Royal Roundup: Weston McKennie will remain in Italy

We’re now at 56 days since MLS took over the team sale, and still not a single rumor to report. Times like this can really try a fan’s patience, but at least social media has pictures of players practicing to look at again.

INTERNATIONAL

• Italian side Juventus has exercised the $22 million loan buyout option for Weston McKennie from Bundesliga’s Schalke. [USSOC]
• England, USA, Japan, Netherlands and Portugal have all agreed to test FIFA’s new concussion protocol. It allows teams to a ‘free’ substitute in addition to the normal allowed, for a player who may have a possible concussion. [Guardian]
• Fixture congestion for European teams is likely here to stay. [TSF]
• Manchester United could be without their goalkeeper David de Gea for one month due to personal reasons. [Guardian]

USA

• The dates and locations for 2021 U.S. Soccer C License courses have been announced. One of them is in Utah for those interested. [SocWire] Location map. [USSOC]
• 150 youth teams competed in the Desert Conference event in Phoenix last weekend. Many Utah teams dominated their age groups. [SocWire]
• Projecting the USMNT Olympic Roster (all RSL players get the nod, as well as Soto & Saucedo). [SBI]

Photo by Peter Lous/Soccrates/Getty Images

MLS/NWSL/USL

• Spokane, Washington has approved of a deal with USL for a new 5,000 seat stadium to host a future USL-1 expansion team. [USL]
• MLS, released a joint statement with MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL and WNBA regarding a cardiology study involving players who had tested positive for COVID-19. [MLS]
• Angel City FC in NWSL has signed a new sleeve partner for their kits. Birdies; a female-founded, direct-to-consumer footwear brand. [NWSL]
• MLS Next, the youth development arm of the league has announced the addition of five more clubs for the 2021-22 season. [MLS]
• Chicago Fire has reached out to fans for it’s new crest redesign, and has narrowed it to 4 potential themes. [MLS]
• Fredy Montero, the leading scorer for Seattle Sounders has returned to play once again. [MLS]

FLASHBACK

• As Real Salt Lake continued it’s celebrated run to the CCL final, we asked “Is all the attention too much of a good thing?” [3/7/11]
• On this date, MLS and US Soccer founded the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) to improve the quality of refereeing. [3/6/12]
• An injury to Chris Schuler would prevent him from playing in the first game of the season, Carlos Salcedo is tabbed to fill in. In hindsight, we know how both of these players turned out. [3/5/14]
• The first match of the season for RSL was a 0-0 tie vs Portland Timbers. [3/7/15]
• The first game of the season had RSL start strong, but collapse late conceding twice in a 2-2 draw vs Orlando City. [3/6/16]

VIDEO

An aerial look at every MLS stadium for 2021.