Diego Maradona has always known about soccer’s extra dimension. Even as a frighteningly young teenager — he was only 15 when he made his debut at the top level of Argentine pro soccer — healready knew, or he sensed, that there was more to the sport than tactics and training, more even than mastery of […]
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Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Lionel Scaloni
“We are used to seeing him score three goals in every game and dribble past five players, but we are asking him to do something different and we are more than happy with the job he is doing. He hasembraced the work load, he is our flag-bearer.” — Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, on Lionel Messi, […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Cesar Luis Menotti
“It scares me that Messi plays. I see him emotionally fatigued between the Champions League and the national team. He has a lot of obligations and with a lot of emotional baggage, a lot ofresponsibilities at his feet.” — Cesar Luis Menotti, the 81-year-old director of the Argentine national team and head coach in 1978 […]
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Copa America: Argentina's Scaloni shows no Pity
Pity Martinez, who moved toAtlanta United after leading River Plate to the 2018 Libertadores Cup title, hoped to build on his Rey de America form to make Argentina’s team for the 2019 Copa America. ButMartinez has struggled since moving to MLS, in part of because of being injured playing for Argentina in March, and head […]
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Portland Timbers make Liga MX's No. 2 scorer their most expensive signing
The move came 10 weeks into the 2019 MLS season, on the eve ofthe close of the primary transfer window, but the Portland Timbers finally got their big-name forward. The Timbers signed 24-year-old Argentine Brian Fernandez from Mexico’s Necaxafor a club-record transfer fee Mexican reports suggested was in the range of $10 million-$12 million. The […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Gabriel Aranda
“I was in the tomb and I took it out of the tomb all of the time when Racing played. He is the lucky omen. He will be proud because I took it out.” — Argentine Gabriel Arandaafter he dug up his grandfather’s skull and paraded it around the streets after Racing Club won the […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Mariana Frambati
“This will affect those who are younger, who can take this activity more seriously as a future, a job. So that generations to come can develop and play starting from when they are young.” — Banfield forward Mariana Frambati, on the decision by the Argentina federation (AFA) to professionalize the national women’s league, requiring that […]
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MLS Moves: Timbers add River Plate right back Jorge Moreira for fill 'positional need'
The Portland Timbers acquired Paraguayan defender JorgeMoreira on loan from reigning South American champion River Plate. Moreira, 29, did not play in River Plate’s 2018 Copa Libertadores championship campaign but he did play in thethird-place game at the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup and started eight games in the current Argentina Superliga. “We are very […]
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Pity Atlanta United — It completes biggest signing yet but must unload one of its stars
Atlanta United signed Gonzalo“Pity” Martinez, voted the 2018 Rey de America as the best player in the Americas, in one of the biggest signings in MLS history. After signing Miguel Almiron fromLanus in 2017 and Ezequiel Barco from Independiente, the Five Stripes again showed off their ability to attract top talent in the Superliga Argentina. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Nicolas Lodeiro
“Today I’m committed to the Sounders. This is the truth. There are only rumors. But I think that if it were the truth or I had to go, they [the Sounders] would understand because we’re talking about avery big club like Boca … So I think it’d be understandable if I were to go.” — […]