LAFC general manager Joe Thorrington has defender Gareth Bale’s decision to make the move to MLS.

Bale has been heavily linked with a return to English football ahead of his Real Madrid contact expiring on June 30.

Reports claim he met with Cardiff City over a potential move back to his home country, but in the end, the Welshman decided to try his like Stateside.

Like many top players coming towards the end of their careers before him, Bale will play in MLS.

It was announced on Sunday that he will join LAFC, who will pay Inter Miami for the right to sign Bale.

Miami placed the veteran on their discovery list some time ago, giving them the first right of refusal or $50,000 in compensation should another team sign him.

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LAFC have paid the fee and everything has been agreed for Bale, who could make his debut for the Western Conference table-toppers within the coming weeks, with the MLS season ongoing.

And amid the perception of LAFC being a money team, backed by wealthy owners and Hollywood elite, the club’s general manager, Thorrington, has said money has nothing to do with the deal.

“It wasn’t a financial conversation for Gareth or for us. If Gareth was going to take the decision for financial reasons, he wouldn’t be in MLS,” he said, as cited by Mundo Deportivo.

MORE: Gareth Bale confirms LAFC move with video

“He has a lot to give. We want winners. You don’t win five Champions Leagues if you don’t have that hunger.”

In reality, MLS only allows clubs to pay up to three designated players with high wages, and those wages still don’t usually stand up to those of the top end of the Premier League, La Liga and other top leagues.

While Bale will be one of those higher earners, the average guaranteed wage for MLS is around $4,700 per week, showing the difference when compared to the Premier League, and even the Championship.

The post LAFC chief rules out money factor amid Gareth Bale’s MLS transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Former Barcelona striker David Villa, who now plays for MLS side New York City, has been listed amongst the nominess for the MLS Goal of the Week.

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Villa’s goal capped an awesome team move, as some slick build-up play allowed the striker to dribble the ball into an unguarded net. Unfortunately for Villa, New York City went on to lose 2-1 against the Philadelphia Union and have now slipped down to seventh place in the Eastern Conference with just one win from their five games so far.

Villa’s effort was joined by a brilliant long range strike from Colorado Rapids’ Dillon Serna, Perry Kitchen’s low drive for DC United, Rob Lovejoy’s curler for the Houston Dynamo, and a bizarre chested goal by Orlando City’s Cyle Larin.

Check out the video – courtesy of mlssoccer.com – below. Which was your favourite?

The post (Video) David Villa amongst nominees for MLS Goal of the Week appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Brek Shea is the most recognisable name to non-American supporters in the MLS Team of the Week for the sixth round of fixtures.

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Shea, who is now playing alongside Kaka for MLS new boys Orlando City, helped his side to a 2-0 win over Portland Timbers – a game which meant Orlando moved up to third place in the Eastern Conference.

Giles Barnes also made the team. Mlssoccer.com put the former Derby and West Brom striker up front with Colorado Rapids’ Dominique Badji. Barnes scored the opening goal as Houston Dynamo beat Montreal Impact 3-0, while Badji scored the first in his team’s 4-0 win over Dallas.

After six rounds of the MLS season, DC United are setting the pace in the Eastern Conference with ten points from five games, while Vancouver Whitecaps lead the Western Conference with thirteen points from seven games.

Here is this week’s team of the week in full:

The post (Image) Ex-Bolton Wanderers defender Brek Shea makes the MLS Team of the Week appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Jurgen Klinsmann has named his 22-man squad for tomorrow’s friendly against Mexico.

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With the game scheduled outside international dates, both managers have been forced to name squads that consist entirely of players from their own domestic leagues.

The game is currently in doubt due to the state of the pitch in San Antonio.

The US squad is:

GOALKEEPERS: Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), William Yarbrough (Club Leon)

DEFENDERS: Ventura Alvarado (Club America), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Brek Shea (Orlando City SC), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur)

MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution)

FORWARDS: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Julian Green (Hamburg), Jordan Morris (Stanford University), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

The post USA name 22-man squad for Mexico friendly appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Every week the MLS releases its ‘Team of the Week’ from the previous weekend of action on mlssoccer.com.

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The MLS is unusual in that it does not take a break for international weekends, and instead we had a full fixture list over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Week 4 saw LA Galaxy continue to struggle as they lost 1-0 away at DC United, while Dallas’ 0-0 draw at home to Seattle Sounders saw them overtake Vancouver and go to the top of the Western Conference.

This week’s Team of the Week saw selectors choose a 4-5-1 formation, with Bradley Wright Phillips leading the line for a second consecutive week after a goal and an assist and Kaka being picked for the first time on the left wing.

Despite his inclusion, BWP (as he is affectionately known) has only scored twice so far. Last season he was the league’s top scorer with 27 goals. Not bad for a Brentford reject!

See the team below:

The post (Image) MLS Week 4: Team of the Week – Kaka makes first appearance, Wright Phillips keeps his place appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Week 4 of the 2015 MLS season saw a range of spectacular goals, giving selectors a headache when they had to narrow it down to the five best strikes of the weekend.

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This week’s nominees are Kaka (Orlando City), Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake), Jack McInerney (Montreal Impact), Mike Grella (New York Red Bulls), and Chris Pontius (DC United).

All five nominees have been nominated for the first time this season. It means Kaka is now on the brink of a prestigious goal of the week/team of the week double award in just his fourth week in the US. There was no place amongst the potential winners for Bradley Wright Phillips, despite scoring two in two weeks and being given a place in the team of the week.

Which do you think is the best? Kaka’s sublime finish? McInerney’s looping volley, or Grella’s subtle chip? Let us know in the comments below.

The post (Video) MLS Week 4: Goal of the Week – Brazil star leads the way appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The MLS have released their Team of the Week after the third round of fixtures in the MLS season.

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The most recognisable face to UK-based fans is perhaps that of ex-Man City and Southampton forward Bradley Wright Phillips. The 30-year-old joined New York Red Bulls from League 1 Brentford in 2013, going on to becomes the league’s top scorer last season.

Check out the full team below. Do you agree with the selections?

The post (Image) MLS Week 3: Team of the Week – Man City flop makes the cut appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The MLS season is hotting up nicely already. After two weeks, new boys New York City lead the Eastern Conference, while the Western Conference leaders are Dallas – the only side with a 100 percent record.

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The official MLS site, mlssoccer.com, has now released its team of the week.

Do you agree with their choices? Let us know in the comments below.

The post (Image) MLS Week 2: Team of the Week – ex-Barca star and US international lead the line appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The MLS season is now two weeks old.

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Week 2 saw considerably more goals than the opening weekend, as Real Salt Lake and Philadelphia drew 3-3, La Galaxy drew 2-2 away at Portland, and San Jose won 3-2 in Seattle.

The MLS official YouTube channel has now posted its goals of the week.

Which do you think is best?

The post (Video) MLS Week 2: Goal of the Week – David Villa features appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Who made the team of the week?

The 2015 MLS season kicked off last weekend, with LA Galaxy beating Chicago 2-0, Seattle thrashing New England 3-0, and new boys Orlando and New York City drawing 1-1.

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Now the team of the week, as voted for by fans, has been released on the league’s official website – mlssoccer.com.

Altidore, Bradley, and Martins all made the cut… How easy are Gerrard and Lampard going to find it?!

The post (Image) MLS Week 1: Team Of The Week – Sunderland, Roma, And Newcastle Flops All Included appeared first on CaughtOffside.