Tag: Benfica

Louisville City defender Wynder completes record transfer to Benfica

The 18-year-old is the first USL player to be sold for a seven-figure fee

Louisville City defender Josh Wynder has completed a record-breaking transfer to Portuguese giants Benfica.

Wynder will join Benfica on a deal worth a reported $1.2 million plus add-ons, the first seven-figure sale of a player from the USL.

Pro Soccer Wire reported in March that the teenager would join the Portuguese champions after his 18th birthday in May, with Monaco and Red Bull Salzburg also interested in the U.S. youth international.

Wynder is coming off a solid performance at the U-20 World Cup, where he started four of the team’s five games despite being one of the youngest members of the squad.

“I’m very grateful to Louisville City for everything the club has done for me,” Wynder told the club’s website. “It’s a dream come true to sign with Benfica, and I can’t wait to get started there. Although my career’s taking me overseas, I’ll always be proud of where I’m from and represent Louisville to the best of my ability.”

Wynder, a Louisville native, signed his first professional deal with his hometown club in 2021 and has gone on to make 45 total appearances, scoring two goals.

The teenager also received his first senior USMNT call-up for April’s friendly against Mexico.

“This is a proud moment for Louisville City, our youth academy and our community,” said coach Danny Cruz. “We are going to miss seeing Josh in the locker room each day, but I could not be more proud of the path that he is on in his career. The type of person he is continues to stand out to me, and we look forward to watching him reach new heights to also become the best player he can be.”

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Champions League draw: Real Madrid, Chelsea paired up in quarterfinals

Some enticing pairings are in place for the last-eight

UEFA has conducted the draw for the rest of the 2022-23 Champions League, charting a course from the quarterfinals onward.

The last two tournament winners, Real Madrid and Chelsea, were paired in one quarterfinal, while Manchester City and Bayern Munich were put together for another titanic clash. An all-Serie A battle between Napoli and AC Milan also came out of the pot, while Benfica will face Inter in the round’s final match-up.

The Champions League will play out over the next three months, with the quarterfinals set for mid-April. The semifinals will take place in mid-May, while the Champions League final is scheduled for June 10 in Turkey.

Here are the quarterfinal pairings:

Source: Josh Wynder completes $1.5m Benfica transfer

The 17-year-old has completed a transfer to Portuguese giants Benfica

Louisville City defender Josh Wynder has completed a transfer to Benfica, a source in Portugal tells Pro Soccer Wire.

The highly rated 17-year-old will make the move to Europe this summer. All medicals have been conducted and Wynder’s contract has been signed with the Portuguese club.

The transfer is worth $1.5 million plus potential add-ons, making it the largest in USL history. The previous record was Kobi Henry’s move to Reims from Orange County SC for a reported $700,000.

Pro Soccer Wire reported last week that Benfica fended off offers from Monaco and Red Bull Salzburg to land Wynder, one of the top prospects in the United States youth national team setup.

Wynder already has 32 career appearances in the USL Championship, despite not turning 18 until May.

Last season, Wynder started 21 games for Louisville City as well as appearing in five games for the United States U-19s. His breakout season saw him nominated for the 2022 U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year.

Going into the weekend, Benfica has an incredible 22-2-1 record in the Primeira Liga, sitting eight points clear atop the table. Last week, they thoroughly dismantled Belgian outfit Club Brugge to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

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Source: Louisville City defender Josh Wynder set for Benfica transfer

The 17-year-old has become one of the best prospects in the American pipeline

Louisville City defender Josh Wynder is closing in on a move to Portuguese giant Benfica, a source tells Pro Soccer Wire.

The fee for the 17-year-old is expected to be somewhere between $1.3 million and $1.5 million, which would be a USL record.

The move could be completed as soon as this weekend, with Wynder able to move to Europe when he turns 18 on May 2.

Wynder started 21 games for Louisville City in the USL Championship last year, while also making five appearances for the United States U-19s. The center back’s exploits in 2022 earned him a nomination for U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year.

There was plenty of interest across Europe for the 6-foot-3 defender, considered one of the best American prospects at any position. Benfica has beaten out Monaco and Red Bull Salzburg, among other European clubs.

The move sees yet another American sign with a top European club, but this one is unique in that Wynder is coming not from MLS but the second division. It is another seminal moment for the USL as they continue to forge a developmental pyramid independent of the top domestic league in the United States, offering young players another way to not just earn professional minutes but eventually make a high-profile move overseas.

Last summer, Kobi Henry broke the USL transfer record when he joined Ligue 1 side Reims from Orange County SC for a reported $700,000.

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Source: Monaco and Benfica leading race for USMNT prospect Josh Wynder

The 17-year-old appears set for a move sooner rather than later

Josh Wynder could be on the move soon, as the race for one of the top prospects in the United States heats up.

Benfica, Monaco and Red Bull Salzburg have made offers for the 17-year-old Louisville City FC central defender, a source close to the situation tells Pro Soccer Wire.

According to the source, Benfica and Monaco are leading the chase to capture the teenager on a permanent move. It is believed it will take a fee of roughly $1.5 million to land Wynder, which would be a record for a USL club.

Wynder started 21 games in the USL Championship in 2022, an impressive feat for a player who only turned 17 midway through the season. The U.S. Under-19 defender’s exploits last year earned him a nomination for U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year.

He is positionally very solid and passes well between the lines. As he showed this week in preseason, he can also strike a ball from distance pretty well.

Wynder signed a new contract with Louisville City earlier this month and though the deal is through 2025, there were plenty of indications he would not be staying for nearly that long.

“For me to make whatever my next step is, I think it will shine a light on Louisville and make people see the USL Championship is a great league and this is a great club,” Wynder said in a release.

Were Salzburg to win out for the player, the source indicated that Wynder could be loaned out to sister club New York Red Bulls for the 2023 season. That would be an intriguing move for the MLS club, who certainly need center back depth.

It appears that a decision by Wynder, who turns 18 years old in May, could be coming as early as next week.

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Weston McKennie goal not enough as Juventus crash out of Champions League

Good for McKennie, bad for Juventus

A rough start to the 2022-23 season just got worse for Juventus.

Juve were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday, after a 4-3 loss at Benfica ended their last hopes of escaping from Group H. Weston McKennie’s late goal was not enough to spark a comeback that Juve needed to have any chance at the knockout round heading into the final round of group stage games.

The Italian powerhouse had to win, but fell behind on António Silva’s 17th minute goal, and even Moise Kean’s 21st minute equalizer only delayed the bad news. By the 50th minute, it was 4-1 in favor of Benfica after a penalty from João Mário and Rafa Silva’s brace.

Arek Milik’s 77th minute goal saved some face for Juventus, and two minutes later McKennie popped up amid a mad scramble to fire home after Samuel Iling-Junior’s cross was pushed into the goalmouth by Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.

The goal is the second this week for McKennie, as he also headed home a corner kick against Empoli this past weekend in Serie A. It’s also his second Champions League goal of the campaign, as he also got on the scoresheet against Paris Saint-Germain back in September.

Two goals in less than three minutes was just what Juventus needed in the moment. It’s just that realistically, falling behind by three goals in a game you have to win is not a recipe for success. Benfica held on for the win, and now Juventus — in the latest chapter of a massively disappointing start to the season — will bow out of the Champions League at the first hurdle.

Believe it or not, things could even get worse. On three points, Juve have PSG coming to town in next week’s final matchday, while Maccabi Haifa (who also have three points) will host Benfica. While Juventus has a six-goal edge on goal difference, a loss to PSG would open the door to the further humiliation of not even getting a Europa League spot as a consolation prize.

Watch McKennie’s late goal for Juventus

UEFA Champions League playoffs: Maccabi Haifa, Benfica, Viktoria Plzen qualify

Follow all the UEFA Champions League playoffs as the final teams qualify for this year’s competition.

The final playoffs for the UEFA Champions League are playing out, with the final six spots in this year’s group stage up for grabs. Follow along as the second leg of every playoff is settled, and the Champions League picture clarifies.

 

 

Mario Götze to MLS? Inter Miami hopes so

Never mind those MLS penalties, Miami’s after a big name

Inter Miami, despite being hamstrung by MLS penalties, is according to multiple outlets pursuing a move for World Cup winner Mario Götze.

Götze, 30, has had a return to form since a 2020 move to PSV, scoring 18 goals and assisting on 18 more in all competitions over the last two seasons. Kicker first reported Miami’s interest, though in the context of Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt and Portuguese power Benfica being the more likely suitors.

Still, MLSsoccer.com says that Miami’s interest is serious, with club scouts watching the former Germany international regularly in the Eredivisie, and Kicker notes that Miami’s offer may be the most lucrative of the bunch.

Götze’s deal with PSV reportedly includes a €4 million release clause. While Miami does have an open Designated Player slot, it is not clear that they would be able to make a move with this price tag. After being found to have violated multiple MLS rules—including playing with four Designated Players at once—the club part-owned by David Beckham must operate in 2022 and 2023 with a $2.2 million reduction in allocation money compared to what other MLS clubs receive.

Currently, Miami has two DPs, but neither is a shining example of how to operate in MLS. Rodolfo Pizarro holds one spot despite being on loan with Monterrey, while ex-Argentina and Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuaín has been pushed out of the lineup by young striker Leo Campana over the past couple of months.

Phil Neville’s side has toggled between several formations this year, but with Götze’s outstanding play coming largely as the No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1 at PSV, it stands to reason that Miami would go that route full-time if they manage to convince him to choose MLS over Champions League soccer this year with Frankfurt or (if they qualify) Benfica.

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Liverpool confirms club-record Darwin Núñez transfer from Benfica

The Uruguay international will bolster an already fearsome Liverpool attack

Liverpool has confirmed the signing of Uruguayan forward Darwin Núñez from Benfica.

Núñez has signed a six-year contract and arrives for an club-record fee of £64 million ($79m) up front, plus another potential £21m ($26m) in add-ons.

The 22-year-old put himself on the radar of several big European clubs by scoring 48 goals from 85 appearances in all competitions over two seasons with Benfica.

“It’s a pleasure to be here in Liverpool and I’m very happy to be a part of this great club,” Núñez, who will wear the No. 27 shirt, told Liverpool’s official website.

“I’ve played against Liverpool and I’ve seen them in lots of games in the Champions League, and it’s my style of play. There are some great players here and I think it’s going to suit my style of play here.

“As I say, I’ve watched quite a lot and it’s a very big club and I hope I can give everything that I’ve got in order to help the team.”

Liverpool’s remade attack

The arrival of Núñez continues Liverpool’s process of revitalizing its attack after the trio of Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino were central for several years.

Mané, Salah and Firmino’s contracts are all set to expire at the end of next season, with their futures up in the air. Mané in particular has been strongly linked with a move to Bayern Munich this summer.

Liverpool has been bolstering its front line in the past two years by adding Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and now Núñez, as Jurgen Klopp’s side prepares for the eventual departures of some of its biggest stars in recent history.

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Benfica dio pelea en Anfield pero Liverpool avanza a semis

Liverpool se confirma como un candidato serio al título de esta edición, avanzó con jerarquía a la semifinal

Gran partido terminó siendo la visita del Benfica al Liverpool pues aunque no le alcanzó para avanzar a semifinales, dejó muy bien parado al equipo lusitano que empató 3-3 y casi gana el juego si no es por una inmensa cantidad de goles anulados.

Liverpool completó la tarea que comenzó en el Estadio Da Luz la semana pasada con una contundente ventaja de 1-3 con el que prácticamente tenía amarrado su pase y el duelo en Anfield parecía de trámite, pero no fue así.

© SIPA USA

Konaté le dio calma al banquillo de Klopp con la ventaja tempranera al 21, pero rápidamente el Benfica igualó por conducto de Ramos. Liverpool se volvió a ir al frente en el marcador y con doblete de Roberto Firmino al 55 y el 65.

Pero Benfica no iba a renunciar al partido tan fácil y aunque el VAR se empeñaba en hacer más cardiacas las anotaciones finalmente Yaremchuk al 73 y Darwin Núñez al 81 le dieron dignidad a las Águilas de Lisboa.

Liverpool se confirma como un candidato serio al título de esta edición, avanzó con jerarquía a la semifinal, el único equipo de la ronda que puede presumir haberlo hecho.

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