It’s Wednesday, it’s hot, and it’s muggy. It’s also probably going to rain another eleventy inches, so better pack that umbrella. The MLS transfer window will also close tonight, so prepare to freak out while waiting to see if D.C. United will make any more moves to make this deadline day as wacky as it was last season. While the rest of the Black & Red United staff and I start hooking ourselves up to oxygen, the big stuff from yesterday:
D.C. United reportedly acquires Vytas from Portland Timbers | Black & Red United
Vytautas Andriuskevicius is his name, but you can call him Vytas. The Black-and-Red traded for the left back yesterday, sending $50,000 of TAM to the Portland Timbers for his services. The Timbers will also pay half his salary. Let’s see if he can help out our defense down the stretch.
ESPN+ to air Ronaldo’s Juventus debut as part of new Serie A deal | ESPNFC
Serie A has a new home with ESPN+ this season, with around 340 matches appearing on the streaming service. ESPN will also air one match a week on one of its linear channels, beginning with AS Roma-Torino FC on August 19th. August 25th will see Cristiano Ronaldo and appear on TV for the first time as part of Juventus when they take on Lazio.
Investment group led by Jason Levien takes ownership of D.C. United | ProSoccerUSA
The new D.C. United ownership group is complete, with Jason Levien leading the investment group made up of Steve Kaplan and 7 other people. Most of the new ownership group are part of Levien and Kaplan’s Swansea City ownership group.
Usain Bolt: Eight-time Olympic champion to train with Central Coast Mariners | BBC
This is real: Usain Bolt, the Fastest Man Ever, will head to Australia to train with the Central Coast Mariners. This doesn’t guarantee him a contract with the team, but it’s a low risk, high reward move for the former sprinter.
Wayne Rooney on US football and not being famous stateside | Sky News
Wayne Rooney talks about his move to MLS and how he relishes the chance to make a name for himself here in the United States. Also, this article says that he’s going to be making $59.5 MILLION over the course of his contract, which has to include the transfer fee. But in any case, that’s a lot of pupusas for United’s #9 and new captain.
Chelsea to pay £71.6m for Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga | The Guardian
With Thibaut Courtois attempting to force a move to Real Madrid, Chelsea is about to break the bank for Kepa Arrizabalaga, breaking the world record transfer fee for a goalkeeper in the process of moving him from Athletic Bilbao to Stamford Bridge.
That’s all I got. Stay tuned all day to Black & Red United for all the updates as we find out whether Deadline Day 2018 has a bunch of fireworks or is pretty quiet.