Transfer Day Madness, Yunus Musah moves to Atalanta, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Break out the pumpkin spice folks! It’s finally Fall in the DMV! (So says the definitive authority on this matter, the Capital Weather Gang). I, for one, will be enjoying the crisp autumnal evenings this week should provide and maybe set up the fire pit. Anyways, we have some soccer news to catch up over Labor Day Weekend.
For most of Europe, yesterday was the transfer day deadline for making moves in the market. Donald reported yesterday on Isak’s $176 million move to Liverpool from Newcastle, but there are quite a few other transfers that barely crossed the finish line. I’ll highlight a few newsworthy ones:
Chelsea’s Jackson joins Bayern in lucrative loan move (ESPN)
This one almost didn’t happen because of Liam Delap’s injury over the weekend, but Jackson managed to push for it to be completed.
Lammens joins Man Utd from Royal Antwerp (BBC)
This one is interesting to me not because of who made the move but who didn’t. Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez had already bid adieu to the Villa fans during the last home game of the season a few months ago and was reportedly pushing for a move to Man U. Now he’ll have to awkwardly slink back while the young Belgian competes for the starting role.
Gianluigi Donnarumma joins Man City in Transfer Deadline Day deal from PSG (Yahoo! Sports)
The last EPL transfer to keep an eye out for is one involving the Italian keeper. I have not seen any official confirmation from the player or Man City, but it appears to hinge on Ederson making the move to Turkey so watch to see how that unfolds. (EDIT: It’s official!)
Reports: Musah finally set for Atalanta move (ProSoccer Wire)
Another move that I think should cross the finish line is the USMNT player moving from AC Milan to Atalanta. The team will need the reinforcements as they compete in the Champions League this season.
Keeping the Serie A theme going, everyone’s favorite Red Bull drinking player makes a surprise move to Italy! I definitely had him pinned down as going to Wrexham earlier in the summer, but it seems like the alure of wine and pasta was too strong to resist!
Son’s LAFC arrival brings out pride in L.A.’s Korean community (ESPN)
A nice piece about Son’s home debut in LA that didn’t quite turn out the way he would have wanted. As a former resident of Los Angeles (and having attended quite a few LAFC games), I’m happy to see the city embrace Son so openly and whole heartedly.
This was a fun video posted by the Spirit. It’s of Trinity Rodman super fan, Jenna, getting to experience a match day with her favorite soccer player. Honestly, the way she was shooketh as soon as Trinity pulled up to whisk her to the game goes to that Trin is the biggest star for the USWNT. Michele…do everything possible to keep her here!
I don’t know how many of you watched the inaugural World Sevens tournament, but I did and it was a blast. This will take place in early December; right after the NWSL final. I’m curious if the tournament will feature predominately NWSL teams with a few European teams thrown in and maybe even a USL Super League team or two. Thoughts?
That’s all from me today!
I like the idea of Musah going to Atalanta, they’re sorta THE club for getting players that were secondary at larger clubs to weaponize what they’ve got. Really good coaching, excellent team ethic.
I will say, if this doesn’t work out in a few seasons for Musah in Serie A, he should probably consider seeing if MLS clubs want him as a DP. I hope it works out, of course
Donnarumma to Man City is fascinating, cuz it would mean Pep has pretty much given up on the style of play that has carried him so far. Donnarumma is not a passing genius, will not be an 11th playmaker out there, and that’s a big divergence from the past. In all honesty, it’s probably what he should do, as his tactics which revolutionized the game for a decade and spread so ubiquitously are now the very tactics the modern game is circumventing. Donnarumma is a monster of a shot stopper, so I expect Man City to do better with him. But I do think Pep might have reached the point in his trajectory where he’s not able to be on the cutting edge anymore. Which, he had an absolutely historic run with his ideas, it’s just that other coaches seem more equipped to guide the current direction of the sport
Generally speaking, I’m liking what I’ve seen from Weiler so far. Two draws and a win against three fairly different teams in the league isn’t nothing. There was even a distinct tactical shift in the second half of the NYC game, after the first half was a bit sketchy. It’ll be interesting to see where things go as he gets more used to the players he has. Definitely not going as far as to say everything’s better, but it seems like progress at least. I am interested to see where Clark ends up in the midfield/who he replaces if he starts. The Peglow/Pirani/Hopkins/Peltola/Servania combination seems to be working pretty well, as well as when they push Herrera up to winger as a sub.
We’ll see how it works with Antley at RB instead of Herrera in two weeks. There’s a club friendly on Saturday as DCU is off for this international break.
His experience shows. Starting Hopkins up top in the absence of the team’s best player, rather than the designated backup according to position, was an inspired call. He was an ill-advised pass away from starting with a win on the road. Generally everyone seems happier and more settled with him in charge over Flanagan (and quite frankly, Lesesne).
I like the players Renee chose in his starting lineups. I think he will play them consistently for a while, too. Much better than the last coach. The more games we play, we will start to see where the roster needs tweaking. That will help answer if Antley is a starting RB or where Clark will play or who to move on from in the off season.
The coach is a clear improvement over Lesesne. His lineups and tactics are much better, especially considering being handicapped by weaker players compared to other teams.
Peltola is thriving under his leadership and is showing of his best qualities. Starting Herrera at right midfield gives the team more bite at that position and solidifies the defense, and yet he can also go forward. Clark is a good addition, and it will be interesting to see how he is played. Having Benteke play a bit more up the field (not much but it makes a difference) means he gets the ball more and this showcases his passing ability. I am still not impressed with Peglow, who seems selfish. Leal is a Mackay dud and appears to not be in the plans for next season as has not seen the field.
My theory on why DCU did not make any other quality moves is that the new coach did not like the players that were being offered to him by Mackay. During the press conferences the coach stresses bringing in more quality to the team in the off season, which I hope is backed up by the owners.
I think Herrea could be filling the wing position for Leal. I think Leal was out on injury? I can see Leal on right wing and Herrea as right back.
Thanks. I missed that. We will see how much he plays when he is health again.
Matt Doyle calls NYC’s loss to DCU crushing: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/philadelphia-union-s-statement-fc-cincinnati-s-worry-more-from-matchday-31
Pirani’s first goal is up for GOTW: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/vote-for-goal-of-the-matchday-mls-matchday-31-2025
Leverkusen submitting their application for “worst appointment/firing” of all time after sacking ten Hag 3 games into his tenure. It’s probably the right call if everyone hates him as much as they seem to, but how the hell do you not figure that out before signing him?
As for the coach himself, he’s dangerously close to matching de Boer’s career arc. I don’t think it’s likely that he coaches outside of the Netherlands anytime soon. He doesn’t seem capable of teaching players how he wants them to play.
I sorta think he’s actually a smart manager who has walked into two toxic situations without doing any detox of his own. Was anxious to get back on the horse, chose another bad horse- Xabi’s replacement was always going to be a poisoned chalice of a position.
I’m not saying he’ll ever be perceived as a great manager again as he was at Ajax, but if he wants to have any kind of career, he has to take a break, and maybe literally get some therapy to get past his experiences and get himself in a place where he’s not part of the problem.
My kid has started going to kindergarten, and this morning at the bus stop, two of the six or seven kids that gather there – at just that one stop – were wearing Inter Miami jerseys. We’ll also hang out at the splash pad in Olney pretty regularly, and you can figure on always seeing an Inter Miami jersey or two there.
Anyway, great job on capturing the imagination of your market, DC United.
Messi is Messi. People have Inter Miami jerseys because Miami employs Messi. If Messi was a DCU player, children in Idaho, Wyoming and even Miami would probably be wearing his DCU Jersey.
Very much this. Seeing a Miami jersey is essentially equivalent to seeing an Argentina/Barca/PSG jersey.
When I see someone in a Miami jersey, my thought is less so “Oh, cool, another MLS fan” and more so “Oh, lame, a Messi fan.” I’d be more concerned if you were seeing Philly, NYRB, or other MLS jerseys. I don’t think the general Messi fans are going to care about DCU, no matter how good or relevant they may be.
I don’t think it would work here, but I loved Seattle’s approach to this before the Leagues Cup final: offering fans the ability to trade in a Messi jersey for a Paul Rothrock one.
Pirani made Team of the Matchday: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/team-of-the-matchday-philly-on-a-roll-san-diego-make-history
DCU International Call-Ups this window:
Herrera (Guatemala), Rowles (Australia), Peltola (Finland)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6591670/2025/09/03/streameast-worlds-largest-illegal-sports-streaming-platform-shut-down-in-sting/