<p>AC Milan is working on the latest contract extension for Christian Pulisic, the American who has been a shining point in the club’s season. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/ac-milan-tv-schedule/">Milan</a> is not projected to win any trophies this year. That would indicate a disappointing season in most respects. Yet, Pulisic has been one major positive to emerge out of the red side of the San Siro this season. The American is on the best form since his brilliant spell with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a> following the Premier League restart during the pandemic. That continues to garner praise from fans and the Milan board alike.</p>



<p>Consequently, the club wants to keep Pulisic in Milan beyond his current deal. When Pulisic joined Milan, he signed a four-year contract. However, there was an option for an extension into a fifth year that would end after the 2027/28 campaign. According to <a href="https://www.milannews.it/news/le-pagelle-di-chukwueze-spacca-la-partita-con-un-avvio-sprint-lo-aspettavano-e-arrivato-531105" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports out of Italy</a>, Milan is already willing to pull the trigger on that contract extension. By the time it expires in 2028, Pulisic will be 29 years old.</p>



<p>It is not hard to see why Milan wants to keep Pulisic in the red and black kit. Having made 41 appearances across all competitions this season, he is tied for the team lead in games played this season. In those many fixtures, Pulisic has scored the second most goals for AC Milan. He has 13 goals, which is more than Portuguese star Rafael Leao, and both players operate on the wings. Remarkably, he is halfway to his goal total from four seasons with Chelsea. He has played less than one-third of the same number of games.</p>



<h2>Recent form produces contract extension talks between Pulisic and Milan</h2>



<p>Three of Pulisic’s 13 goals have come in Milan’s last four games. While individual brilliance does not always lead to team success, the Rossoneri have picked up wins in their last five games. Each of Pulisic’s three goals in this span proved to be the game-winning goal. At times, he has shown great skill with world-class goals. His first goal for Milan came from <a href="https://youtu.be/g_U0bF41ZNo?si=Jr_SnQiMKXgKwp44&amp;t=66" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a thumping shot</a> from well outside the opposition’s box. Then, his recent goal against Lecce was a weak-footed attempt that whizzed past the goalkeeper from outside the box again. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CHRISTIAN PULISIC GOLAZO IN UNDER SIX MINUTES 🇺🇸💥 <a href="https://t.co/ekVx09emWm">pic.twitter.com/ekVx09emWm</a></p>— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1776598569606152615?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2024</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Part of the reason Milan would want to lock in Pulisic is the value of his current contract. Extending this out to five years ensures Milan can capitalize on the relatively low cost of Pulisic for his remarkable output. Pulisic has the fourth-highest salary on the Milan squad at $107,000 per week. However, that is considerably lower than Rafael Leao, who remains the star player for Milan despite not matching Pulisic’s goal total. </p>



<p>The argument here is that Leao has also provided assists. The Portuguese has 11 assists on the season in all competitions to lead the team. However, Pulisic is not far behind with eight. Moreover, since the beginning of March, Pulisic has tied Leao for the most goal contributions among all players in Serie A. </p>



<p>Coming over on a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/christian-pulisic-saying-all-the-right-things-after-ac-milan-move-20230714-WST-443258.html">$21 million transfer</a> from Chelsea, Pulisic has been one of the best signings in Europe, let alone Serie A. Pulisic will continue to pay dividends with his contract extension at Milan. </p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO</em></p>

Milan prepares Pulisic contract extension amid blazing form

AC Milan is working on the latest contract extension for Christian Pulisic, the American who has been a shining point in the club's season.

<p>Olivier Giroud, a great striker for the Premier League in the past, is reportedly nearing a transfer to Los Angeles FC on an 18-month contract. </p>



<p>Despite <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/ac-milan-tv-schedule">AC Milan</a>‘s best efforts to extend his contract for another season, the 37-year-old is widely anticipated to depart when his current deal ends this summer.</p>



<p>While other <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-mls-on-us-tv-and-internet/">MLS</a> teams have shown interest in speaking with France’s all-time greatest scorer, LAFC have <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/lafc-link-with-olivier-giroud-rolls-mls-into-retirement-trope/">advanced further than their competitors</a>. That’s at least what <a href="https://theathletic.com/5371400/2024/03/26/olivier-giroud-lafc-mls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Athletic</a> reported two weeks ago.</p>



<p>Giroud will likely reunite with Hugo Lloris, his former international goalie who joined the club from Tottenham in January. After Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami last summer, the MLS saw a slew of high-profile signings.</p>



<p>The league is trying to expand its audience in anticipation of the 2026 World Cup in North America and a 10-year television rights contract with Apple worth $2.5 billion. Gareth Bale, a forward for Spurs and Real Madrid, was a Los Angeles FC player in the past.</p>



<p>In all likelihood, Giroud’s spectacular career in Europe will come to an end with any transfer. During that period, he won a total of three trophies while playing for Arsenal. He also won it with Chelsea, and one each Champions League and Europa League. With Milan, he also won one Scudetto.</p>



<h2>What did Giroud say about his future?</h2>



<p>In 2022, the Black and Gold won the MLS Cup, and in 2023, they came close but ultimately lost. They would have one of the league’s most potent attacks with Giroud and Denis Bouanga. The latter, in fact, won the Golden Boot last season.</p>



<p>The veteran discussed a possible transfer to LAFC in an interview with <a href="https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/milan-giroud-futuro-oggi-sono-milanista-voglio-finire-quest-anno-nel-modo-migliore-1954286" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DAZN</a> after the match. Yet, he still hasn’t said whether or not he will play for them and Major League Soccer next year.</p>



<p>“I don’t want to talk about my future. I see what has been reported in the press, I can say that there is nothing done. Today I’m a Milanista, an old Rossoneri heart. I’m very proud to play for this team. I want to finish in the best way possible, then we’ll see next year.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="444" height="369" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240407_WST_499904_image-4_b15b932f.webp&amp;width=444&amp;height=369" alt="" class="wp-image-499939" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/image-4.png 444w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/image-4-300x249.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px"></figure><figcaption>Oliver Giroud is rumored to be on his way the MLS</figcaption></figure>



<h2>France star reassures Milan fans</h2>



<p>Giroud was a key cog in France’s 2018 and 2022 World Cup championship teams, the former of which they defeated Croatia to claim. But they failed miserably in 2022 in Qatar when they faced Lionel Messi and Argentina.</p>



<p>Nevertheless, at this stage, nothing is official, and the Rossoneri may still try to keep Giroud on board beyond the 2024 season, according to <a href="https://gianlucadimarzio.com/it/milan-camarda-rinnovo-news" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sky Italia</a>. He has alternatives in the Middle East and other European clubs in the event that he is unable to negotiate with LAFC.</p>



<p>As Milan supporters lined up to get their signatures after the game, the Frenchman playfully said, “I haven’t left yet!” about his upcoming summer move to LAFC. Giroud posed for photos and autographs outside the team’s hotel.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VYpDmSRZpc&amp;embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Ffootball-italia.net%2F&amp;source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&amp;feature=emb_title&amp;themeRefresh=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“I haven’t left yet,”</a> the French striker quipped, in response to the fans’ incessant requests for his autograph. They burst out laughing at that.</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / Goal Sports Images</p>

Olivier Giroud opens up on future plans amid LAFC talk

Olivier Giroud discussed a possible transfer to LAFC. And yet, he still hasn't said whether he will be playing for in MLS next year.

Olivier Giroud opens up on future plans amid LAFC talk - World Soccer Talk

<p>Whether Barcelona can fulfill sporting director Deco’s wish to bring in a new left winger depends on their financial situation, especially with his target being an expensive Serie A star.</p>



<p>This hasn’t prevented them, however, from moving closer to their ideal signing for the position: <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/napoli-stars-agent-says-client-may-leave-club-in-massive-move/">Khvicha Kvaratskhelia</a> of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/napoli-tv-schedule-for-viewers-in-united-states">Napoli</a>.</p>



<p>After joining the club in July 2022, the 23-year-old established himself as one of the top performers in Serie A. At Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, the Georgian international wasted no time getting up to speed. He was instrumental in finally bringing home the Scudetto for the Partenopei after more than 30 years of trying.</p>



<p>His leadership has also <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/georgia-qualifies-for-its-first-major-tournament-at-euro-2024/">helped Georgia qualify for Euro 2024</a>. It will be the country’s first major international tournament participation since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. This season, meanwhile, the winger has struggled for his team Napoli.</p>



<p>Kvaratskhelia has made 38 appearances so far and has contributed to 16 goals, scoring 10 goals and assisting on six more. But it pales in comparison to his performance in the previous season. The player’s value, however, is still strong, with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> and other prominent teams after him.</p>



<h2>Ongoing communication between clubs</h2>



<p>The Camp Nou outfit holds the player in high esteem because of his quickness, deft dribbling, and impact in the attacking third. The Blaugrana would love to go after the Serie A superstar with all their might. However, their current financial predicament makes it impossible.</p>



<p>Regardless, <a href="https://as.com/futbol/primera/el-barca-lo-intenta-por-kvara-n/?id_externo_rsoc=CM_ES_TW" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diario AS</a> says that Barcelona have reportedly been in contact with Napoli about Kvaratskhelia over the last two weeks. They are allegedly keen to remain informed on the contract situation of the quick-footed star, as the directors of the two teams have been in contact to discuss it.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="800" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240406_WST_499721_imago1042253422h-1200x800_79ba20a5.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=800" alt="" class="wp-image-499777" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/imago1042253422h-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/imago1042253422h-300x200.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/imago1042253422h-768x512.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/imago1042253422h-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/imago1042253422h-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Deco wants to add a left winger to Barcelona’s squad and believes Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to be the ideal candidate</figcaption></figure>



<p>Although the player supports Real Madrid, it’s worth mentioning that both his father and agent root for the Catalan giants. A little while back, Kvaratskhelia’s agent, Mamuka Jugeli, even said that he would be pleased if his client joined the Blaugrana.</p>



<p>“His father and I are Barca fans and it would make me very happy to see him play there, even though Khvicha is a Real Madrid fan”, he revealed.</p>



<h2>Napoli holding out hope of keeping star</h2>



<p>In other news, Jugeli supposedly went to Barcelona to see Napoli’s 3-1 Champions League quarterfinal defeat. </p>



<p>Additionally, according to <a href="https://www-ilmattino-it.translate.goog/sport/sscnapoli/kvaratskhelia_rinnovo_napoli_ultime_notizir_oggi-8038222.html?_x_tr_sl=it&amp;_x_tr_tl=en&amp;_x_tr_hl=en&amp;_x_tr_pto=sc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Il Mattino</a>, the Catalan club see the Georgian as an ideal complement to their aspired 4-3-3 formation. Even before the winger had a great season, the Catalan giants had their eye on the winger.</p>



<p>As the futures of Raphinha and Ferran Torres hang in the balance, the Blaugrana will most certainly make a number of significant summer additions. Meanwhile, the defending Serie A champions are trying to extend the contract of their star attacker.</p>



<p>Aurelio De Laurentiis, president of the club, has reportedly been in touch with Jugeli, the agent of the 23-year-old player. Negotiations are continuing and should improve in the next weeks, but no deal has been struck as yet.</p>



<p>Photo credits: IMAGO / Fotoagenzia : IMAGO / Pressinphoto</p>

Barcelona take further steps to secure Serie A star in summer

Whether Barcelona can fulfill sporting director Deco's wish to bring in a Serie A star this summer remains to be seen

<p>In the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal on Tuesday, Weston McKennie was the target of ‘discriminatory’ shouts from Lazio supporters, according to his club Juventus.</p>



<p>Several videos that have gone viral show areas of the Allianz Stadium’s away section including the Biancocelesti’s fans yelling racist chants at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/grading-the-headline-usmnt-transfers-in-europe-this-season-20240303-WST-491980.html">McKennie</a>. &nbsp;The incident happened in the 89th minute when the player went off the field after a strong performance.</p>



<p>Officially, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/no-new-deal-juventus-disrespect-mckennie-with-latest-offer/">Juventus</a> has acknowledged that the American midfielder has validated his account of events. Thus, they have initiated all appropriate measures to bring those responsible to justice. <a href="https://www.juventus.com/en/news/articles/club-statement-02-april-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">They said in a statement</a>:</p>



<p>“Juventus Football Club takes note of the video circulated on social networks and reported by some media from which it would emerge the intonation of discriminatory chants coming from the visiting sector and directed at Weston McKennie during his substitution in the Juventus-Lazio semi-final first leg of the Italian Cup, played on 2 April.</p>



<p>“Following confirmation of the incident by the player, the club communicates that it has activated all procedures aimed at verifying what happened and will fully cooperate in order to identify the persons responsible and, consequently, take all necessary measures in this regard.”</p>



<p>The Old Lady posted a black-and-white picture of McKennie with the words <a href="https://twitter.com/juventusfcen/status/1775946441854218489" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“Never again”</a> with the remark on social media.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240405_WST_499650_McKennie-Lazio-chants-1200x670_ead7f475.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-499678" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/McKennie-Lazio-chants-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/McKennie-Lazio-chants-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/McKennie-Lazio-chants-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/McKennie-Lazio-chants.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>How might Serie A punish Lazio?</h2>



<p>Following the racist insults directed at the 25-year-old, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/lazio-tv-schedule">Lazio</a>‘s Curva Nord may be closed for one game. If the charges are true, it might be closed for one match.</p>



<p>The FIGC Prosecutor is said to be gathering all relevant papers, including the footage referenced by Juventus. However, he has not yet initiated a formal inquiry, as reported by <a href="https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/cori-razzisti-a-mckennie-la-curva-della-lazio-rischia-la-chiusura-non-nel-derby-1953737" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TuttoMercatoWeb</a>.</p>



<p>They add that it is quite probable that the sports judge would shut the Biancocelesti’s Curva Nord at the Stadio Olimpico for one game.</p>



<p>Though the Rome Derby is fast approaching, a final choice is still unlikely. Because of this, it could happen in the home match against Salernitana next week.</p>



<h2>Not the first time for Lazio fans</h2>



<p>The abuse that <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/usmnt-tv-schedule/">USMNT</a> players have endured at the hands of Lazio supporters is, regrettably and disturbingly, nothing new. This time the victim is Weston McKennie; last time it was <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/ac-milan-tv-schedule">AC Milan</a> winger <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/neither-epl-nor-bundesliga-san-siro-best-crowd-per-pulisic-20240209-WST-488763.html">Christian Pulisic</a>. The incident occurred a month ago.</p>



<p>Their ferocious 1-0 Serie A triumph over Lazio on March 1 prompted a torrent of death threats and online hatred directed at him. Two of Lazio’s three dismissals featured Pulisic, and the match ended with the team down to eight men.</p>



<p>After receiving two yellow cards in a row, Luca Pellegrini earned a red card in the 67th minute. Pellegrini fouled the former Chelsea ace twice, leading to both cards. After that, in stoppage time, France international Matteo Guendouzi received a straight red card for his violent reaction to a foul against the American star.</p>



<p>Following the victory, Pulisic shared Instagram photographs of the Rossoneri squad celebrating. However, he received a barrage of hateful comments.</p>



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

Similar to Pulisic: Lazio to pay price for fans' McKennie chants

Weston McKennie was the target of ‘discriminatory’ shouts from Lazio supporters, according to his club Juventus.

<p>One of the soccer fans’ favorite things to debate is how strong one league is compared to another. A club winning La Liga, such as Real Madrid this season, is not the same task as one of the three clubs battling it out in the Premier League. Given the differences in the quality of the opposition and the fact that these are domestic leagues, it is nearly impossible to directly compare leagues.</p>



<p>One way to compare the two is to use Opta’s power rankings. Opta, a British sports analytics firm, assigns an ability score to each team worldwide. On this scale, the top team in the world, Manchester City, has an ability score of 100. By contrast, the worst team in the world has an ability score of zero. Clubs earn points on their <a href="https://theanalyst.com/na/2023/01/power-rankings-your-club-ranked/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elo rating</a> by beating teams ranking higher than them. Consequently, losing to teams with a lower rating deducts more points from a side’s ability score.</p>



<p>It is a vastly technical process that the number wizards at Opta have been practicing for some time. While there will never be a perfect way to analyze clubs and leagues across competitions, this is perhaps the best holistic approach.</p>



<h2>The top 30 men’s soccer leagues in the world</h2>



<p>The following ratings are the average club rating for every team in a domestic league as of April 3, 2024. These numbers constantly change with the world’s leagues in action. With continental competition, for example, these numbers change often.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>RANK</td><td>LEAGUE</td><td>AVERAGE CLUB RATING</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Premier League</td><td>87.59</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>La Liga</td><td>84.8</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Serie A</td><td>84.7</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bundesliga</td><td>84.3</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Ligue 1</td><td>83.6</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Primeira Liga</td><td>77.47</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>English Championship</td><td>76.38</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Superligaen</td><td>76.12</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>La Liga 2 (Segunda)</td><td>75.48</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Brasileirao</td><td>75.31</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Liga MX</td><td>75.16</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Russian Premier League</td><td>75.15</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Major League Soccer</td><td>75.1</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Swiss Super League</td><td>74.81</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Eredivisie</td><td>74.79</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Turkish Super Lig</td><td>74.54</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Argentine Primera</td><td>74.53</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>2. Bundesliga</td><td>74.39</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Austrian Bundesliga</td><td>74.21</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>HNL Croatia</td><td>74.03</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>K League</td><td>73.49</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>J League</td><td>73.39</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Eliteserien</td><td>72.99</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Allsvenskan</td><td>72.18</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Cyprus First Division</td><td>72.08</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>Saudi Pro League</td><td>72.01</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>Czech First League</td><td>71.81</td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>Greek Super League</td><td>70.76</td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>Scottish Premiership</td><td>70.25</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>Ekstraklasa</td><td>69.41</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p>If you need any indication of how fast these rankings can change, look no further than two weeks prior. Again, these rankings apply specifically to April 3, 2024. On March 26, 2024, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mls-breaks-into-top-10-strongest-leagues-in-the-world/">Major League Soccer cracked the top 10</a>. Now, it is no longer the highest-rated league in North America. Instead, that honor belongs to Liga MX. </p>



<p>Since those rankings from just a few weeks ago, Liga MX sides have had strong results against Major League Soccer in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240403_WST_499198_Club-America-New-England-1200x670_16a60e5c.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-499228" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Club-America-New-England-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Club-America-New-England-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Club-America-New-England-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Club-America-New-England.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Averages ranked among the top soccer leagues in the world</h2>



<p>Looking at the above chart, certain teams from those leagues prop up each of those leagues. The Eredivisie is one example. PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord rank in the top 40 clubs in the world. However, those two clubs are dragged down by Vitesse, Excelsior and Volendam. None of those clubs creep into the top 900 clubs in the world. Consequently, the league’s average ranks it as No. 15 in the world. </p>



<p>On the other hand, having a compact league can help the rankings. Major League Soccer shows that, as the highest-ranking team is the Columbus Crew, at No. 145. Twenty-five of MLS’s 29 teams are inside the top 500 clubs in the world That greatly helps the league’s positioning on average.</p>



<p>That said, here are the top clubs from each of those divisions to get a grasp on where they fall. The league rank on the left side is where the average falls. As a result, the best club’s rating will not follow numerical order.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>League Rank</td><td>League</td><td>Best rated club</td><td>Best club’s rating</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Premier League</td><td>Manchester City</td><td>100</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>La Liga</td><td>Real Madrid</td><td>97.5</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Serie A</td><td>Inter Milan</td><td>97.3</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bundesliga</td><td>Bayer Leverkusen</td><td>94</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Ligue 1</td><td>PSG</td><td>95.2</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Primeira Liga</td><td>Sporting CP</td><td>89.7</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Championship</td><td>Leeds</td><td>83.6</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Superligaen</td><td>Kobenhavn</td><td>82.6</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Segunda Division</td><td>Eibar</td><td>78.5</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Brasileirao</td><td>Palmeiras</td><td>80.6</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Liga MX</td><td>Club America</td><td>83.1</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Russian Premier League</td><td>Zenit</td><td>82.8</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>MLS</td><td>Columbus Crew</td><td>79.6</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Swiss Super League</td><td>Young Boys</td><td>80.8</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Eredivisie</td><td>PSV Eindhoven</td><td>88.6</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Turkish Super Lig</td><td>Fenerbahce</td><td>86</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Argentine Primera</td><td>River Plate</td><td>80.8</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>2. Bundesliga</td><td>St. Pauli</td><td>80.4</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Austrian Bundesliga</td><td>RB Salzburg</td><td>86.3</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>HNL (Croatia)</td><td>Dinamo Zagreb</td><td>82</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>K League</td><td>Ulsan</td><td>78</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>J League</td><td>Vissel Kobe</td><td>78.4</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Eliteserien</td><td>Bodo/Glimt</td><td>82.6</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Allsvenskan</td><td>Malmo FF</td><td>77.8</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Cyprus First division</td><td>APOEL</td><td>79.7</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>Saudi Pro League</td><td>Al Hilal</td><td>86.4</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>Czech</td><td>Slavia Praha</td><td>83.7</td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>Greek Super League</td><td>PAOK</td><td>81.3</td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>Scottish Premiership</td><td>Rangers</td><td>83.1</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>Ekstraklasa</td><td>Rakow Czestochowa</td><td>79.1</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2>Looking at the ‘best of the worst’ clubs in each league</h2>



<p>It would also be fair to see the bottom half of these extremes to even out.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>League</td><td>Worst rated club</td><td>Worst club’s rating</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Premier League</td><td>Sheffield United</td><td>79.3</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>La Liga</td><td>Almeria</td><td>76.5</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Serie A</td><td>Salernitana</td><td>76.5</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bundesliga</td><td>Darmstadt 98</td><td>76.6</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Ligue 1</td><td>Metz</td><td>76.8</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Primeira Liga</td><td>Portimonense</td><td>70.9</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Championship</td><td>Rotherham United</td><td>69.6</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Superligaen</td><td>Hvidovre</td><td>69.5</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Segunda Division</td><td>Villarreal II</td><td>71.3</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Brasileirao</td><td>Criciuma</td><td>72.7</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Liga MX</td><td>Juarez</td><td>69.6</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Russian Premier League</td><td>Sochi</td><td>71.2</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>MLS</td><td>Toronto FC</td><td>69.6</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Swiss Super League</td><td>Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy</td><td>69.6</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Eredivisie</td><td>Volendam</td><td>66.5</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Turkish Super Lig</td><td>Istanbulspor</td><td>66.7</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Argentine Primera</td><td>Tigre</td><td>70.1</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>2. Bundesliga</td><td>Hansa Rostock</td><td>70.2</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Austrian Bundesliga</td><td>Austria Lustenau</td><td>67.1</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>HNL (Croatia)</td><td>Rudes</td><td>65.5</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>K League</td><td>Suwon</td><td>68.6</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>J League</td><td>Sagan Tosu</td><td>69.8</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Eliteserien</td><td>Sandefjord</td><td>68.7</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Allsvenskan</td><td>Halmstad</td><td>68.5</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Cyprus First division</td><td>AE Zakakiou</td><td>63.6</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>Saudi Pro League</td><td>Al Hazm</td><td>65.7</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>Czech</td><td>Ceske Budejovice</td><td>65.4</td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>Greek Super League</td><td>Kifisia</td><td>63.5</td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>Scottish Premiership</td><td>Livingston</td><td>62.6</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>Ekstraklasa</td><td>Lks Lodz</td><td>67.4</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Opta Sports Analytics - Behind The Scenes And Interviews With The Sports Data Mavens" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ySlAzS8Oouw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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Top soccer leagues in the world as ranked by Opta

The top soccer leagues in the world are nearly impossible to be ranked accurately. One metric provides insight as to where they stand.

Top soccer leagues in the world as ranked by Opta - World Soccer Talk

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<p>AC Milan’s summer signing Christian Pulisic seems to owe his present coach, Stefano Pioli, a debt of gratitude for his stellar season.</p>



<p>Since his first game with the Rossoneri, the former <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a> player established himself as a starter. Additionally, he has been an integral part of the team’s success this year.</p>



<p>Once he arrived in Italy, the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/usmnt-tv-schedule/">USMNT</a> star quickly became a staple. Just recently, he began shattering records when he scored his team’s 5,000th goal in Serie A. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/neither-epl-nor-bundesliga-san-siro-best-crowd-per-pulisic-20240209-WST-488763.html">Pulisic</a> has made a great impression in 39 outings for the San Siro team, accounting for a total of 20 goals and assists overall.</p>



<p>He has already scored more goals in a season than he did in any prior campaign, with just two months to go before the end of the term. He and Weston McKennie are tied for the most goals scored by American players in Serie A history.</p>



<p>This season, the ex-Borussia Dortmund star has scored nine goals in Serie A, and all of them have come from open play instead of set pieces. Now he has 12 goals in all competitions.</p>



<p>This $20 million American winger has the makings of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-serie-a-on-us-tv-and-internet/">Serie A</a>‘s best acquisition thus far. According to his father, Stefano Pioli’s belief in him is a major reason for the player’s success.</p>



<h2>Mark Pulisic on how Stefano Pioli helped Christian</h2>



<p>Mark Pulisic addressed many issues during his son’s first season with Milan and other parts of his career when speaking to <a href="https://www.pianetamilan.it/news-milan/interviste/milan-padre-pulisic-intervista-gazzetta-ultime-news-oggi-02-04-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">La Gazzetta dello Sport</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240403_WST_499095_Pulisic-form-1200x670_96cd6707.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-499184" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Pulisic-form-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Pulisic-form-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Pulisic-form-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Pulisic-form.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>“Christian has had everyone’s trust. Pioli trusts him, he always lets him play and doesn’t immediately replace him if things go wrong. Then he likes Milan, and he always speaks well of his teammates. Fikayo Tomori and Olivier Giroud helped him a lot when it came to choosing Milan,” Pulisic said.</p>



<p>Even though they are both American, he said, last summer there was no communication between them and Gerry Cardinale to finalize the transfer. Indeed, they communicated with Pioli as the representative of Milan.</p>



<p>“No, I never spoke to Cardinale during the negotiations. Instead, a Zoom call with Stefano Pioli was fundamental, it went very well, Christian understood what the project was for him and said yes.”</p>



<h2>Mark Pulisic on why Christian flourishes at Milan</h2>



<p>Pulisic is flourishing for Milan after failing to make an impression at Chelsea. The things that went wrong in England, according to his father, are subjective.</p>



<p>“I think there’s a misconception. For me, it’s not true that Christian disappointed at Chelsea. He simply didn’t play regularly. For me he is now reaching his peak, he is 25 years old, he works hard to develop his game and is respected by his teammates.</p>



<p>“Christian loves Milan and wants to stay. He lives in Busto Arsizio to be close to Milanello, he’s coming to speak Italian and he gets on very well with teammates like Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Yunus Musah.</p>



<p>“He loves representing his country and matches with the US present him with new challenges. Sometimes they mark him in twos or threes and Christian has to find new solutions. Everything is fine, the only problems are the traveling and the time difference.”</p>



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

Pulisic's father reveals reason for Milan move and revival in form

AC Milan's summer signing Christian Pulisic seems to owe his present coach a debt of gratitude for his stellar season.

<p>Napoli has just about conceded this season as a throwaway following its Scudetto-winning campaign of 2022/23. The Italian side is currently on its third manager this season. It started with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/napoli-readies-replacements-for-outgoing-manager-rudi-garcia-20231113-WST-469693.html">Rudi Garcia</a>, who replaced the outgoing Luciano Spalletti. After the Frenchman’s struggles, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/napoli-names-walter-mazzarri-as-replacement-for-rudi-garcia-20231114-WST-470045.html">Walter Mazzarri stepped in</a> to no avail. He lasted just three months at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Francesco Calzona has served as the side’s manager in the meantime to a mixed bag of results.</p>



<p>Club president Aurelio de Laurentiis is now already preparing targets to lead the side next season. At the top of that list is Antonio Conte, the former Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan manager that seems to regularly find success at various clubs. Conte has been out of a job since March 2023, when he <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/spurs-mindset-of-celebrating-fourth-place-slammed-by-conte-20240215-WST-489731.html">left Tottenham Hotspur</a> after falling in the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League round of 16. </p>



<p>According to reports, Napoli is ready to offer Conte a massive contract to return to Italy as the manager of <em>Gli Azzurri</em>. Some reports indicate Napoli will provide Conte with a contract that provides him $9 million per season for two years. There would be an additional option for a third year, should the club and manager be a good fit for one another. </p>



<p>Conte has spent significant time as a manager in Italy. He has won Serie A four times, as three of those came with Juventus. The most recent was with Inter Milan in the 2020/21 campaign. He also led Inter Milan to the Europa League Final in the 2019/20 season, where Sevilla defeated the Italian club. That, combined with his time in England, makes Conte a valuable manager to any club.</p>



<h2>Napoli targets a player to sway Antonio Conte toward new club</h2>



<p>The situation at Napoli would not be overly straightforward, though. In the past, Conte has departed clubs because of clashes with the club’s executives. Napoli’s de Laurentiis is one of the most outspoken Presidents in Serie A. While Spalletti departed for personal reasons with a sabbatical, the Napoli President has not been one to hide criticism of managers. That could lead Conte away from the club.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240402_WST_499040_Conte-Kulusevski-1200x670_17b85800.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-499042" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Conte-Kulusevski-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Conte-Kulusevski-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Conte-Kulusevski-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Conte-Kulusevski.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>Yet, the owner of the club is already workshopping ways to court Conte. One of those is to bring in Dejan Kulusevski from Tottenham Hotspur. According to <a href="https://football-italia.net/kulusevski-napoli-tottenham-star-conte/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multiple reports</a>, Conte is a massive fan of the Swedish international. Conte brought Kulusevski over on loan from Juventus in his first transfer window with Spurs. In that loan spell, Kulusevski thrived in Conte’s formation, which shows that the winger and midfielder can fit if Conte were to use that system at Napoli.</p>



<p>For the club, bringing over Kulusevski would be a way for Conte to feel more comfortable. He would have a way into the dressing room by being closer with one of the players. Plus, Kulusevski would be able to help other Napoli players adjust to Conte’s particular playing style and formations. </p>



<p>There are no guarantees that bringing on Kulusevski would bring Conte aboard. Napoli is a club with stature and funding to bring on players Conte desires, like Kulusevski. Yet, there is no indication as to why the Italian has not returned to the dugout for any other club so far. </p>



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

Napoli ready to pull all stops to lure Antonio Conte

Napoli is ready to move on from its dismal 2023/24 campaign, and that may spark a new era under Antonio Conte.

<p>Ever since their rough patches, AC Milan and Inter have bounced back to their old selves. What makes the Nerazzurri’s impending 20th Serie A title all the more remarkable is that they are quite close to achieving it.</p>



<p>On par with Juventus, they will join an exclusive group of Italian clubs to get the second star. Meanwhile, finally settling into their stride, AC Milan won Serie A in 2021-22, capping off an 11-year drought.</p>



<p>The issue of each team’s home stadium, however, has to be resolved. In fact, the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/tears-of-joy-in-my-first-visit-to-san-siro-20231105-WST-466908.html">illustrious San Siro</a> may not be their home venue for much longer. The two teams want to leave it for a variety of reasons, the most significant of which is financial.</p>



<p>It’s no secret that in Italy, teams often have to pay rent to the city that owns the stadium. For now, the legendary location will continue to host both teams, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/city-mayor-wants-san-siro-milan-and-inter-set-on-different-road-20240211-WST-489007.html">according to Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala</a>. In fact, the 65-year-old has been doing all in his power to keep both teams for the future as well.</p>



<h2>How do AC Milan plan to follow Yankees’ footsteps?</h2>



<p>However, both teams are now focusing on brand new venues after years of failed plans to renovate the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. In fact, a new stadium is <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/milan-wants-to-build-american-like-arena-to-replace-san-siro-20240301-WST-492462.html">urgently needed</a>, according to the Rossoneri’s American owner Gerry Cardinale. Furthermore, he detailed his plans to emulate the New York Yankees’ multi-pronged income strategy.</p>



<p>“Sports now is no longer a hobby for rich guys. Sports is a multibillion-dollar live event entertainment business, and you have to bring relationships and multidisciplinary skill sets across a range of activities to be able to get these things done,” he told <a href="https://fortune.com/2024/03/30/gerry-cardinale-profile-interview-ac-milan-redbird-capital-new-stadium/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fortune Magazine</a>.</p>



<p>“It’s time for Italy, and for Milan, to do what the Yankees did back in 2008. Old Yankee Stadium had been around forever. Babe Ruth was there, Joe DiMaggio was there, Mickey Mantle was there, Roger Maris was there. It was iconic. But they realized that it’s time now for a new version of that.”</p>



<p>Though he has “heard from others’ past experiences that it’s very tricky” to construct a new stadium, Cardinale maintains an optimistic outlook on the project. He added: “I like our chances… I wanted to know I had a viable, zonable option for the stadium. If the stadium doesn’t happen, we stay at San Siro.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="450" height="504" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240331_WST_498482_image-21_b209cba6.webp&amp;width=450&amp;height=504" alt="" class="wp-image-498523" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/image-21.png 450w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/image-21-268x300.png 268w" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px"></figure><figcaption>The Milan clubs have a number of potential challenges</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Constructing new facilities not easy in Italy</h2>



<p>In fact, foreign owners of clubs have it bad in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-serie-a-on-us-tv-and-internet/">Italian Serie A</a>. The Red and Blacks aren’t the only ones who misjudged how many hurdles they’d have to pass through to have new infrastructure developed.</p>



<p>Some government officials are attempting to use the same regulations meant to save historic sites to block renovations to San Siro. However, Cardinale maintains that it’s not drastically different from America.</p>



<p>“Those concepts are more familiar to American investors and I think that’s what attracted them to Serie A. They realize what the legacy is and the history here in some of these under-managed brands. They realized the potential to have a great investment on your hands, simply by professionalizing the ownership.”</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / Nicolo Campo</p>

AC Milan aspire to emulate New York Yankees with new stadium

A new stadium is urgently needed, the Rossoneri’s American owner Gerry Cardinale said, detailing his plans to emulate the New York Yankees.

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