor had a knock over my feet and it pained horribly just by touching it. I thought all my hard work will go waste. I felt my World Cup was over. But Rahul Dravid sir and others are very experienced and know how to handle the situation. They didn’t talk much about the injury, and tried to deviate my mind.”Paras Mhambrey sir (bowling coach) gave me examples from his Ranji days, how a piece of glass from the window pane fell on his feet and resulted in a ligament tear in the middle of a first-class season. I was hurting, because I had prepared so much for this World Cup and got injured in the very first game. Two-three days later, I gained my confidence. It was tough, I wasn’t feeling good, but slowly gained it back. My mom started crying [over the phone]. There’s a corner in the dressing room where I sat and cried for two hours. Alone. Nobody saw me.”It needed immense dedication from Anand Date, the strength and conditioning trainer, who put him through the paces and keep a watch on him every day for the next week or so, to bring Porel back to his cheerful best. At training, Porel was carefully monitored, but it was dealing with his emotions off the field that proved to be a challenge. Date, however, had seen it all.When Date first came across Porel, at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) four years ago, Porel was puny, weighing just 58 kgs, seven less than the prescribed weight for a bowler of his height – six feet and three inches. Over time, the two have developed a strong working relationship, with each trusting the other wholeheartedly. This trust has been key to Porel returning every time he’s suffered injuries.”Anand sir has been all through my career, from first NCA camp to now,” Porel, who made his Ranji Trophy debut for Bengal earlier this season, said. “He helped me a lot, how to lift weights and all. Only then I took it seriously. Himanshu Rana was there in the first camp with me. He says even now, ‘what change in this guy’! When I think back to those days, where I am now, I’ve improved tremendously in terms of fitness, bowling, confidence, fielding and everything.”It’s this first NCA stint that Porel looks back on fondly as he traces his short journey as a cricketer so far. “When I first went there, I wasn’t very fit,” he said. “I was different from the other guys. I was only 14 when I got my Under-16 NCA call. Others were fitter, stronger and used to hit me all over the park. I also kept bowling here and there.”Then, during an Under-16 tour of Bangladesh, everything changed, so much that he even received an offer to play for them. “There, I got to know what I wanted to do with life and how to progress,” he said. “That tour, I did really well. I played with a lot of the current Bangladesh Under-19 players back then. They gave me a compliment, which I still remember: ‘why don’t you come to Bangladesh and play for us?’ I didn’t think about that offer.”Over the last four years, Porel has already suffered multiple injuries: side strain, medial collateral ligament injury , anterior cruciate ligament injury, and partial tear on his left knee while fielding at an Under-16 game. While he has emerged fitter after each injury, there have always been nagging worries about recurrence. It wasn’t too different when he returned for the quarter-final against Bangladesh. “I started with some pain, and it took a while for me to get into bowling rhythm. Once I was in the flow, it worked well and I started feeling good.”Porel seems a natural fast bowler, not just in the way he bowls and generates bounce, but also in the number of injuries he’s suffered. However, cricket wasn’t his first fancy. Coming from a family that played Kabaddi – his grandfather played for the country in the 1950s and his father was a state-level player – he naturally started playing it, only to realise he wasn’t cut out for it, and turned to cricket.”Initially, my parents would ask – ‘you quit other sports, what’s the guarantee you won’t quit cricket?’ I’d say no, cricket is my dream. It’s different. Then I started going to coaching camps in Chandan Nagar. Then again, I got bored and my family taunted me saying they knew I’d quit. That motivated me.”Then my club, Cricket Clinic, sent me to Kolkata (aged around 11-12). My coach there said I’m weak but I bowl well and will have a good future. I had trials and got selected for the Under-14 team. I started as a batsman. Then, in the club, they made me a fast bowler because of my height. I used to have a wrong-footed action – like Sohail Tanvir – and had to change it. It took me a week to change the action, and I had to keep working on it. Then I played in Bangalore in an Under-14 team, where I performed well. That’s when I started getting more interested in cricket.”Whether it was his family’s taunts or the several injuries that strengthened his resolve to become a better cricketer, he isn’t quite sure. What Porel is thankful about is the experiences he has had in his nascent career so far, ones that he wouldn’t trade for anything because of the life lessons he has learnt. An Under-19 World Cup medal on Saturday will make all the pain and sacrifices more than worth it.