<p>Not long ago, there weren’t many American players in Serie A, but today they are causing quite a stir. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/christian-pulisic-open-to-ending-career-in-major-league-soccer-20240115-WST-483605.html">Christian Pulisic</a> and Yunus Musah have had an incredible effect over at AC Milan. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mckennies-future-more-than-certain-as-juventus-plan-reward-20240125-WST-485410.html">Weston McKennie</a> turned things around at Juventus. Also in Turin, you can see another USMNT star sporting the same name as the one who won it all for Milan over 30 years ago. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/timothy-weah-moves-to-juventus-20230702-WST-440938.html">Tim Weah</a> signed a deal with Juventus that would keep him there until 2028. The move came after a stellar season in France with Lille, where he excelled in a variety of situations.</p>



<p>The Bianconeri are cutting costs this season after disqualification from the UEFA Champions League because of point penalties. Therefore, the ability to eliminate the need for depth was necessary, and Weah has that quality.</p>



<p>The 23-year-old is a highly sought-after player because of his versatility; he has played wing-back, offensive midfield, and even left-back in an emergency. Along with Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun, he won the Concacaf Nations League while playing exclusively on the flank for the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/usmnt-tv-schedule/">USMNT</a>. Therefore, Juventus’ pursuit of the former <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-ligue-un-on-us-tv-and-internet/">Ligue 1</a> starlet seemed understandable.</p>



<p>His speed and positional knowledge allow him to contribute offensively and defensively, respectively. After waiting for six months, he finally scored a goal for the club, and it was as good-looking as any you could ask for.</p>



<p>It was a daring try, but no goalie could have stopped it with its combination of speed and accuracy. On top of that, it’s a fantastic indication for a key member of Gregg Berhalter’s squad in the year that they host the Copa America.</p>



<h2>What did Tim Weah say about  Milan move?</h2>



<p>The legendary striker <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/george-weah-from-football-icon-to-liberia-president-20180122-CMS-231459.html">George Weah</a>, who won the Ballon d’Or in 1995 and played for AC Milan in the ’90s, is the father of Timothy Weah. Only the older Weah has ever won the Ballon d’Or, and he is the only African to do it.</p>



<p>His son is a talented player in his own right, despite growing up with the pressure that comes with his father’s reputation. Interestingly, Tim Weah could have been able to continue his work.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/16050147/Weah-Pulisic-Nations-League-1200x670-1200x670.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-485790" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div></figure>



<p>The attacker once acknowledged that playing in Milan would be an incredible experience. Thus, rumors began circulating that the San Siro giants wanted to lure him. But it never materialized.</p>



<p>“Of course, I’d like to retrace my dad’s footsteps. It would be something great to play for Milan. I’ll keep going on my way and then we’ll see”, he told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milannews.it/primo-piano/esclusiva-mn-timothy-weah-milan-nel-cuore-sarebbe-un-sogno-giocarci-speriamo-di-vincere-la-champions-484708">MilanNews</a>&nbsp;in March 2023.</p>



<h2>George Weah’s legacy at AC Milan</h2>



<p>Now, in a recent interview with <a href="https://www.calciomercato.com/news/weah-ho-parlato-con-maldini-per-portare-mio-figlio-al-milan-razz-50644">Calciomercato</a>, George revealed that his son had negotiations with the Rossoneri. “We spoke with Maldini before Juventus came for Timothy. It seemed that he was interested in signing him from Lille, but nothing came of it.”</p>



<p>“I’m sorry for how Maldini was treated, but there isn’t always respect for history and Paolo was the history of Milan. And even as a director, I think he did good things. He won the last Scudetto, no?”</p>



<p>“I spent four and a half very intense years in Milan, with great teammates and great victories. I loved Milan and their fans, and remain a Milanista, but I support Juventus. Is it possible?”</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>


Regret? Tim Weah could have joined Pulisic and Musah at Milan

Not long ago, there weren't many United States men's national soccer team players in Serie A, but today they are causing quite a stir.

<p>Juventus have announced the acquisition of Timothy Weah. </p>



<p>According to the <a href="https://www.juventus.com/en/news/articles/official-timothy-weah-joins-juventus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">official club website</a>, the 23-year-old signed a five-year contract with the Bianconeri after spending four years at Lille.</p>



<p>The total cost of Weah’s transfer to Juventus was €10.3 million, split between two payments to Les Dogues plus bonuses. </p>



<p>The youngster, who has committed to the team for the next five years, is expected to take over for Juan Cuadrado in the long run.</p>



<h5>Weah’s family is not unfamiliar with Serie A</h5>



<p>Weah played in 102 games for French side Lille, scoring eight times. </p>



<p>Timothy, whose father George is the president of Liberia and a former Ballon d’Or winner with AC Milan, was born in the United States. </p>



<p>The 23-year-old versatile player was pivotal for the US Mens National Team (USMNT) in their 2022 World Cup campaign, starting every game and scoring a goal against Wales during group play.</p>



<p>He started his professional career at Paris St-Germain, where he secured the Ligue 1 title before embarking on a loan spell at Celtic. He played a key role in their 2018-19 season, helping the club win both the league and cup titles. Then, two years later, he helped Lille topple his former team PSG to the French title.</p>



<h5>Pulisic and Musah to follow suit?</h5>



<p>For the time being, Weah will join forces with Weston McKennie, whose future seems to lie elsewhere than in Turin. Meanwhile, there have been whispers that AC Milan may attempt a double-swoop, signing Christian Pulisic of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a> and Yunus Musah of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">Valencia</a>.</p>



<p>There is a good likelihood that four of the United States national team’s most important starters will be playing in Italy’s Serie A when the new season begins. If a satisfactory offer arrives, Todd Boehly, the Blues’ owner, may be prepared to let Pulisic go this summer. Musah, on the other hand, may be on the move following Valencia’s terrible season, in which they avoided relegation by a single game.</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / Agencia-MexSport</p>


Timothy Weah moves to Juventus in $13 million deal

Exciting times at Juventus as Timothy Weah signs, with Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah potentially following suit in Italy.

Timothy Weah moves to Juventus in $13 million deal - World Soccer Talk

<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/championsleaguetalk.com/imageserve/0a9P6FSdVmaT2/610x.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="295"></figure></div>
<p>So, if the only time you’ve ever come across this tournament is when certain Premiership managers whine about it, let me welcome to you to one of World Football’s best kept secrets. Over the years, <a href="http://www.cafonline.com/competition/african-cup-of-nations-angola_2010/" target="_blank">the African Cup Of Nations </a>has grown and grown to be one of the most respected tournaments in World Football. So, as the tournament kicks off in Angola on Sunday, welcome to an overview for the 27th competition.</p>
<p>The influx into European football of African players over the last 20 years has seen the profile of this once derided competition rise far above what even the most biased supporter of African football could have hoped for. My first experience of seeing an African side was Algeria’s incredible defeat of West Germany in 1982 and as I’ve watched football, its reputation has grown and grown. Now it’s a fantastic tournament and one you really need to catch so here’s who to look out for in my first article about it.</p>
<p></p>
<p>This year’s tournament is being held in Angola for the first time and as such will give us the first glimpse of some of the teams who have also qualified for the World Cup in June this year.16 teams participate in the finals, drawn in to groups of four, with quarter finals, semi finals, a 3rd/4th play off and the final.Running over 20 days, this looks set to be the biggest African Cup of Nations yet.</p>
<p>The qualification for this years tournament also doubled up as qualification for the World Cup, which saw the odd spectacle of South Africa entered even though they’re the World Cup hosts along with Angola to try and earn a double qualification. Ironically, Angola haven’t qualified for the World Cup and South Africa failed to reach the African Cup of Nations.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/championsleaguetalk.com/w/i/pes/a/a0/IvoryCoast_Team_L.jpg" alt="" width="488" height="211"></figure></div>
<p>Favourites for the second tournament in a row are of course Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast but in 2008 they were humiliated in the semi final by Egypt 4-1. They’ll be desperate to try and add to their solitary title won in 1992.With a squad featuring the Toure brothers, Drogba, Eboue, Zakora and Dindane, they’ll certainly be there or there abouts, The Elephants will be certainly one of the teams to beat. Drawn in Group B they’ll be one of the two fancied teams in that group.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/championsleaguetalk.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Black_Star_line_up.87174500.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="307"></figure></div>
<p>The other side in Group B with ambitions to win the tournament will be the Black Stars of Ghana. Ghana are a team that we should have seen so much more of over the last 20 years, especially as they gave us one of the greatest ever African players of all time, in Abedi Pele, who like George Weah of Liberia never made it to a World Cup. They finished 3rd last time, so they’ll be desperate to go at least one better but they lack a clinical striker.&nbsp; With Michael Essien, John Mensah, Kingson, Addo and Amoah in the squad they’ll try and cope with the loss of talismanic captain Stephen Appiah and <a href="http://www.goal.com/en/news/815/african-nations-cup/2009/12/24/1707613/african-nations-cup-mixed-reactions-over-sulley-muntaris-absence-" target="_blank">Sulley Muntari’s enforced passing over</a>.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/championsleaguetalk.com/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01537/algeria-1_1537672i.jpg" alt="" width="448" height="280"></figure></div>
<p>Group A should be a walk in the park for one of England’s forthcoming <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/8367431.stm" target="_blank">World Cup opponents, Algeria</a>. With a fine international pedigree, they’ll be in with an outside shout of getting to the last four this time round. Since bursting on to the world stage in the 1982 World Cup, Algeria have lost their way a little since following it up with qualification for the 1986 World Cup and winning the A.C.O.N in 1990.</p>
<p>Since winning that title, they’ve been disqualified once, gone out in the first round three times and failed to qualify since 2004. Familiar names to watch out for in the Desert Foxes team are Hassan Yebda and Nadir Belhadj of Portsmouth, Kamel Ghilas of Hull City, Hamuer Bouazza formerly of Fulham and Madjid Bougherra of Rangers. They need a good tournament to reaffirm their place in African football.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/championsleaguetalk.com/gi/Egypt+v+Algeria+FIFA2010+World+Cup+Qualifier+KDVj6DDI_a5l.jpg" alt="" width="444" height="291"></figure></div>
<p>Group C sees the power of African football, Egypt and the former star, Nigeria drawn together. Egypt who were pipped for World Cup qualification by Algeria, which saw such <a href="http://www.football.co.uk/portsmouth/zaki_cites_israeli_presence_at_fratton_park_as_reason_for_shun_rss269998.shtml" target="_blank">scenes of sportsmanship for them</a>, have a lot to live up to . As defending champions since 2006, it remains to be seen just how much of a hangover they’ve retained from missing out on South Africa. Yet, without the injured Amr Zaki and the unpicked Mido, Egypt would seem to have it all to do to retain the trophy. Spurs fans will certainly remember Hossan Ghaly and Dortmunds Mohamed Zidan is one to watch for the Pharaohs.</p>
<p>Nigeria qualified for both Angola and South Africa, but they are not the side they once were. The Super Eagles were one of the key sides in African football’s modern growth but the generation that got them there are slowly retiring. Yet the squad is still packed with familiar names. Yobo, Yakubu, Kanu, Obi-Mikel, Martins, Shittu, Taiwo, Etuhu and Olofinjana will all be in the squad and will be looking to try and re-affirm their place at the head of modern African football. An outside chance of winning the title certainly.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/championsleaguetalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/samuel_etoo.jpg" alt="" width="451" height="306"></figure></div>
<p>Which leads us to another favourite, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Lead by one of the worlds greatest strikers, Samuel Eto’o, Cameroon have been one of Africa’s leading lights over the last two decades. After missing out for the 2006 World Cup, they were in danger of missing out on both tournaments this year, but after sacking the manager, former Rangers, Lyon and Paris Saint Germain manager Paul Le Guen rode to the rescue.</p>
<p>Surprisingly though, Le Guen has opted not to pick the impressive <a href="http://worldcup.sportinglife.com/story/0,27111,17337_5794929,00.html" target="_blank">Sebastain Bassong for the tournament</a> but joining Eto’o will be Rigobert Song, Geremi, Alexandre Song, Jean Makoun and Andre Bikey. If they can keep Eto’o up the field, then anything can happen and after the 2006 penalty <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4675316.stm" target="_blank">shoot out marathon against Ivory Coast</a> and losing the last A.C.O.N final on penalties, they’ll be hoping to avoid more shootout heartache.IN Carlos Kameni, they’ve probably got the best goalkeeper in Africa. He could be key.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/championsleaguetalk.com/ph/img/53/be/659b38154c760a8c3abf5ea86d93-grande.jpg" alt="" width="468" height="335"></figure></div>
<p>So they’re the main 6 contenders, but there are two outsiders that may catch the eye. Imagine a team with a midfield of Seydou Keita of Barcelona, Real Madrid’s Mahamadou Diarra and Juventus’s Momo Sissoko with Freddie Kanoute upfront. Well, that’s Mali’s main foursome and with a squad with a wealth of European experience and the Eagles have a team with bags of potential still unfulfilled. Of course, Togo also qualified and whilst the side seem to lack quality overall, if a certain Emmanuel Adebayor fancies it, then the Sparrow Hawks could cause some real shocks.</p>
<p>So there you have it. Over here in Europe, Eurosport will be showing every match, with the BBC disappointingly only showing the semi finals and final this time. If you’ve never watched it before, I recommend it highly and it’ll give you a real taste of what’s to come in June this year when the World Cup gets underway. I’ll be dropping another more articles throughout the month for you to keep up to speed with the tournament, so feel free to leave me your comments and questions.</p>

African Cup Of Nations Begins The Year With A Bang in Angola

African Cup Of Nations Begins The Year With A Bang in Angola - World Soccer Talk

<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Weah">George Weah’s</a> goal&nbsp;could be compared to one of the best, Maradona’s World Cup run against England in the 1986.</p>
<p><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" border="0" vspace="10" align="left" width="250" src="/files/2008/09/george-weah-002.jpg" hspace="10" alt="George Weah" height="329" style="width: 229px;height: 303px"></figure></div> Weah (World Player of the Year 1995, European Player of the Year 1995 &amp; African Player of the Year 1995) took control as he received the ball in his own penalty area and made a run down the&nbsp;entire length of the pitch, taking on&nbsp;several players and scored.</p>
<p>Weah combined his ball control, speed and strength to go through the players in his way. A true legend.Weah’s current endevours in his native Liberia have been political, see the BBC News article, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4391623.stm">Weah’s pitch for Liberian votes</a></p>
<h4></h4>
<h4></h4>


Greatest Goals Of Serie A &#8211; Starting With George Weah

Greatest Goals Of Serie A - Starting With George Weah  - World Soccer Talk

Greatest Goals Of Serie A – Starting With George Weah

<p class="MsoNormal">The connections between Major League Soccer and my favorite international football club, Manchester  City continue to grow with time. Monday, San Jose announced the signing of Darren Huckerby and Paul Dickov is about to sign with Toronto FC according to published reports. Manchester City has contributed more former players recently to the soccer setup in this country than just about any other international club, even those right across the border in Mexico.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ivan Gazidis, the deputy commissioner of MLS is a self confessed Manchester  City fan. Gazidis’ understanding of English football and its success has provided MLS under his leadership, a more international and broad looking approach. Claudio Reyna, Ronald Watterhaus, and Paulo Wanchope all signed in MLS last season, and all three choose MLS as the destination to end their careers. Terry Cooke (Colorado), Steve Howey (New England) and Ian Bishop <span> </span>(Miami) were three of the limited number of English imports to MLS in the earlier part of this decade. In the case of Cooke he’s made MLS and the Colorado Rapids his long-term footballing home and in Bishop’s case he choose to stay on in south Florida following the contraction of the Fusion. He now plays in a semi-professional league, and teaches the game to local youths.<span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Juan Carlos Osorio is an American trained but Manchester City honed manager. Osorio’s time at City provided him not only with exposure to one of the best footballing leagues in the world but to the type of tactical setup and awareness that he did not posses when he was an MLS assistant. Osorio has returned to MLS as one of the finest coaches from a pure tactical standpoint that the league has seen in sometime. More importantly, unlike some foreign managers that have been brought into MLS and are not understanding of the midset of American players, nor the difficulty of travel, altitude and other factors that make MLS much tougher than advertised, Osorio knows this league and its players.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even outside MLS, Manchester  City’s connections shine light in this corner of the globe. Recent hero of the club’s history Shaun Goater now manages the Bermuda Hogges of USL-2 and has helped professionalize the footballing setup in his native land to where Bermuda almost upset Trinidad and Tobago who participated in the 2006 World Cup last month in qualifying. Goater’s goal was to make Bermuda more of a force in CONCACAF and he is hoping the island nation can qualify for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. George Weah, former FIFA World Football of the Year, and Manchester City striker has moved to south Florida with his family to participate in an Under 40 professional league. Weah’s decision to relocate to south Florida was so momentous it made the front page of the local papers: not the front page of the sports section, the front page of the paper. Weah as he was throughout most of his career and in his recent run for Liberian President is a name that transcends football, and has in his own way the stardom that few international footballers have in the U.S.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What has made City a greater contributor to the growth of football in this part of the world in terms of exported players than let’s say cross town rival Manchester United? For starters City is club that has recently attracted a lot of foreign players from places that until recently did not necessarily export a great number of players to English Football: The USA, Costa Rica, Bermuda and Liberia the home nations of Reyna, Wanchope, Goater and Weah are either geographically or spiritually more connected to the United States than to England. (In the case of Bermuda, it was a British colony but of course is right off the coast of the US, which explains why Bermuda’s one professional team plays in a US league. Also I should not that Wanchope spent his teen years in the United States before returning to Costa Rica to pursue a career in football because MLS did not exist in those days) In addition, playing at City isn’t a walk in the park. The club has some of the most knowledgeable fans in England along with a very large supporter’s base.<span> </span>Experiences at Manchester City unlike those at some other European clubs harden players and coaches in a way that makes it possible for them to come to North America and have a unique impact on our footballing landscape.</p>


Manchester City and North America: The Strong Connection

Manchester City and North America: The Strong Connection - World Soccer Talk

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