MLS News Briefs - Week 17

MLS News Briefs: From Net to Net – Week 17
by TJ Boyce – July 24, 2007

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AC Milan’s Filippo Inzaghi has revealed that the New York Red Bulls approached the star striker about a possible move to MLS. Inzaghi, 33, was the star of Milan’s recent Champions League triumph earlier this year, scoring both of the Rossoneri’s goals in a 2-1 victory over Liverpool.

“I would have had the possibility of challenging David Beckham and his LA Galaxy team, and they would have covered me in gold,” he said about the Red Bulls’ offer to him. “However, I had no doubt whatsoever; I will end my career in the Milan shirt, which has become a second skin for me.”

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The debut game for David Beckham in a Los Angeles Galaxy uniform was a ratings success for ESPN, with the game drawing a 1.0 rating, equaling roughly 947,000 U.S. households. The exhibition between the Galaxy and Chelsea FC of the English Premier League was the most-watched soccer game ever broadcast on ESPN, besting the league’s first game ever, back in 1996, which was seen in 681,000 U.S. households, according to Nielsen Media Research.

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Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has turned down an offer to play for D.C. United in MLS, choosing to stay with Estudiantes de La Plata for another season, at the same time leaving the door open for a potential move this winter.

With rumors swirling, United president Kevin Payne recently traveled to Argentina for talks with the 32-year-old midfielder, reportedly offering La Brujita a contract worth nearly $20 million, including his own image rights. According to sources, Veron only turned the offer down because he wants to stay at Estudiantes to take part in next year’s Copa Libertadores.

Veron, who has suited up for Inter Milan, Lazio, Manchester United and Chelsea in his career, told Goal.com: “Today my answer is no. But in a few months, maybe in December, who knows?”

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Despite allowing a goal for the first time in 727 minutes, the Houston Dynamo earned a hard-fought 3-3 tie on the road against the New England Revolution, extending their unbeaten streak to 11 games. The Men in Orange will have a chance to extend their streak to an even-dozen next Saturday when they travel to Utah to take on lowly Real Salt Lake.

The MLS record for the longest unbeatean streak belongs to the Columbus Crew, who strung together 19 games without a loss in late 2004 and early 2005.

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Contrary to reports, Patrick Kluivert has not received two offers to play in Major League Soccer. His agent, Mads Galsgaard, says the Dutch striker has not been contacted by any MLS teams, let alone two of them. The 31-year-old striker played last season at PSV Eindhoven but has been released, leading to speculation that he might be contemplating a move to America. He recently turned down the offer of a trial with England’s Sheffield Wednesday.

Kluivert’s career highlights include playing for Barcelona from 1998 – 2004, scoring 90 goals in 182 appearances. He is also the all-time leading scorer in Dutch national team history, with 40 goals in 79 appearances.

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Ricardo Alves Pereira, commonly known as Ricardinho, has been loaned to FC Dallas from Brazil’s Clube Atletico Paranaense, the first-ever player exchange between the two partner clubs. Ricardinho, 18, has been training with the club and received his visa approval over the weekend, making him eligible to play for the Hoops immediately.

The Brazilian forward scored once in 12 appearances in Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A in 2007 before the loan. He has represented his country at the U-16 and U-17 South American Championships and also played for Brazil’s National U-18 and U-20 teams.

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Guillermo Barros Schelotto has been named the MLS Player of the Week. The former Boca Juniors star struck twice on Sunday to power the Columbus Crew past Toronto FC, giving him four goals on the season. With their fifth win in seven matches, the Crew are just two points behind co-leaders New York and New England in the Eastern Conference.